Nuke Soccer Post #1

ORIGINAL POST
Feb 23, 2002

Canadians Face Norway in Toronto, July 17th
Canada’s Women’s World Cup Team will begin what promises to be an eventful year by competing at the prestigious Algarve Cup in Portugal from March 1-7, 2002. The CSA also confirmed the Canadians will face Olympic Gold Medallists Norway at Centennial Stadium in Toronto on July 17 in an international friendly.

This will be the third consecutive year Canada has competed in the annual tournament, which for the first time has expanded to 12 teams and three groups. The Canadians, who have become a regular fixture at the annual tournament held in the picturesque Algarve region of Portugal, have been grouped with newcomers Scotland and Wales and hosts Portugal in Group C.

At this year’s tournament, the 12 teams will be split into three groups of four, with first-round play consisting of round-robin matches within the group. The teams in Group A and B will compete for the title as those group winners will play in the championship game. The two second-place group finishers in Groups A and B will play for third place while the third-place finishers will play for fifth. The Group C teams will be competing for a chance to play for spots 7-12 as the winner of Group C will play the fourth place team in Group A, the second place team in Group C will play the fourth place team in Group B and the third and fourth place finishers in Group C will play each other again.

Canadian head coach Even Pellerud has always valued the Algarve Cup and this year’s tournament promises to be one of the most competitive in years. The Canadians were originally slated to compete in Group A but in an effort to avoid Portugal and England facing each other (considering they will face each other in World Cup qualifying), Pellerud agreed to move to Group C. As a result, Pellerud will not select his WUSA based players and will bring eight members of Canada’s Under-19 squad.

“With the number of games scheduled for 2002, this year’s tournament will give me an opportunity to see how younger players perform in a top-level competition, ” said Pellerud. “Our under-19 players will benefit from the experience as they prepare for the FIFA Under-19 World Championships in August in Canada.”

This year will be an important one for Canada’s Women’s World Cup Team as it attempts to qualify for the 2003 Women’s World Cup in China. Following the Algarve Cup, Canada will play a number of friendlies in Europe this spring before returning to Canada where they will face Norway at Toronto’s Centennial Stadium on July 17. The team will travel to Australia in August for the Pacific Cup and will then compete for one of three CONCACAF berths at the World Cup during the 2002 Women’s Gold Cup, to be held in October or November.

Canadian Women’s World Cup Team Roster For 2002 Algarve Cup

Staff

9th Algarve Cup Tournament Schedule – 2002
Friday, March 1

• A – Denmark vs Germany
• A – China vs Finland
• B – USA vs Sweden
• B – Norway vs England
• C – Portugal vs Wales
• C – Scotland vs Canada

Sunday, March 3

• A – Finland vs Denmark
• A – Germany vs China
• B – Sweden vs Norway
• B – USA vs England
• C – Scotland vs Portugal
• C – Canada vs Wales

Tuesday, March 5

• A – Denmark vs China
• A – Finland vs Germany
• B – England vs Sweden
• B – USA vs Norway
• C – Portugal vs Canada
• C – Wales vs Scotland

Placement Games
Thursday, March 7