I was privileged to be a guest on Vuvuzela The World Soccer Show on Tuesday evening to discuss the roots of Milwaukee United Soccer Club, our goals as an organization, and where we want to see the game of women's soccer go in this country. A previous segment of the show got into a discussion of soccer academies in the United States and their place in developing players for the professional game (namely, the men's game).
Last week we heard the news that Australian Women's National Team coach Tom Sermanni will be taking over as the head coach of the US Women's National Team. The news was received with both positive and negative reactions from fans. While it's always nice to pick a fight on Twitter, there were several points that I found reasonable.
It's been several weeks since we've had a new post here on Two Touch Pass, and I've spent a week
or so contemplating my first post back. I suppose the reason we went away for awhile had to do with
our busy lives, full of new adventures, big moves, and the many distractions we have in life. But,
I'll be completely honest, my absence has been due to a post-Olympic hangover that has required me
to catch my breath (weeks later) after stressing for 3 weeks.
FIFA Ranking: 61 Coach : Joseph Mkhonza Number of Olympics Appearances: 1st appearance Group: F (Canada, Japan, Sweden) First match: Against Sweden on July 25th
South Africa Team roster: Goalkeeper
Roxanne Barker       Pepperdine University (USA)
Thokozile Mndaweni     University of Johannesburg
Defenders
Refiloe Jane          Sundowns Ladies FC
Nothando Vilakazi         Palace Super Falcons
Amanda Sister              Liverpool Ladies FC
Janine van Wyk          Palace Super Falcons
Zamandosi Cele       Durban Ladies FC
Midfielders
Leandra Smeda        Cape Town Roses FC
Kylie-Ann Louw            Stephen F Austin (USA)
Amanda Dlamini                 University of Johannesburg
Mary Ntsweng                    TUT Ladies FC
Noko Matlou                          University of Johannesburg
Portia Modise                              Palace Super Falcons
Gabisile Hlumbane Kovsies       Ladies FC
Forward
Sanah Mollo Bloemfontein                Celtics
Robyn Moodaly           High Performance Centre
Nompumelelo Nyandeni                   FC Rossiyanka (Russia)
Andisiwe Mgcoyi                               Sundowns Ladies
FC
Alternates
Lebogang Mabatle Halleluyah                    Zebra Force
Jermaine Seoposenwe                 Santos Ladies FC
Andile Dlamini                 Sundowns Ladies FC
Nocawe Skiti                                     Cape Town
Roses FC
Preparation
South Africa WNT played the Cyprus Cup and the team ended up in 10th place.
FIFA Ranking: 1 (as of July, 2012) Coach: Pia Sundhage Number of Olympics Appearances: The US has participated in every Olympics where
women's soccer has been a sport (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012), with three gold medals (1996, 2004,
2008) and one silver medal (2000).
FIFA Ranking: 5 (as of July, 2012) Coach: Jorge Barcellos Number of Olympics Appearances: The US has participated in every Olympics where
women's soccer has been a sport (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012), with two silver medals (2004, 2008)
and two fourth place finishes (1996, 2000).
Number of Olympic Appearances: This will be New Zealand's second time
participating in women's soccer at an Olympics
Group: E (Great Britain, Cameroon, Brazil)
First Match: July 25 against Great Britain
The Football Ferns will play in the opening women's soccer match of the 2012 London Olympics
against the host team, Great Britain at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
Sweden The Blågult (Blue and Yellow) FIFA Ranking: 4 Coach : Thomas Dennerby Number of Olympics Appearances: 4th Olympics appearances (best result 4th in
2004) Group: F (Canada, Japan, South Africa) First match: Against South Africa on 7/25
Sweden Women's National Team Roster
Hedvig Lindahl (Kristianstad DFF)
Sofia Lundgren (Linköpings FC )
Berglund Emma (Umeå IK FF)*
Malin Leve City (LdB FC Malmö)*
Annica Svensson (Tyresö FF)
Sara Thunebro (The first SAK Frankfurt)
Lina Nilsson (LdB FC Malmö)*
Linda Sembrant (Tyresö FF)
Lisa Dahlkvist (Tyresö FF)
Nilla Fischer (Linköpings FC)
Antonia Göransson (The first FFC Turbine Potsdam)
Sofia Jakobsson FC Rossijanka
Caroline Seger (Tyresö FF)
Johanna Almgren (Kopparbergs / Göteborg FC
Kosovare Asllani (Kristianstad DFF)*
Marie Hammarström KIF Orebro DFF
Lotta Schelin (Olympique Lyonnais)
Madelaine Edlund (Tyresö FF)
Alternates :
Kristin Hammarstrom Kopparbergs / Göteborg FC
Stina Segerstrom Kopparbergs / Göteborg FC
Susan Moberg Kristianstad DFF
Jessica Landström Djurgårdens IF DFF
Preparation
The Swedish team qualified for the Olympics after reaching the 3rd place at the Women's World
Cup.
Number of Olympic Appearances: This will be Japan's fourth time participating
in women's soccer at an Olympics
Group: F (Canada, Sweden, South Africa)
First Match: July 25 against Canada
Japan, the current World Cup champions, are setting out to do what no other women's soccer team
has done in the past: consecutively win a World Cup and an Olympic gold.
Number of Olympics Appearances: This will be Great Britain's first time
participating in women's soccer at an Olympic. Normally there is no single national team
representing the Great Britain.
FIFA Ranking: 28 (as of July, 2012) Coach: Ricardo Roso Number of Olympics Appearances: This will be Colombia's first time participating
in women's soccer at an Olympics. Group: G (United States, France, North Korea) First match: Against North Korea on 7/25
The Colombian Women's National Team is an up and coming team that will play the United States,
North Korea, and France in group play (Group G).
FIFA Ranking: 50 (as of July, 2012) CAF Ranking: 2nd Coach: Enow Nagatchu Number of Olympics Appearances: This will be Cameroon's first time participating
in women's soccer at an Olympics.
