U-20 WWC: Mid-July Friendly Results, Plus Notes on Germany’s Friendly

During the second week of July, a handful of Women’s Under-20 friendlies were contested, including matches that separately involved Mexico and Canada, plus Germany, who will be the United States’ final group opponent in August’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup.

Mexico traveled to Argentina and beat the hosts in two friendlies, by 1:0 and 3:1 margins. Canada is in Europe and played Italy on Saturday, winning 3:0.

On Sunday, Germany hosted Norway and defeated the guests 5:0, which was slightly better than the 7:1 drubbing Germany gave the Norwegians in last year’s UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship final, but much worse than the two sides’ 1:1 draw in a friendly at La Manga earlier this year. Continue reading “U-20 WWC: Mid-July Friendly Results, Plus Notes on Germany’s Friendly”

U-20 USWNT: Final Camp Roster – Kelly Cobb, Makenzy Doniak, and Caprice Dydasco Still In The Mix

Today, U.S. Soccer released the final camp roster for the United States Under-20 Women’s National Team prior to the Under-20 Women’s World Cup this August in Japan. The camp runs from July 15th to the 30th and will be held in Bradenton, Florida. Head coach Steve Swanson invited 24 players to camp, including all 21 who traveled to Japan for the team’s recently friendlies with the hosts, plus forwards Kelly Cobb, Makenzy Doniak, and fullback Caprice Dydasco. Although those three were most likely invited as back-ups in case of injuries to the other 21 players, they could potentially make the tournament roster. However, Cobb is coming back from ankle surgery and may not yet be 100-percent, as she did not even play in any of the scrimmages or the friendly during the last domestic camp. And, at this point, a roster shake-up seems unlikely. (Full roster after the jump…) Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: Final Camp Roster – Kelly Cobb, Makenzy Doniak, and Caprice Dydasco Still In The Mix”

U-20 WWC: USA Opponent Ghana In Midst of Funding Crisis

Recently, both the Under-20 and Under-17 Women’s National Teams of Ghana had to temporarily halt their preparations for their respective World Cups because of a lack of funds, mainly for food, from the Ghana Football Association. This brief suspension of training only lasted about a week, from Friday, June 22nd, to Thursday, June 28th, due to a benefactor stepping forward and agreeing to donate the necessary funds for the two teams’ camps. Continue reading “U-20 WWC: USA Opponent Ghana In Midst of Funding Crisis”

Under-20 Women’s World Cup: Unofficial ESPN Networks Schedule

According to the posted schedule on ESPN’s “WatchESPN” website, at least seventeen matches of the 2012 Under-20 Women’s World Cup will be televised live by ESPN, primarily on ESPNU. All of the United States’ group matches will be shown live, including the team’s final group match versus Germany, which will air on ESPN2. All of the knock-out matches will also be televised live. In addition to showing every USA group match, all of host Japan’s and Brazil’s group matches will be televised live.

(Edit: The second semifinal match is now listed on the website.)

(Edit #2: On Sunday, August 26th, instead of Japan/Switzerland, ESPNU will be showing the Mexico vs. New Zealand at 6:10 a.m. EDT.)

Continue reading “Under-20 Women’s World Cup: Unofficial ESPN Networks Schedule”

U-20 WWC: Germany’s July Training Camp Roster – Dzsenifer Marozsán Called In

On Wednesday, the DFB released the roster of the next training camp for Germany’s Under-20 Women’s National Team, which is preparing for the U-2o Women’s World Cup in Japan, where they are grouped with the United States, China, and Ghana. Called in for the first time this cycle is senior national team midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsán, who already has 7 caps and 3 goals (DFB stats, in German). Marozsán participated in the 2010 U-20 Women’s World Cup, where she played in 5 matches, had a team-leading 3 assists, and scored 1 goal (FIFA). The Hungarian-born midfielder’s offensive prowess is badly needed in a team that has struggled at times to score goals. Other players on the roster include two other senior-capped players, centerback Luisa Wensing and midfielder Lena Lotzen, who were both absent from the prior training camp (June 11-15). Continue reading “U-20 WWC: Germany’s July Training Camp Roster – Dzsenifer Marozsán Called In”

U-20 USWNT: The USA Avenges Sunday’s Loss With a 2:0 Win Over Japan

Early Wednesday morning, the United States Under-20 Women’s National Team defeated Japan’s U-20 WNT 2:0 via highlight reel goals from Maya Hayes and Chioma Ubogagu in the teams’ second friendly of the week. In the previous encounter, the USA fell 0:1 to Japan on a late Yoko Tanaka goal. Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: The USA Avenges Sunday’s Loss With a 2:0 Win Over Japan”

U-20 USWNT: Live Stream Info for Second USA-Japan Friendly

Tonight, at 2:oo a.m. EDT, the Japan Football Association is scheduled to stream live a friendly between their Under-20 Women’s National Team and the United States U-20 WNT at the following URL: http://www.jfa.or.jp/jfatv/live/.

This is the two team’s second meeting this week. The USA will be looking to avenge an 0:1 loss from Sunday.

(For technical caveats, more details, and links to the team’s rosters, continue reading…) Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: Live Stream Info for Second USA-Japan Friendly”

U-20 USWNT: USA Falls 0:1 to Japan in Friendly at Nagai Stadium

On Sunday, the United States Under-20 Women’s National Team fell 0:1 to Japan’s Under-20 WNT in a friendly at Nagai Stadium in Osaka. Although Japan dominated possession, probably 60/40, and created more scoring opportunities than the USA, the young American squad was able to hold their own for stretches against Japan’s compact and well-organized defense. The USA’s defense also held up well, forcing the home side to mostly take speculative efforts from outside the box. Weaknesses were exposed, but that is why friendlies are played, especially at this age level. Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: USA Falls 0:1 to Japan in Friendly at Nagai Stadium”

U-20 WWC: Ghana Fact File (2012, Vol. 1)

When the United States Under-20 Women’s National Team plays its first match in the 2012 U-20 Women’s World Cup at the Hiroshima Big Arch Stadium in Japan, the USA will play the same opening opponent that they faced in 2010: Ghana. In that match, Ghana scored first,on a 7th minute Elizabeth Cudjoe goal. A 70th minute equalizer by Sydney Leroux salvaged a point for the USA, who would go on to win the group.

The bad news for the USA is that eight of Ghana’s starters in that match are age-eligible for this year’s U-20 WWC. And, the good news is… see the bad news. Continue reading “U-20 WWC: Ghana Fact File (2012, Vol. 1)”