USA face Japan in Algarve Cup opener

THE United States Women’s National Team are in Portugal undergoing preparations for the 2014 Algarve Cup which takes place on Wednesday March 5.

The team are experiencing some new changes under new head coach, Tom Sermanni. Sermanni took over the team after Pia Sundhage’s return to her native home to coach the Swedish Women’s National Team in September 2012.

Sundhage steered the USWNT to victory, helping them win two Olympic gold medals and runners up World Cup medal during her five year stint with the States.

The world’s top ranked team will be without their star forward Alex Morgan, who is still recovering from an ankle injury she received whilst playing for the Portland Thorns back in October.

However, Sermanni has a large pool of talent to choose from on his roster, including college student Morgan Brian, Christen Press and Tobin Heath.

Press certainly made her mark in 2013, scoring numerous goals for her country and Tyresö FF, receiving her first senior cap just last year aged 24.

The roster also sees the return of Paris Saint Germain midfielder Tobin Heath who hasn’t played for the US in almost eight months.

The 25 year old is eager to get back on the national line up after she endured a mysterious ankle injury while playing for the Portland Thorns last August.

“The group we’re in at the Algarve Cup,” told Sermanni to Ussoccer “will probably be the most significant test since I’ve come aboard and a different kind of challenge as we will be playing teams that have the belief and aim to come out to attack us and beat us.

“The dynamics of these games will be different than some of the more recent matches, and that’s something that we want, that we need and that the players are looking forward to.”

The American’s are the favourites heading into the tournament, having won the Algarve Cup a record nine times. The USWNT open the tournament against Japan on Wed March 5 at 12.45pm on British Eurosport 1.

Group A: China, Germany, Iceland, Norway

Group B: Denmark, Japan, Sweden, USA

Group C: Austria, Korea DPR, Portugal, Russia

USA SQUAD:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Jill Loyden (Sky Blue FC), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)
 

DEFENDERS (9): Stephanie Cox (Seattle Reign FC), Whitney Engen (Tyresö), Meghan Klingenberg (Tyresö), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kristie Mewis (Boston Breakers), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Rachel Van Hollebeke (Portland Thorns FC)
 

MIDFIELDERS (7): Morgan Brian (Virginia), Tobin Heath (Paris Saint-Germain), Sarah Killion (UCLA), Carli Lloyd (WNY Flash), Samantha Mewis (UCLA), Heather O’Reilly (Boston Breakers), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)
 

FORWARDS (5): Sarah Hagen (Bayern Munich), Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC), Christen Press (Tyresö), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (WNY Flash)