Women's Professional Soccer 2009

Algarve Cup: International personalities to watch

Saturday, March 01, 2008
By: Karyn Lush | Special to womensprosoccer.com

(March 1, 2008) – The 2008 Algarve Cup kicks off on Wednesday, March 5 as many of the world’s top National Teams gather in Portugal to contest the annual early season tournament.  With Denmark, Finland, Germany and Sweden competing in Group A and China, Italy, Norway and the U.S. forming Group B, the competition is sure to be fierce.  (A weaker Group C competition will also be held between Iceland, Ireland, Poland and Portugal.)

Which international players and coaches bare watching during the event?  Here’s a rundown with a look at the USA’s Algarve Cup players to watch coming Monday.

Nadine Angerer & Silke Rottenberg, Germany, Goalkeepers
A longtime backup, Angerer, 29, took over as Germany’s starting goalkeeper and led the Germans to the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup title after Rottenberg, 36, tore her ACL at last year’s Four Nations Tournament.  Now Rottenberg, who owns 123 caps and led Germany to victory at the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup, is healthy and attempting to snatch back the #1 job.  Meanwhile, Angerer has dealt with her own health issues.  Following the World Cup victory, Angerer got worn out marching from one celebratory event to another, fell ill with pneumonia and subsequently suffered an allergic reaction to her medicine.  In Germany’s first match of 2008 on Feb. 28, a 2-0 victory over China, Angerer received the call and extended her shutout streak to 872 minutes.  Despite Angerer’s recent string of success, German head coach Silvia Neid has thrown the starting job up for grabs in the buildup to the 2008 Olympics.  Angerer and Rottenberg are expected to rotate games at the Algarve Cup.

(Brad Smith/isiphotos.com)

Norway's Solveig Gulbrandsen (above) has shifted from midfield to forward following Ragnhild Gulbrandsen's retirement.

Solveig Gulbrandsen, Norway, Forward
In the wake of Raghnild Gulbrandsen’s retirement, Solveig Gulbrandsen has shifted from attacking midfielder to forward.  In her first game at the center of the forward line in Norway’s 4-3-3, the 26-year-old Gulbrandsen notched a goal and an assist in a 3-0 victory over Russia on Oct. 27, 2007.  But Norway’s attack fizzled in Cyprus where it opened 2008 with a 2-0 loss to Sweden and a 2-1 defeat at the hands of England in mid-February.  Whether the Norwegian offense can get back in gear will largely depend upon Gulbrandsen, who owns 115 caps and 34 goals, being able to find the back of the net with regularity.

Elisabeth Loisel, China, Head Coach
Loisel has been under fire from Chinese officials, media and former players almost since the day she assumed the reins as China’s head coach last October.  The former French head coach has clashed with the Chinese federation over her players’ dietary needs.  She has also drawn criticism from former great Sun Wen as the Chinese National Team isn’t producing the results its fans are accustomed to.  In its last four games, all played in February, China struggled to edge South Korea, 3-2, drew North Korea, 0-0, and fell to Japan, 3-0, and Germany, 2-0.  With the Chinese media speculating over her job security, a positive showing at the Algarve Cup would certainly help Loisel’s case to remain at the helm.

Lotta Schelin, Sweden, Forward
An attacker who can play at either forward or in the midfield, Schelin has scored in five straight matches for Sweden’s National Team dating back to the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup.  Schelin, who plays club soccer for Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC, led the Swedish league in goals each of the past two years.  On Sweden’s National Team, which currently boasts four veterans with over 100 caps, Schelin provides energy and flash in the offensive end.  Having just turned 24 on Feb. 27, she is primed to record the 50^th cap of her international career when Sweden opens the Algarve Cup against Finland.

15th Annual Algarve Cup
The Algarve, Portugal 

Group A
Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Finland
Group B 
USA, Norway, China, Italy
Group C 
Portugal, Iceland, Ireland, Poland

MARCH 5 

MARCH 7 

MARCH 10 

MARCH 12 – Placement Matches 

Karyn Lush is a freelance writer and can be reached at karyn.wps@gmail.com. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Women’s Professional Soccer or womensprosoccer.com.