Algarve Cup 2014 Group B : USA , Sweden , Denmark and Japam March 5 USA vs Japan March 7 USA vs Sweden March 10 USA vs Denmark http://svenskfotboll.se/landslag/landskamper/
It should be interesting to see how the US takes on Japan for the first time since the Olympic final. Even more interesting that the March 5 match falls on the two-year anniversary of the last US loss, which happened to be at the hands of Japan in the 2012 Algarve Cup. The March 7 match should be exciting as well, with Sweden being one of the only four teams to deny the US a win since that loss, the others being Japan, Germany, and [in a tie that many consider a fluke] New Zealand. The Swedes put up quite a fight in their stalemate at the 2013 Algarve Cup, and might have won had it not been for a timely goal from Alex Morgan. I'm curious whether having Pia Sundhage at the helm of the other team just a few months after she left the USWNT psyched out some US players. Kelley O'Hara was quoted as saying ““When she started to yell when I was on her side, I am so used to hearing her voice; it was like, ‘Are you talking to me? Oh, you’re talking Swedish. I’m not on your team anymore!’ So it was a bit weird.”
Hopefully there will be some tape delay games on Fox Sports 1,2, or Plus. Those are 3 quality match ups and possibly a match with Germany in the final.
I watched them live, but I get the directTV Latino package. I can't remember whether I saw them in English or Spanish. As an aside, DirectTV doesn't do the PAC12, but is see lots of PAC12 football games from Argentina in Spanish. A couple weeks ago I saw Los Patos contra Los Arboles.
It would be great if they aired live this year (whether on Fox, NBC, ESPN/ESPN3, or whatever), but I'd be happy with tape-delayed on Fox again like last year.
If they made money I guess they will do it again...if not we're back to game tracker. Actually, FOX should try and grab this and do it live. There isnt really much for them to build their WWC coverage on except the occasional friendly and CONCACAF. This has a really strong field and would give them the chance to show off some of the WWC 2015 contenders..
If the USA wins B group and takes on the expected Germany in the finals than this would be the German's most likely starting lineup(based on the most recent 5 wc qualifiers ------------Angerer------------------ Schmidt....Krahn...Bartusiak....Maier ....Kessler..................Goessling......... Mitag............Marozsan...........Laudehr .....................Sasic................................... subs, Bajmai Popp Leupolz The German's had their poorest showing of the year when the US beat them 2-0 at the 2013 Algarve finale Their coach, Sylvia Neid, did have most of her best players in the lineup. all except her important back line. Alex Morgan went hog wild against this backline compromised of mostly Wolfsburg players(good club players but not elite NT's) .............................Shult(gk).................. Maier...........Wenzsng..........Henning.......Faist the US lineup against them was this(not sure on the exact configuration) ..Leroux............Press...................Morgan Rapinoe..............Boxx............Ohara Averbush......Engen......Buehler.......Krieger ........................Barnhart.............................. thankly Wambach sat out, but not our strongest midfield ever, as Heath, Lloyd & Haliday were missing here's a replay of the 1st half, in which US dominated play. Surprisingly they allowed up to 6 subs in this game making the 2nd half more chaotic. but knowing that Germany's will have stronger defenders will be there this time around , what should the US best possible lineup would be???
Really. Bajramaj has been playing wonderfully for Frankfurt. I would be very surprised not to see her starting.
Too many people worry about about match ups with the other teams. For me, Sermanni needs to concentrate on what the US is doing and take the other teams as they come. They need to possess the ball much better in the midfield and make easy scoring chances for the forwards. If they do that the rest will take care of itself.
Looked at the scores. How do you leave Morgan totally unmarked 15 yards from goal? Even league players ought to be thinking about getting a body on her.
here's the 2nd half of last year's finale Great defensive work by the US as it holds on to it's 2-0 lead that it got in the 1st half. Neid tries to rally her team by making by trying to take control with a short passing game, but its a be-careful-what -you-ask-for as Sermanni pushes his back line up the field there by trapping Neid's team into a compact, tight spots. The German's can't match up with their physically stronger US counterparts and start suffering a number of injuries(though nothing serious) Neid will definitley be looking out for revenge if they meet again in the Algarve Cup as really got outsmarted big time in this particular game!
Thank you for the video link. 2nd half was sloppy. Barnie finished that match. Got any other links to vids?
I posted this in the International thread but I'll do it again here since Sweden and Denmark are in our group. They've both announced their Algarve rosters. Sweden: http://www.womenssoccerunited.com/group/algarvecup/forum/topics/sweden-wnt-algarve-cup-2014 Denmark: http://www.womenssoccerunited.com/group/algarvecup/forum/topics/denmark-names-team-for-algarve-cup
Tom should put all those players that were not given fair chances during Pia's time in the match against Sweden. They will work extra harder to prove Pia was wrong.