Blissett, looks like they stuck it to Japan! https://mobile.twitter.com/i/web/status/938359908000550912 while my fav Matildas got a free ride right into the finals
Wow, two Euro 2017 finalists in our group? And the team that just made the biggest upset of WWC 2019 qualifiers? Geez!!! How are we supposed to go through? (we had anyway beaten Iceland in 2017 at Algarve and, although we lost to Netherlands back then for an own goal at 93', we had beaten them earlier with a Yokoyama's goal also). Well, not impossible for our team but quite hard for sure. Being in the same group as Portugal at Algarve is always a doozy (although they've got better and better in the last years; you don't invite the best NTs at your home each year for nothing: they managed to qualify for Euro 2017 and didn't look so bad at all there). A declining Norway and an usually disappointing South Korea complete a group that looks indeed quite easy for Australia on paper. Let's see what Sam Kerr will make of this. I see Canada winning group 3. I can't remember how do they choose the finalists from the 3 group winners, with this new formula: goal difference?
No defending champions... Part of me wants to be surprised, but then again the Spanish federation hasn't always been very supportive of its WNT...
now we speculate who'll be in the Cyprus Cup. Italy? Scotland? New Zealand? Mexico? Ireland? Spain? Switzerland(2017 champs)?
fair enough! It really is frigging disappointing that Norway have a top five footballer in the world that chooses not to play for the WNT. What a flipping soap opera: "As the WNT turns" or " General Hegerberg"
but why not get rid of the coach instead? I mean what has he done but loose match after match. Remembering the US friendly, his game plan was such predictable schlock; it was like the US defense could triple team Hegerberg & not worry anybody else being open, simply cuz Ada was going to be the final target player no matter what. Then he turns an potential superstar like Thorisdottir into an disposable utility player,. Makes Mjelde an CB, whereby her excellent long distance shooting can't be used(unless on a free kick). And then of all things, uses Caro Hansen as a central mid, instead of the original right side winger that she so excelled at. How many losses will it take to finally get rid of him?
Wont they have to reorganise the groups for this 'friendly' tournament as Australia drew South Korea in the Asian Cup Finals in April ? Swap Australia with China perhaps?
Or it could be an "hiding" game: "Let's try to show the opponent the less we can during Algarve, to surprise them in the Asian Cup match"!
Algarve Cup Schedule: Group A: Feb. 28: Portugal v China, 3 pm in Lagos Feb. 28: Australia v Norway, 6:30 pm in Albufeira March 2: Portugal v Australia, 3 pm at Estadio Algarve March 2: China v Norway, 3 pm in Vila Real de Santo Antonio March 5: Portugal v Norway, 7 pm at Estadio Algarve March 5: Australia v China, 7 pm at Albufiera Group B: Feb. 28: South Korea v Russia, 3 pm at Albufeira Feb. 28: Canada v Sweden, 7 pm at Parchal March 2: Russia v Canada, 7 pm at Estadio Algarve March 2: Sweden v South Korea, 7 pm at Parchal March 5: Sweden v Russia, 3 pm in Lagos March 5: South Korea v Canada, 3 pm in Albufeira Group C: Feb 28: Japan v Netherlands, 3:40 pm at Parchal Feb 28: Denmark v Iceland, 6:30 pm at Lagos March 2: Japan v Iceland, 3:25 at Parchal March 2: Denmark v Netherlands, 6:30 pm at Vila Real de Santo Antonio March 5: Japan v Denmark, 3:40 pm at Estadio Algarve March 5: Iceland v Netherlands, 3:40 pm at Parchal Placement Matches on March 7
should be good first game between Norway vs Matildas, but watch out; those Aussies can sometimes be punch-drunk, lol
Unless Asian teams will employ some elaborate smoke screen tactics, this year edition of the tournament should give some exact answers of where on WoSo map those teams stand nowadays. Only two months to AFC Cup tourney and thus WWC qualification.
surprised blissett hasn't posted this yet(though he can be forgiving for his long hours devoted to spelling corrections!), but here is the roster for the 'nutty-shiko's; http://www.jfa.jp/eng/nadeshikojapan/news/00016164/ their bringing back Kumagai, but the coach still hasn't made up with Kawasumi
Actually, it's already been posted and thoroughly discussed on our Nadeshiko thread. And Kumagai is not big news: when she's not called is just because OL doesn't want to release her for some reasons (as it happened for Tournament of Nations last year). Otherwise, she's a fixture nobody ever discussed.
looks like Algarve is loosing it's luster lately; defending champs, Spain, ditching Aussie , Catlyn Foord, ligament tear and now, China's lovely GK, Zhao Lina, announcing retirement
China have confirmed today the squad to the Algarve Cup in Portugal. The Bayern's goalkeeper Wang Fei is included in the list. Goalkeepers: Lu Feifei (Jiangsu), Peng Shimeng (Jiangsu), Wang Fei (Bayern); Defenders: Wu Haiyan (Shandong), Li Danyang (Dalian), Ma Jun (Jiangsu), Dou Jiaxing (Jiangsu), Xue Jiao (Dalian), Liu Shanshan (Hebei); Midfielders: Tan Ruyin (Guangdong), Ren Guixin (Changchun), Liu Jing (Changchun), Han Peng (Changchun), Xu Yanlu (Jiangsu), Xiao Yuyi (Shanghai), Yan Jinjin (Shanghai), Li Ying (Shandong), Wang Shuang (Wuhan), Zhang Rui (Army), Lv Yueyun (Wuhan); Strikers: Song Duan (Dalian), Wang Shanshan (Dalian), Jin Kun (Jiangsu), Tang Jiali (Shanghai).
Sweden roster for Algarve Cup Goalkeepers: Hilda Carlén (Linköping), Hedvig Lindahl (Chelsea), Zecira Musovic (Rosengård) Defenders: Jonna Andersson (Chelsea), Nathalie Björn (Rosengård), Mia Carlsson (Kristianstad), Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea), Nilla Fischer (Wolfsburg), Hanna Glas (Eskilstuna), Amanda Ilestedt (Turbine), Linda Sembrant (Montpellier) Midfielders: Filippa Angeldahl (Linköping), Kosovare Asllani (Linköping), Hanna Folkesson (Rosengård), Lina Hurtig (Linköping), Fridolina Rolfö (Bayern), Elin Rubensson (Göteborg), Olivia Schough (Göteborg), Caroline Seger (Rosengård) Strikers: Stina Blackstenius (Montpellier), Sofia Jakobsson (Montpellier), Loreta Kullashi (Eskilstuna), Mimmi Larsson (Eskilstuna)
Korea Rebublic squad for Algarve Cup Goalkeepers: KANG Gaae(Gumi Sportstoto), YOON Younggeul(Gyeongju KHNP), KIM Minjeong(Incheon Hyundai Steel) Defenders: SHIM Seoyeon, KIM Hyeri, LIM Seonjoo, JANG Seulgi(Incheon Hyundai Steel), PARK Chorong (Hwacheon KSPO), SIN Damyeong(Suwon FMC), HONG Hyeji(Changnyeong WFC) Midfielders: CHO Sohyun(FA), LEE Mina, CHOI Yeseul(Kobe INAC, Japan), LEE Youngju, LEE Sodam(Incheon Hyundai Steel), JANG Chang(Korea University) Forwards: JI Soyun(Chelsea LFC), JEON Gaeul(Melbourne Victory FC), JEONG Seolbin, HAN Chaerin(Incheon Hyundai Steel), CHOE Yuri(Gumi Sportstoto), LEE Geummin(Gyeongju KHNP), SON Hwayeon(Changnyeong WFC)
Norway roster for Algarve Cup Goalkeepers Ingrid Hjelmseth (Stabæk) Cecilie Fiskerstrand (LSK Kvinner) Defenders Ingrid Moe Wold (LSK Kvinner) Ingrid Ryland (Djurgården) Maria Thorisdottir (Chelsea) Ina Gausdal (Kolbotn) Stine Reinås (Vålerenga) Kristine Minde (Wolfsburg) Elise Thorsnes (Canberra United) Midfielders Maren Mjelde (Chelsea) Ingvild Isaksen (Juventus) Guro Reiten (LSK Kvinner) Frida Maanum (Linköping) Ingrid Spord (Fiorentina) Forwards Synne Jensen (Stabæk) Lisa-Marie Utland (Rosengård) Emilie Haavi (LSK Kvinner) Caroline G. Hansen (Wolfsburg) Isabell Herlovsen (Vålerenga)
Australia squad for Algarve Cup Laura ALLEWAY - Melbourne Victory Mackenzie ARNOLD (Gk) - Brisbane Roar FC Hannah BREWER - Newcastle Jets, Tameka BUTT - Brisbane Roar FC Eliza CAMPBELL (Gk) - Adelaide United Ellie CARPENTER - Canberra United/Portland Thorns Steph CATLEY - Melbourne City FC Alex CHIDIAC - Adelaide United Emily CONDON - Adelaide United Caitlin COOPER - Sydney FC Larissa CRUMMER - Melbourne City FC Lisa DE VANNA - Sydney FC Emily GIELNIK - Brisbane Roar FC Katrina GORRY - Brisbane Roar FC Michelle HEYMAN - Canberra United Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT - FFC Turbine Potsdam Alanna KENNEDY - Melbourne City FC Samantha KERR - Perth Glory Chloe LOGARZO - Sydney FC Clare POLKINGHORNE - Brisbane Roar FC Hayley RASO - Brisbane Roar FC Kyah SIMON - Melbourne City FC Emily VAN EGMOND - Newcastle Jets Lydia WILLIAMS (Gk) - Melbourne City FC Georgia YEOMAN-DALE - Sydney FC, AUSTRALIA