New tourney on the horizon... February/March Host: Spain (San Pedro) 6 teams - each team will play three games. Brazil, New Zealand, Scotland, Russia and Poland (show preliminary intrest - not confirmed yet) http://www.iast.sk/pinatarcup/ "PINATAR CUP is a brand new product for 6 National Women’s “A” Teams with premiere in 2019. The purpose of organising such event is to offer different option, as requested from our clients, with guarantee of 3 International Friendly Matches, instead of 4 as in traditional tournaments. Teams will be divided in 2 groups of 3 playing against each other in a group, with elimination round consisting 1 match. This tournament will be held in Spain, San Pedro del Pinatar with cooperation of our great partner PINATAR ARENA."
Interesting, with the SheBelieves, Cyprus and Algarve still on there will be plenty of tournaments around for that period.
The timing actually seems to imply they want to compete with Algarve (similar location, same days). I wonder if their target are "somehow weaker teams" that don't use to find a place at Algarve Cup or if there will actually be some kind of competition to get the best teams (Brazil is anyway a top 10). Algarve Cup already lost USA and a good number of top-level teams when SheBelieves Cup was created (this year, much to my dismay, they will likely lose Japan, since unofficial leaks say that the team should be included in the SB Cup's line-up). Are there enough international teams interested in having an international tournament in that particular window that everyone of these tournaments will thrive, or one of them will be somehow destined to succumb?
Wales have pulled out of the Cyprus Cup Ludlow's side will travel to Italy in January, before taking on the Republic of Ireland in Malaga as part of a warm-weather training camp Wales have organised instead of playing in the Cyprus Cup. Republic of Ireland v Wales, Thursday 28 February
I think that's above is the key. Especially in WWC year when teams doesn't try new rosters but rather are intrested in specific tactics and simulation of group stage. Spain, Brazil, New Zealand and Scotland that's given and as for Poland... the aim is to qualify for Euro 2021. In order to do that Biało-czerwone are in need to challenge themselves against top teams and not vs. Ukraine, Kosovo or Turkey (same goes for Russia I think)
(As reported a few days ago Autotranslated: https://www.marca.com/futbol/futbol-femenino/2018/12/19/5c1a276f22601d620b8b45f4.html / Spanish original) Yet another Pinatar Cup is ruined Why do they always do this??
Their website (IAST) says they organized the Scotland v NZ games in Spain in 2018. They said 5 teams were 'confirmed' for a week of friendlies this month (January), but none of them are playing each other. - http://www.iast.sk/week-of-womens-football/ (Archived)