Posted on February 10, 2012
No one will ever accuse the U.S. Women’s National Team of not creating challenges for the players.
In fact, the Americans will play two of the top women’s teams in the world as they prepare for the London Olympics.
They will take on Women’s World Cup champion Japan in Sendai, Japan on April 1 and Brazil in Chiba on April 3 in the Women’s Kirin Challenge Cup.
“This trip is fantastic,” U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said. “Playing two of the world’s best teams almost back-to-back will be a tremendous challenge for our entire roster. Obviously, we are very familiar with both Japan and Brazil, and we have the ultimate respect for their coaches, their players and the technical and tactical abilities of both teams. There are no better games to prepare you for Olympic competition than facing this caliber of teams away from home.”
The U.S. and Japan also will meet during group play at the Algarve Cup in Portugal on March 5.
The Americans will play New Zealand at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, which will be web-streamed live on ussoccer.com. More than 18,000 tickets have been sold for the match.
The U.S. will have a short break before traveling to the annual Algarve Cup in Portugal, where it will face Denmark (Feb. 29), Norway (March 2) and Japan (March 5) in Group B.
Photo: U.S. coach Pia Sundhage on playing Japan and Brazil: “This trip is fantastic.” Andy Mead/YCJ
Categories: North America, U.S.A., Women
Tags: Algarve Cup, Pia Sundhage, Women's Kirin Challenge Cup
Loading ...
