U.S. has new faces for Algarve Cup
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
With a new coach and the Olympics fast approaching, the annual Algarve Cup takes on a greater significance for the United States women's national team this year.

After sweeping through the Four Nations Tournament in China in January, the U.S. heads into tomorrow's Group B Algarve Cup opener in Portugal against China looking to keep the momentum building under new coach Pia Sundhage.



"The Algarve Cup is a very important tournament for several reasons," Sundhage said. "First, it is excellent preparation for the Olympic qualification, especially playing four difficult matches in eight days. That is a test of our fitness, our mental toughness and also our depth.

"But also, like we faced in the Four Nations Tournament ... it gives the team a chance to play against three very good teams in the group who all play different styles, and that is fantastic for the development of our team rhythm, as well as for our young players getting experience at a big tournament."

After China, the Americans play Italy Friday and Norway Monday. The placement matches for the 12-team tournament will be played March 12.

The U.S. will get very little time off. CONCACAF qualifying for the Olympics begins April 4 in Mexico.

It may sound funny for Sundhage to cite the team's youth. That had never been a problem under previous coaches who had the luxury of fielding the likes of Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett and Kristine Lilly for well over a decade.

Lilly, 36, is still active, but she is taking the year off to have a baby and you have to wonder if she'll ever play again. She is the United States' all-time leader in Algarve Cup goals with 13.

Of the 20 players on the roster, only four -- defenders Christie Rampone (179), Kate Markgraf (168) and Cat Whitehill (123) and forward Abby Wambach (108) -- have more than 100 caps.

In fact, six players -- 30 percent of the roster -- have fewer than nine caps.



url



http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/120472889796180.xml&coll=1

USA 4 - 0 China

Scorers: Tarpley , Heath , Wambach and Lloyd

finland-sweden 1-3
Ljungberg (2) Lundin

finland but own goal of fischer

and now a litlle trivia
what's the name of the player that scored the most goals all time for Sweden????????

take a gues

Group A

Finland 1 - 3 Sweden

Germany 0 - 1 Denmark

Group B

USA 4 - 0 China

Group C

Iceland 2 - 0 Poland



Svensson

Kelly Smith?

From what I've read, they sounded really good, a lot of ping ponging the ball around, with the occasional long ball to really throw the Chinese off. Pia started a lot of new people, giving most people but Whitehill and Osbourne a chance, Barney started in goal, had a shutout, but not many shots on goal from the Chinese. Lloyd, HAO, Tarp seem to be reaching their potential with the new system, which is giving them so many more options, which I'm thrilled about. I'm really bitter that this isn't on tape somewhere, because they sounded like they were really clicking.

Have anymore details on the Sweden game?

Here's a blog from the fairgame woman who was actually there:
http://www.fairgamemag.com/eng/fair_game_blog/greetings_from_portugal


Here's some pics (Kai rocking a new leg tat in one):
http://www.fairgamemag.com/eng/fair_game_blog/greetings_from_portugal

Grrrr Eurosport

Another result from yesterday

Republic Of Ireland 0 - 2 Portugal. Another two conceded in the dying minutes of the game

Some of todays results :

USA 2 - 0 Italy

Denmark 1 - 0 Sweden

Germany 3 - 0 Finland

look on site of sweden federation hanna started on the bank and lotta is out for the tournament

sweden payed with whole different team

i gues thomas is testing some things for olympics

and off course denmark has the algrave cup o,ly to show themselves this year

looks they gonna play final


i had like to see sweden in final bud its gonna be dificult

bud i'm happy with hanna's record


and maybe there suprise the germans on monday...............

The Danes are on fire.

HLF what's wrong with Schelin?

i dopnt know bud i only know she is out for the algarve cup

could be just to take n,o risk for the important games

It's a shame for Schelin , good striker.

A slight hemorrhage in the thigh, she should be healed within two weeks.

Monday 11th March 2008

Sweden 0 - 2 Germany

Denmark 1 - 0 Finland

USA 4 - 0 Norway

China 0 - 2 Italy

italy sprises me


very easy penalty for germany

Best quote ever?

U.S. forward Natasha Kai

On her unusual goal:
“(The Norway goalkeeper) had the ball. She threw it out (in front of her), took a few steps back, and I was like ‘she looks kinda far (from the ball).’ so I was kind of creeping. She turned her head (away from Kai) and I took off like my mother was chasing me to give me spankings. I think that’s when she realized that I was right in front of her, but I had a touch, she hit it, it hit my thighs and I had a wide open goal.”

TK does have a way with words


Another result

Republic Of Ireland 1 - 0 Poland. Ciara Grant with the winning goal

USA will play Denmark in the championship game.

A lot of really good photos from the US v Norway game up on Isiphotos. It looks like they are finally really enjoying themselves. The first couple are just TK celebrating her goal, which I found pretty entertaining.

Hopefully here is the Link. Otherwise again they are on Isiphotos.