Tag: women’s soccer

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)”

USWNT: Volvo Winners Cup Matches Will Be Streamed Live

U.S. Soccer announced on Wednesday that Universal Sports Network will televise both of the United States Women’s National Team matches in the Volvo Winners Cup. And, more importantly, as most American cable subscribers do not get that channel, both matches will streamed live and for free on UniversalSports.com. Continue reading “USWNT: Volvo Winners Cup Matches Will Be Streamed Live”

Olympics: South Africa’s Semi-Official Roster

Canada group opponent South Africa announced their preliminary Olympic roster last week (www.safa.net). Of the eighteen players on the list, two currently play for American universities: goalkeeper Roxanne Barker (Pepperdine University) and Kylie-Ann Louw  (Stephen F. Austin State University). SAFA’s new item notes that an official roster will be announced on July 4th. Continue reading “Olympics: South Africa’s Semi-Official Roster”

The USWNT’s First Doubleheader with the USMNT

The media guide for the United States Women’s National Team only notes one doubleheader* with the Men’s National Team: a pair of matches held at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., on May 30, 1998, in which the women played New Zealand and the men played Scotland. Contemporary news reports in 1998 state that this doubleheader was the “first-ever” (SoccerAmerica) and the “[f]irst time both the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams have played a doubleheader (Baltimore Sun).**

But, that would not be the first time the men’s and women’s national teams had played at the same stadium on the same day. Continue reading “The USWNT’s First Doubleheader with the USMNT”

USWNT Olympic Opponent Watch: North Korea Loses Twice Against the Netherlands

North Korea, an Olympic group stage opponent of the United States Women’s National Team, lost both a closed-door match and an official friendly against the #14 ranked Netherlands earlier this month. In the closed-door match, the Netherlands came back froom a goal down to win 4:1, while in the friendly, the Netherlands won 2:0, with the first goal coming in the 42nd minute. Both matches were played in the Netherlands. Details of North Korea’s line-up and substitutions are not readily available.

Sources (All in Dutch):
www.onsoranje.nl – Write-up on closed-door match (June 1st)
www.onsoranje.nl – Write-up, with box score, on the friendly (June 5th)
www.vrouwenvoetbalnederland.nl – Another write-up on the friendly, has the minute for NED’s first goal

More on the Netherlands: They are currently at the top of their group for Women’s Euro 2013 qualifying, with 5 wins and only 1 draw. The only draw was a 0:0 affair with England, whom they will play next on June 17th, in England. With a win, the Netherlands will lock up a ticket to Sweden.

U-23 USWNT: Roster For Friendlies Versus Sweden’s and Norway’s U23 WNTs

Under-23 United States Women’s National Team head coach Randy Waldrum has called up seventeen players, plus one to be confirmed, for three friendlies with Sweden’s U-23 WNT and Norway’s U-23 WNT. These matches will be held in Norway from June 15th to the 19th. The roster includes several players who have been in senior USWNT camps, including already capped midfielder Christine Nairn, midfielder Ingrid Wells, forward Melissa Henderson, and goalkeeper Adrianna Franch. Also on the roster is Bayern Munich’s Sarah Hagen, who scored the game-winner in this year’s Women’s German Cup final against FFC Frankfurt. Continue reading “U-23 USWNT: Roster For Friendlies Versus Sweden’s and Norway’s U23 WNTs”

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

When Germany and the United States meet in their third group match at the 2012 Under-20 Women’s World Cup, it will be the first group stage meeting between the two nations at any FIFA women’s tournament, let alone a U-19/20 Women’s World Cup.  Both Germany (2004, 2010) and the USA (2002, 2008) are the only two-time winners of this age-group tournament.

The rest of this post looks at Germany’s U-20 pool, playing time during qualification and later friendlies, formations used and positions of players, a discussion of key players, and Germany’s  upcoming schedule, including known friendlies. Continue reading “U-20 WWC: Germany Fact File (2012, Vol. 1)”

Opponent Watch: Japan’s Travel Roster For Friendlies in Sweden

Early on Tuesday, Japan released its roster for the two friendlies versus the United States and Sweden that will be held in Sweden in mid-June as part of the Volvo Winners Cup. Twenty-one players were called up, including Homare Sawa and Mana Iwabuchi who were both recovering from medical issues. One uncapped player was called up, Ami Otaki, who finished university at the end of last year and now plays for UEFA Women’s Champion League champions Olympique Lyonnais in France.

Japan and the United States WNT play each other on June 18th at 13:00 local time in Sweden.

Continue reading “Opponent Watch: Japan’s Travel Roster For Friendlies in Sweden”

USWNT Olympic Opponent Watch: Colombia – June Camp Roster

On Tuesday, Colombia released the roster for its June training camp (ColFutbol.org, in Spanish). From the previous camp, only one player was cut, goalkeeper Paula Forero Cabrera. This current roster is essentially all the players in the final mix for the Olympics, along with midfielder Yoreli Rincon, who is still with her club in Brazil. Rincon will join the team sometime this month.

Thirteen of the twenty-two players have American collegiate connections, including ten who are current players for college teams. Continue reading “USWNT Olympic Opponent Watch: Colombia – June Camp Roster”

Opponent Watch: Sweden’s Roster For Friendlies Versus the USA and Japan

On Tuesday, Sweden released its 22-player roster for its two friendly matches versus the United States and Japan, as part of the Volvo Winners Cup, which it will host in mid-June. There were no surprise inclusions, but Sweden’s injury woes since the 2011 Women’s World Cup has forced several changes to the team’s starting line-up, especially on its back line.

Sweden and the United States WNT will play each other on June 16th at 16:00 local time. Continue reading “Opponent Watch: Sweden’s Roster For Friendlies Versus the USA and Japan”