The US Women left the States on June 8 and arrived in Seoul, North Korea on June 9 after a 12-hour flight, giving defender Heather Mitts her shortest birthday ever- 3 hours long. The team got to training the next morning to get over the jet lag.

On June 10, during training, defender Cat Whitehill tore the anterior cruciate ligament on her left knee. She flew back to the US, and Stephanie Cox flew to North Korea to take her spot. Cat Whitehill will miss the Olympics, along with Leslie Osborne, who also tore her ACL.

The US got their first win against Australia, who always fights a full 90-minutes and gives the US a good challenge. Kai scored the first goal in the 35th minute. Heather O'Reilly ran down the flank, creating space to pass the ball into the box. Kai slipped and poked the ball into the lower corner of the goal, giving the USA the lead.

Australia tied the game in the 57th minute when Amy Chapman chipped in a cross from the right wing into a group of US defenders, but Heather Garriock got a foot on it, giving the ball a weird spin, past Hope Solo, into the lower right corner.

The US got back on the board in the 77th minute when halftime substitute Aly Wagner took a corner kick from the left side. Abby Wambach jumped higher than the two Australians defending her with her back to the goal, and scored with the back of her head. This was Wambach's 96th goal.

The US will have one day of rest, which really won't be a day of rest. The few players that didn't play will hit the field for about an our, while those who did play will have a pool workout.

The US plays Brazil, who beat Italy 2-1, in the second group match on June 17 at 1 am ET, before facing Italy on the final group match.

The WNT ended their 2-week training camp on Monday, June 2. Head coach Pia Sundhage has chosen a 22-player roster that will travel to Seoul, South Korea next weekend. This was the final chance for some players to make an impact on the coaching staff, and have a chance to play at the Olympics, as 18 players will be chosen from the Peace Queen Cup roster.

Group A is made up of South Korea, New Zealand, Canada, and Argentina. Group B includes USA, Italy, Brazil, and Australia.

The US will play Australia on June 15, Brazil on June 17, and Italy on June 19.

The championship game will be played on June 21 between the first-place teams of each group.

Pia Sundhage chose a roster made up of 3 goalkeepers, defenders, 8 midfielder, and 4 forwards.

Goalkeepers: Hope Solo, Nicole Barnhart, Briana Scurry

Defenders: Christie Rampone, Kate Markgraf, Cat Whitehill, Heather Mitts, Lori Chalupny, Rachel Buehler

Midfielders: Aly Wagner, Angela Hucles, Shannon Boxx, Carli Lloyd, Heather O'Reilly, Lindsay Tarpley, Tobin Heath, Kacey White

Forwards: Abby Wambach, Natasha Kai, Amy Rodriguez, Lauren Cheney

This is the second edition of the tournament, in which the US defeated Canada, 1-0, in the first-ever Peace Queen Cup.

 

The US Women are back to training camp to prepare for the Peace Queen Cup in South Korea. This is the last tournament they will participate in before heading to China for the 2008 Olympics.

The Women's Olympic Football Tournament Draw was held on April 20. The twelve teams that will compete in the Olympics were placed in their groups: Group E consists of China (host), Sweden, Argentina, and Canada; Group F is made up of Korea DPR, Nigeria, two-time world champion Germany, and Brazil who placed second at the 2007 Women's World Cup; and the finally Group G which includes Norway, USA, Japan, and New Zealand.

The USA will face Norway first on group play, on August 6. Then they will play against Japan on August 9, and finally New Zealand on August 12.

The team that finishes first on their group will then move on to the quarter finals, along with the two best third-place teams.

In order for the US WNT to win a medal, they will have to advance to the final four.

The US has won two Olympic Gold Medals since the first Women's Soccer Olympic tournament in 1996. They defeated Norway in sudden death overtime at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GA. They also won at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, defeating Brazil. The US also won the silver medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney Australia after losing to Norway on the championship game in overtime with a score of 2-3 .

 

 

The U.S. Women's soccer team is with no doubts, an example of how much the sport can develop if investments and dedication are put together. That was used as an inspiration by many other countries to create a favorable environment for women's soccer around the world.

Who could ever imagine 10 years, or even 5 years ago, that Costa Rica would become a tough challenge in the USA's path for the 2008 Olympic Games?

Not that the Costa Ricans played beautifully or anything but they worked out as well as they could defensively in order to stop Lindsay Tarpley, Natasha Kai, Carly Lloyd and Abby Wambach. And should we mention the great performance by goalkeeper Priscilla Tapia.

The US Women's Team created inumerous chances to score but most of them ended up blocked by the bunked Costa Rican defense or saved by Tapia.

But in the end the intense attack paid off. In the 58th minute Natasha Kai received a low cross from Tobin Heath - who had replaced Lindsay Tarpley in the beginning of second half - and the Hawaiian smacked it hard into the goal! USA 1, Costa Rica 0

The United Statyes kept their players up, pressuring Costa Rica's defense and at minute 73 Natasha Kai headed a cross from Carly Lloyd, Pricilla Tapia couldn't hold it and the ball found Heather O'Reilly's foot. USA 2, Costa Rica 0.

Only then the Ticas decided to risk some attacking plays forcing Hope Solo to work a little.

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And with a little bit more space and the speed of Amy Rodriguez on the field (she came in for Abby Wambach), the USA scored again on added time. Natasha Kai (the name of the game in my opinion) received a pass from Angela Hucles and slammed the ball into the goal.

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3-0 the final score. The Costa Ricans showed a lot of improvement but it's the USA that gets their ticket to the 2008 Olympic Games. Now they play again on sunday for the CONCACAF title against the winner of Canada x Mexico.

Beijing, here we go!!!

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Let's GO USA!!! Let's win this third Gold Medal!!! 

 

Hi Everyone,

As I posted before, the U.S. Men's National Team will play a two-legged match against Barbados as part of the CONCACAF 2010 World Cup Qualifying.

So here are the other matches that will define the teams that will move to the next goup stage. All the matches will be played in a two-leg system. The dates are: First Leg Matches -> June 14 and 15; Second Leg Matches -> June 21 and 22.

 

 Our sources also confirmed the schedule for the USA Mens National Soccer Team after they demolish Barbados (any doubts?) and if the other favourites also win their matches as expected.

If that all happen, the US Soccer will be placed in a group with Guatemala, Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago

The dates will then be:

Aug. 20th Guatemala (away)
Sept 6 or 7 Cuba (away)
Sept 10 Trinidad (home)
Oct 11 Cuba (home)
Oct 15 Trinidad (away)
Nov 19 Guatemala (home)

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Hi Folks,

After living in the Los Angeles for almost two years and being involved with soccer here in the United States all this time, it was about time I created an exclusive blog to keep you guys updated on all the news and also share with you points of view on the fastest growing sport in the country.

Let's then get this blog started with fresh news about the US Men's National Soccer Team:

The team who recently beat Poland 3-0 showing solid performance in midfield will face tougher friendly challenges in the coming months.

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The US Team Celebrating a great victory over Poland

To start, Bob Bradley and his boys will travel again to Europe to face England at the Wembley Stadium on May 28th. It will be the second time since 1994 that the team of the stars and the stripes play against the British at their home. I heard a lot of non-sense talking that the USA will be heavily beaten by England but by what they showed against Poland compared to what England didn't show against France I wouldn't be so certain.

David Beckham might play his match 101 for England 

The European tour then goes to Spain where the team faces the Spaniards in June 4th. That will probably a much more difficult match for the US once Spain has a good combination of youth, talent and strengh.

El niño Torres 

The Americans come back home after the match against Spain to play their toughest challenge: Argentina. The venue couldn't be more appropriate, the Giants Stadium in New York. All I really wanr from this match is that the USA learn some lesson and include some of the South American style into their game.

 Argentina. Tough challenge.

And then comes BARBADOS... A small Caribbean paradise but with no tradition in soccer whatsoever. The USA however should face this game, part of the Round 2 of the CONCACAF Qualifyings for the 2010 World Cup, as a serious one. We don't want ANY kind of surprises.

 Barbados vs. USA in 2000

The two-leg knock out will have its first match be played on June 15 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California and the second leg will be played a week later, June 22, in Bridgetown - capital of Barbados. 

WHAT ABOUT SOME SCORE PREDICTIONS?

ENGLAND  x  USA  -> Repeating the great 1950 upset I believe in a victory by the Americans ... 1-0

SPAIN x USA -> With Fabregas, Villa and Torres it will be tough for the US. Spain wins 3-1

USA x ARGENTINA -> Maybe the USA will learn important lessons from the European tour and playing against an Argentina without Messi they might able to hold on to a tie at least. 1-1 (I know I'm being ultra optimistic here)

USA X BARBADOS -> C'mon...

What do you guys think??