Pia Sundhage has named a 24-player preliminary roster for the upcoming Algarve Cup in Portugal. Sundhage took 32 players to Florida to train from Feb. 3-9. She selected 24 players to bring to Portugal to compete against Japan (March 2), Finland (March 4), and Norway (March 7) in group play. The Algarve Cup runs from March 2-9.
The team leaves Feb. 18 for Europe where it will train prior to the Algarve Cup. Sundhage will name 20 players to the tournament roster prior to the start of the matches.
This will be the U.S. team’s 16th appearance at the Algarve Cup, which they won in 2010, beating Germany, 3-2, in the finals. The U.S. has won the tournament seven times. A total of 12 teams will play in this year’s Algarve Cup. Group A features the U.S., Japan, Finland, and Norway. Group B consists of Sweden, China, Denmark, and Iceland, and Group C has Portugal, Chile, Wales, and Romania.
USWNT 2011 Algarve Cup roster:
GOALKEEPERS: Nicole Barnhart (out of contract), Ashlyn Harris (Western New York Flash), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (out of contract)
DEFENDERS: Rachel Buehler (Boston Breakers), Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers), Whitney Engen (Western New York Flash), Ali Krieger (FFC Frankfurt), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Christie Rampone (magicTalk SC), Becky Sauerbrunn (magicTalk SC)
MIDFIELDERS: Yael Averbuch (Western New York Flash), Shannon Boxx (magicTalk SC), Tobin Heath (Sky Blue FC), Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence), Carli Lloyd (Atlanta Beat), Kelley O’Hara (Boston Breakers), Heather O’Reilly (Sky Blue FC), Megan Rapinoe (Philadelphia Independence), Lindsay Tarpley (magicTalk SC)
FORWARDS: Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Western New York Flash), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), Abby Wambach (magicTalk SC)