Alex Morgan will be looking to add to her 16 career WNT goals against DenmarkThe USA and Denmark will meet for the 24th time and 10th time in the Algarve Cup on Feb. 29 at 5
p.m. local/Noon ET in Lagos, Portugal.
For all the news and notes on the match, click here.
(L to R): The Group B coaches, Japan's Norio Sasaki, Denmark asst. Danny Jung, Norway head
coach Eli Landsem and PiaRepresentatives from all 12 teams participating in the Algarve Cup attended a press conference
today, and as usual, not much of interest was said. (Coaches never seem to say much around other
coaches, right?
Shannon Smyth (Mequon/Milwaukee DSHA) was named to the Republic of Ireland squad for the
Algarve Cup in Portugal.
The 24-year-old Smyth, who will start her second season with Amazon Grimstad FK in Norway's
Toppserien in April, has six career caps. She has dual citizenship because her father,
Brendan, was born and raised in Ireland.
Alex Morgan scored a pair for the U.S. Women's National Team as they overcame a 1-0 deficit to grab
the win in stoppage time, 2-1.
Fun fact: The two headers in the 88th and 93rd minute meant that ten of her career 16 goals have
come in the 80th minute or later.
An uncharacteristically poor backpass to second half goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart gave New Zealand
the lead shortly after halftime (49th minute), but the sometimes sloppy Lady Nats found another
victory in the jaws of defeat.
Photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com
After coming off a dominant run through CONCACAF Olympic qualifying, the U.S. women's national
team had its hands full Saturday night with New Zealand before rising star Alex Morgan came to the
rescue.
Morgan scored in the 88th minute and again in stoppage time to help the U.
The U.S. WNT has a few days off before reconvening for the Algarve Cup next week. That means: a few
days back home, a few days to relax and conveniently it's right around Valentine's Day! Before the
players left Texas, we asked a few what their ideal Valentine's Day plans would be!
U.S. midfielder Tobin Heath:
"I think simpler the better.
The U.S. WNT will depart for the Algarve region of Portugal next week in preparation for the 19th
Annual Algarve Cup, a tournament that has become a fixture in the USA's yearly schedule and soccer
culture.
U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage will bring 23 players to Portugal and choose 21 for the tournament
roster.
The U.S. WNT has arrived in the Algarve region on the southern coast of Portugal for its annual
trip to the Algarve Cup, a tournament that is always competitive and has been a proving ground for
numerous young U.S. players over the years.
The travel day is long, especially for those coming from the West Coast, but the six-hour flight
from New Jersey and three-hour bus ride south to the southern coast of the country is pretty easy
considering some of the trips this team takes.
Lauren Cheney, here talking to Asst. Coach Jill Ellis, had a breakout tournament at the Algarve
Cup in 2010Considering the U.S. WNT has played 63 matches all-time at the Algarve Cup, it's no surprise that
more than a few young players have made their debuts at this annual tournament in Portugal.
On the first full day in the Algarve for the U.S. WNT, the team of course had a full day. That
means weights, training and a meeting. The squad seems to have, for the most part, shook of the
malaise of the travel and had a 90-minute training on a beautiful afternoon.
Here are a few pics from training.
After several years of cloudy weather here in the Algarve during the USA's pre-tournament
preparation, the warm sunshine has been more than welcome, especially after two straight freezing
events -- the Olympic Qualifying in Vancouver, Canada (thankfully played all indoors) and a frigid
week in Dallas (almost colder than Canada.
Heather O'Reilly, Amy LePeilbet and Becky Sauerbrunn at training in the Algarve
The U.S. WNT and Denmark -- the Americans first Algarve Cup opponent this year -- have a
long history at this tournament dating back to 1995.
That was the year Denmark picked up its lone Algarve Cup victory over the USA, a 2-0 decision.
Abby Wambach will have a new title at the London Games.
Coach Pia Sundhage recently named the 31-year-old Wambach a co-captain of the U.S. women's
soccer team- or essentially the vice-captain to team leader Christie Rampone.
It makes sense, given that the dominant striker was already the team's go-to spokeswoman and
vocal locker room leader.
The USA's practice on Saturday consisted of a closed-door training match against China on a
stunningly beautiful afternoon in the Algarve.
The 90-minute scrimmage featured different U.S. teams in each half with the Americans coming away
with a 3-0 triumph on goals from Alex Morgan, Heather O'Reilly and Sydney Leroux.
It's easy as sports fans to demand certain things from our teams... especially coverage of
games. Unfortunately, as women's soccer fans we can't always get what we want. I'll be the first to
admit that I enjoy harassing the USWNT (US Women's National Team) media team via Twitter to stream
domestic games online when they aren't on television.
They don't call her Lightning for nothing...
The USA's training in the Algarve is basically done as just one practice remains before the team
opens the tournament on Feb. 29 against Denmark. Once the games start -- there will be four in
eight days -- the USA does more recovery than training.
Wednesday is most notable in U.S. Soccer circles because of the men's national team's friendly
in Italy, but teams on three of the federation's other levels will be in action as well.
The women's national team kicks off its quest for a third consecutive Algarve Cup championship
in Portugal, the U-23 men's team faces Mexico in the final friendly leading into next month's
CONCACAF Olympic qualifying and the U-20 men's team faces the Montreal Impact reserve as Tab Ramos
continues guiding his current camp down in Florida.
U.S. WNT head coach Pia Sundhage has named the 21 players who will suit up for the four 2012
Algarve Cup matches. She brought 23 players to Portugal so only goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris and
defender Meghan Klingenberg (who suffered a slight ankle injury during training this week) will not
suit up for the games.
