Previous US Women’s Soccer Covearge

July 17th, 2011. The US twice gives up goals to Japan to tie the Women’s World Cup Final. Japan goes on to win penalty kicks 3-1 to win the World Cup.

March 5th, 2012. The US loses 1-0 to Japan in the group stage at the Algarve Cup. The US has not lost since.

August 9th, 2012. The US opens up a 2-0 lead and holds on to win the gold medal at the Olympics 2-1 over Japan.

Those are the last three times the US and Japan have met in non-friendly matches. They meet again finally with more than bragging rights on the line Wednesday when they open up the Algarve Cup with a match in Parchal, Portugal. The US will be taking on Japan, Sweden, and Denmark in Group B before taking on a team from Group A to end the tournament.

The Algarve Cup is the best yearly opportunity for the US to get a chance to go play a tournament against other top teams in the world. This is the 21st Algarve Cup and the US has won nine of them.

The US is bringing a very strong roster to Portugal. Basically all the big names you’d expect to be there are. Alex Morgan is the big exception as she is still out with an ankle injury. Three collegiate players, Morgan Brian, Samantha Mewis, and Sarah Killion, are on the team and are starting to become more well known names in the world of US women’s soccer.

WeSupportTheUS.com will have a recap of Algarve Cup action on Wednesday evening.

Roster:

• Goalkeepers
  • #1 – Hope Solo – Seattle Reign FC
  • #18 – Alyssa Naeher – Boston Breakers
  • #21 – Jill Loyden – Sky Blue FC
• Defenders
  • #3 – Christie Rampone – Sky Blue FC
  • #4 – Becky Sauerbrunn – FC Kansas City
  • #5 – Kelley O’Hara – Sky Blue FC
  • #6 – Whitney Engen – Tyresö
  • #11 – Ali Krieger – Washington Spirit
  • #14 – Stephanie Cox – Seattle Reign FC
  • #16 – Rachel Van Hollebeke – Portland Thorns FC
  • #19 – Kristie Mewis – Boston Breakers
  • #25 – Meghan Klingenberg – Tyresö
• Midfielders
  • # 7 – Morgan Brian – Virginia
  • #9 – Heather O’Reilly – Boston Breakers
  • #10 – Carli Lloyd – WNY Flash
  • #12 – Samantha Mewis – UCLA
  • #15 – Megan Rapinoe – Seattle Reign FC
  • #17 – Tobin Heath – Paris Saint-Germain
  • #22 – Sarah Killion – UCLA
• Forwards
  • #2 – Sydney Leroux – Seattle Reign FC
  • #8 – Amy Rodriguez – FC Kansas City
  • #13 – Sarah Hagen – Bayern Munich
  • #20 – Abby Wambach – WNY Flash
  • #23 – Christen Press – Tyresö

Group Stage Schedule:

• March 5th
  • 7:45 AM ET – USA vs. Japan
  • 1 PM ET – Sweden vs. Denmark
• March 7th
  • 8:30 AM ET – USA vs. Sweden
  • 9:10 AM ET – Japan vs. Denmark
• March 10th
  • 9:40 AM ET – Japan vs. Sweden
  • 9:40 AM ET – USA vs. Denmark