Fast girls sometimes pull their hamstrings, and that's not good
Forward Alex Morgan, the youngest player in WNT Training Camp at age 20, has left camp after suffering a hamstring injury in training on Wednesday. One of the heroes of the USA's title run at the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, the speedy Morgan hurt the hammie bad enough that she was ruled out of competing for the rest of the camp, so she has returned to school at UC Berkeley to begin the rehab process.

Portugal, as Cat Whitehill sees it

To be fair, I'm merely battling a hangover as a result of last night's karaoke extravaganza which you would already know about if you follow me on twitter. (warning: I rarely tweet about football). The USWNT made a somewhat ironic move this week as the formerly ill Megan Rapinoe replaced the now ill Tobin Heath on the Algarve Cup roster.

Hope, Carli, & Amy all agree the new USWNT kits look much better than the men's

This post will be quick as I'm spending the weekend in rainy San Diego (you stay classy) to visit my sister... and her wine collection.

The USWNT are taking the Algarve Cup competition by storm.

United States Women's coach Pia Sundhage has called 26 players into camp in preparation for the 2010 Algarve Cup in Portugal. The United States has been drawn into a group with Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. The tournament kicks off on February 24th. The US will have two scrimmages against Korea during camp in Carson, California.

The U.S. Women's National Team's failure to produce live updates today for most of the Algarve Cup opening match against Iceland was disappointing. I'm writing this blog to share my personal game-day experience, commend those who "came to the rescue", suggest that U.S. Soccer start covering the U.

No sooner has the Women's Professional Soccer draft been completed that the U.S. Women's National Team has convened at The Home Depot Center for an extended 20-day training camp in Carson, Calif. The runs through Feb. 4 and features two scrimmages against the Korea Republic Women's National Team. More importantly, it gives head coach Pia Sundhage a final look at her crop of players before selecting the 18-player roster for the Algarve Cup that kicks off Feb.

It's already been a long training camp for the U.S. WNT and there is still seven days left. U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage invited four goalkeepers to this training camp, which has certainly kept U.S. goalkeeper coach Paul Rogers busy. Or, is it Rogers that has kept the four GKs busy? We think the latter.

CHICAGO (Feb. 11, 2009) – Following a 20-day training camp at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., U.S. Women's National Team head coach Pia Sundhage has named a 19-player roster for the 2010 Algarve Cup in Portugal.

This year's tournament is being staged a week earlier than normal and will run from Feb.

It's business as usual for the USWNT. This week, our fearless leaderâ„¢ released the 2010 Algarve Cup roster which contained a few surprises.

Off the roster: Christie Rampone (pregnant), Kate Markgraf (post-pregnant), Megan Rapinoe (illness), Lori Chalupny (concussion), Natasha Kai (girl better be off this roster cause she's mending her broke shoulders.

As you may already know, the Algarve Cup is played across a very large area along the southern tip of Portugal. Considering this, when we lay out the upcoming day's schedule each evening, we have to consider who's playing when, where, and how long the drive is between towns. We want to catch as much as the action and see as many teams as we possibly can!

I'm currently in the Portugal for the 2010 NSCAA Algarve Cup Symposium, and I'm posting insights and info as we get to matches and training sessions- I hope you enjoy the updates!

Today was one of the most amazing days I could have asked for in the Algarve. Photo Above I can't believe I was on the pitch with Tina Theune-Meyer, April Heinrichs and Pia Sundhage at the same time.

What seemed like tough going for the United States Women ended up being a comfortable victory courtesy of second-half substitute Lauren Cheney. She scored in the 56th minute and added a second in the 87th to advance the US to the Algarve Cup final. -- GAME REPORT -- Match: US Women's National Team vs.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Steve Cherundolo hasn't played in a competitive match in over a month after suffering a shoulder injury, but Cherundolo aims to end that drought this weekend.

Cherundolo trained with the U.S. national team on Monday after being given the green light to return to practice by his club, Hannover 96.

I'm here at the Algarve Cup tournament in Portugal, and we have a couple NSCAA Master Coach candidates in attendance. Sam Laity offered up a match analysis of the Germany v Finland game for Soccer Science. Enjoy!

Germany vs. Finland Feb 27th, 2010
Algarve Cup, Portugal
By Sam Laity, NSCAA 2010 Master Coach candidate

German engineering at it's best.

The United States Women won the 2010 Algarve Cup on Wednesday, beating Germany 302 in Faro, Portugal. Carli Lloyd had the first US goal in the 18th minute. Abby Wambach made it 2-0 in the 22nd. Inka Grings got a goal back for Germany in the 40th. Lauren Cheney scored the third US goal in the 69th-minute.

The U.S. Women's National Team got goals from Carli Lloyd, Abby Wambach and Lauren Cheney to defeat Germany 3-2 and claim the 2010 Algarve Cup title. The win marked the seventh time the USA has won the tournament and sixth time in the last eight years. The U.S. has been in the final every year since 2002.

FARO, Portugal (March 3, 2010) – The U.S. Women's National Team scored twice in the first half and once in the second to defeat Germany 3-2 in the championship game of the 2010 Algarve Cup.

Carli Lloyd's goal in the 18th minute was followed by a powerful header from Abby Wambach four minutes later, staking the U.

And I do wish it was Sunday. Whoa whoa.My USMNT Player Ratings are up, but let's start our video look back at Wednesday by sampling something more pleasant: the USWNT's thrilling Algarve Cup final win over Germany. I will also drop a triple dose of Group C Advanced Scouting shortly.- Greg Seltzer

The U.S. Women's National Team lost a penalty kick shootout to Sweden in the championship game of the 2009 Algarve Cup after the match ended dramatically with a 1-1 score in regulation. Shannon Boxx equalized in the 90th minute and the match went directly to penalty kicks, where the USA lost 4-3 after seven shooters.

The US women's national soccer team will be back in action after defeating Germany 3-2 for the Algarve Cup title in Portugal on Feb. 3. Head coach Pia Sundhage has named the 24 players that will take on Mexico in two friendly matches. The first game will be on Sunday, Mar. 28 at Torero Stadium (University of San Diego) at 2pm PT and will be aired live on FSC.

Speculation about whether Chris Seitz will start in goal on Saturday continues.

Fred, Moreno and Orozco talk about what it means to play at home.

Union president Tom Viet and midfielder Andrew Jacobson were on WMGK's John DeBella show yesterday. "They talked about already being hated for being Philly, their new stadium which is set to open soon and their game this Saturday against the dreaded FC Dallas.

Alie Krieger, FFC Frankfurt

CHICAGO (June 28, 2010) – U.S. Women's National Team head coach Pia Sundhage has called up 24 players for the USA's two matches against Sweden taking place on July 13 in Omaha, Neb. at Creighton University's Morrison Stadium, live on ESPN2 at 8 p.

Alie Krieger, FFC Frankfurt

CHICAGO (June 28, 2010) – U.S. Women's National Team head coach Pia Sundhage has called up 24 players for the USA's two matches against Sweden taking place on July 13 in Omaha, Neb. at Creighton University's Morrison Stadium, live on ESPN2 at 8 p.

Hello Ashlyn...

With Hope Solo undergoing surgery yesterday, and Alyssa Naeher and Nicole Barnhart still involved in the WPS playoffs, just one goalkeeper had been in camp, that being Jill Loyden of the Chicago Red Stars. Let's just say she was getting A LOT of reps. The U.S.

Catching up on the day:

*U.S. Soccer said today a USMNT Feb. 24 exhibition at home against El Salvador is under consideration. The U.S. has confirmed games before the World Cup begins against Honduras Jan. 23 at Home Depot Center and the Netherlands in Amsterdam March 3.

*Chivas USA announced this afternoon that striker Eduardo Lillingston is going out on loan to second division Mexican team Tijuana.

Today was the second day off from training during this camp and it came at a good time, with more than a few players starting to feel the strain on their legs of about nine hard days of practices so far. The weather was mercifully beautiful today in the Los Angeles area (don't you hate when you are a soccer player and it rains on one of the few days off during camp?

Tomorrow is the third and final day off during this WNT camp. It's well-deserved and much needed. Every player in camp played 90 minutes today in scrimmages vs. boys, thus the legs are tired, the muscles are barking and the bumps are bruised. A day of rest will do the team well. Tomorrow will feature a team breakfast out of the hotel, then a free day.

Three in the morning:

*A three-round WPS dispersal draft for the 20 players from the defunct Sol begins at 10 a.m. today. St. Louis has the first pick: Marta or Torrance's Shannon Boxx?

*The apparent disintegration of the Carson-based David Beckham Academy is apparently all but complete (and yes, I'm aware the link to the local academy redirects to Beckham's defunct London branch, which merely underlines the point): Stephen Myles, 48, the academy's director of competition the last two years has joined the New England Revolution as assistant coach.

Following a 20-day training camp at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., U.S. Women's National Team head coach Pia Sundhage has named a 19-player roster for the 2010 Algarve Cup in Portugal that will run Feb. 24 through March 3. The roster chosen by Sundhage features one of the biggest turnovers from the previous year's Algarve Cup roster since the USA started attending the tournament in 1994.

On Thursday, US Women's coach Pia Sundhage announced the roster for the Algarve Cup. The US open against Iceland on February 24th. They play Norway on the 26th and Sweden on March 1st to finish out their group. GOALKEEPERS (3): Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride), Jill Loyden (Chicago Red Stars), Hope Solo (St.

Chicago Red Stars forward Casey Nogueira was one of 19 players named to the new-look U.S. women's national team roster for the Algarve Cup in Portugal.

Nogueira, who played her freshman year at Cedarburg High School, has one career cap: She started for the Americans in a 1-1 draw against England on Jan.

CHICAGO (Feb. 11, 2009) – Following a 20-day training camp at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., U.S. Women's National Team head coach Pia Sundhage has named a 19-player roster for the 2010 Algarve Cup in Portugal.

This year's tournament is being staged a week earlier than normal and will run from Feb.

CHICAGO (Feb. 9, 2010) The U.S. Women's National Team will play its first two domestic matches of 2010 against Mexico on March 28 at Torero Stadium on the campus of the University of San Diego and March 31 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, the home of reigning Major League Soccer champion Real Salt Lake.

I'm at home packing my final bits before jumping on my flight to the NSCAA Algarve Cup Symposium but wanted to get this post in before I headed out. You can follow my travels including photos, interviews, notes and reviews from the games and training sessions at http://www.twitter.com/nscaawomen.

The United States Women faced a significant test in their second Algarve Cup game, needing a stoppage time winner to beat Norway 2-1. Abby Wambach put the US up in the 13th-minute, and that lead held until the 63rd when Isabel Herlovsen scored for Norway. It would be Wambach again for the winning goal, scoring in the 92nd-minute.

AP Photo/Armando Franca

OLHÃO, Portugal (February 26, 2010) – Forward Abby Wambach scored two goals, including the game-winner in stoppage time of the second half, to lead the U.S. Women's National Team to a dramatic 2-1 victory against Norway in the second match of Group B at the 2010 Algarve Cup.

Chicago Red Stars forwards Casey Nogueira (Cedarburg) set up the first goal as the U.S. women's national team beat Sweden 2-0 today in Ferreiras, Portugal, to earn a spot in its eighth straight Algarve Cup final.

The U.S., No. 1 in the FIFA world rankings, will play second-ranked Germany at 10 a.

I hope you've been able to follow along on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nscaawomen over the last couple days. Although I took today off from Tweeting, I will certainly be back at it tomorrow for the Algarve Cup finale.



Here's the Algarve Cup schedule for the final day of competition:


11am local time: Austria vs.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Steve Cherundolo hasn't played in a competitive match in over a month after suffering a shoulder injury, but Cherundolo aims to end that drought this weekend.

Cherundolo trained with the U.S. national team on Monday after being given the green light to return to practice by his club, Hannover 96.

AP Photo/Andre Penner

FERREIRAS, Portugal (March 1, 2010) – Second-half substitute Lauren Cheney scored two wonderful goals to lead the U.S. Women's National Team to a 2-0 victory against Sweden in the final Group B match at the 2010 Algarve Cup.

The victory puts the USA into its eighth consecutive Algarve Cup final where it will face Germany, winners of Group A after a dominating 5-0 victory against China today.