The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team will play a pair of domestic matches in May to prepare for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, facing Japan on May 14 at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, and on May 18 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.

The match at Columbus Crew Stadium will kick off at 6:30 p.

After rain almost every day at last year's Algarve Cup tournament and rain yesterday during the USA's first day in Portugal, the sun came out today and showed why the Algarve is such a popular tourist destination. The U.S. players didn't have much time to enjoy the scenery with weights in the morning and training in the afternoon, but tomorrow features just one training, so some strolls on the beach might be forthcoming.

Today's training was a light one. The squad did the beep test on a turf field and then walked down a hill to the grass field for a warm-up and some 9 v 9 from end-line to half field. Lots of nice goals, but a few particularly spicy ones from Lindsay Tarpley. You know the players below, but since not much went on today in the Algarve, we thought we'd give them their close-ups.

Champions, again.The United States Women's Nation Team took full honors at the Four Nations Tournament with a 2-0 defeat of the hosts in Chongquing, China. The USWNT suffered an early set up, losing 2-1 to Sweden, but then successive wins against Canada and China sealed the tournament win. It was their seventh title in eight trips to the tournament.

The U.S. team doesn't leave for the Algarve Cup until the end of the week, and will spend 11 days training in southern Portugal, as much for the upcoming WWC as for the Algarve Cup itself, before opening the competition on March 2 vs. Japan. Meanwhile, preparations are underway in Portugal to host 12 teams, and that means the unveiling of the tournament poster for 2011.

It's time once again for the annual trek to Portugal for the U.S. WNT which will be participating in the Algarve Cup for the 16th time. The Algarve Cup -- the biggest little tournament in the world -- has long been one of the favorite trips for the U.S. team, mostly for the great games, the food, the beautiful coast line and hopefully, the nice weather.

U.S. Women's National Team2011 Algarve CupThe Algarve, PortugalFeb. 21, 2011
U.S. WNT ARRIVES EARLY IN PORTUGAL FOR 11 DAYS OF TRAINING BEFORE ALGARVE CUP: The U.S. Women's National Team has arrived on the southern coast of Portugal to prepare for its second international tournament of 2011.

In Part 1 of Back Home with Christie Rampone we visited the U.S. captain at her home in Manasquan, N.J. before the team left for the Algarve Cup at the end of February. There we saw her unique house (an old, old house that had been almost totally and fantastically remodeled) and we of course met her family, and dog.

As you can see, it's nice the nicest day ever in the Yongchuan suburb of Chongqing, and we're not sure if its fog or smog, but probably a combo. Needless to say, it's pretty dark and cool here on the first full day for the U.S. team in China, but no one comes to central China in January for vacation, the USA is here for three excellent games.

And it's the team's second loss in the last five games:

CHONGQING, China (AP) -- The U.S. women's team began World Cup preparations by losing a match in which it led for the first time in more than eight years.

Carli Lloyd's goal off an 11th-minute corner kick was offset when Stina Segerstrom scored in the 16th and Kosovare Asllani in the 60th to give Sweden a 2-1 victory over the Americans on Friday in the opening game of the Four Nations Tournament.

The 2011 Four Nations Champions
Another exciting night in U.S. WNT history tonight as the USA rebounds from an opening game loss to win two straight games and take the 2011 Four Nations Tournament championship. Two very nice goals from the USA proved to be the difference in a match in which China had the majority of possession, but the USA had the majority of chances.

The training camps come fast and furious in a World Cup year and the U.S. WNT will get back at it on Feb. 3 as the team comes together for a week-long training camp in Ft. Lauderdale. It is first extended training period in Ft. Lauderdale since 2000 for the U.S. women and Pia Sundhage will bring 32 players into camp, all vying for 23 spots on the roster for the 2011 Algarve Cup in Portugal.

In lieu of a real training session, the U.S. WNT spent three hours this morning shooting footage for ESPN for a commercial that will air promoting the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. We can't give away anything about the spot, but the players and crew had fun on a bit of a hot morning and the players performed like Hollywood veterans on the "set".

Following a seven-day camp in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., US head coach Pia Sundhage has named the 24-player roster that will travel to Portugal for the Algarve Cup (March 2-9). Sundhage will name a 20-player roster before the start of the tournament.

Hope Solo will go on this trip, but is not ready to compete in matches, and will be in Portugal to train as she enters the final stages of rehabilitation from shoulder surgery.

*In what is largely a cosmetic move from a title standpoint, Chivas USA has named Nick Theslof technical director.

Theslof joined the Chivas USA coaching staff when Martin Vasquez became head coach last year after both had served on Jürgen Klinsmann's staff at Bayern Munich.

From the Chivas USA press release:

In his first season at Chivas USA, Theslof worked with the first team in scouting and performance evaluation, as well as coaching skills and technique, and will continue those roles in 2011 while also adding oversight and evaluation of player development, especially at the youth level.

CHICAGO (Feb. 10, 2011) – Following a seven-day training camp in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., U.S. Women's National Team head coach Pia Sundhage has named a 24-player preliminary roster for the 2011 Algarve Cup in Portugal.
This year's tournament is being staged from March 2-9 and the U.

The U.S. team will return to the southern coast of Portugal once again for the Algarve Cup and U.S. WNT head coach Pia Sundhage has selected 24 players for one of the best trips the team makes. Why is it a great trip? Great training, great games, great food, great country, great area...and if they're lucky, great weather.

Lindsay Tarpley (Madison) celebrated her first start for the U.S. women's national team in nearly 18 months in fine fashion Friday.

Tarpley scored the 28th goal of her international career in the 34th minute, helping the U.S. to a 2-0 victory over Norway at the Algarve Cup in Vila Real de San Antonio, Portugal.

The Algarve Cup continued today with the second day of group play. Six matches were played across the southern region of Portugal and we learned a little bit about what the championship match will look like.

Day 2 of the Algarve Cup started off with Japan crushing Finland with 5 goals. Shinobu Ohno kicked things for Japan with her goal in the 16th minute of the match.

The final day of group play was played in both the Algarve Cup and Cyprus Cup on March 7 and placements matches were set. The USA and Iceland will play for the title on March 9 at 12 pm ET.

In Group A, Norway defeated Japan with a score of 1-0, while the US dominated Finland and winning 4-0.

CHICAGO (March 15, 2011) – U.S. Women's National Team head coach Pia Sundhage has named a roster of 23 players to travel to the United Kingdom on March 21 in preparation for the USA's first match in England on April 2 at Brisbane Road in East London. The game will be televised live on ESPN2 at 3 p.

Women's soccer

Abby Wambach is the AP's 2011 Female Athlete of the Year. Come on, WPS. Capitalize on this!

The USWNT will face Denmark, Norway and World Champions Japan in the 2012 Algarve Cup, which runs Feb. 29-March 7 in Portugal.

THE Val Henderson has a great article up on ESPN-W about Joanna Lohman and Lianne Sanderson traveling to India to start a clinic and mentoring program.

The U.S. Women's National Team has ended 2011 as the top-ranked team in the world according to the year-end FIFA rankings.
The USA remained at #1, just ahead of Germany and third-place Japan, which has achieved its highest ranking ever.
The Nadeshiko benefited from Brazil's inconsistent performances: two draws against Canada (7th, up 2), narrow wins over Mexico (21st, up 1) and Costa Rica (41st, up 3) and a defeat by Denmark (12th, up 2) not only leave Brazil with a loss of 28 points and in 4th place, but see the Brazilians slip out of the top-3 for the first time since June of 2008.