It will be two years to the day since the U.S. Women’s National Team has lost when the Americans open the 2014 Algarve Cup in Portugal. they take on the reigning world champion Japan, the team that last defeated the U.S. 40 games ago.
Tom Sermanni’s Americans have not lost since a 1-0 loss to Japan on March 5, 2012. At that time Sermanni was Australia’s national coach, and Pia Sundhage was the U.S. coach. The USA will also face Sweden and Denmark in Group B at the 21st edition of the tournament, which includes the top three ranked women’s teams in the world.
The USA opens the competition on March 5 against Japan, then faces Sweden on March 7 and finishes group play against Denmark on March 10. Group A will feature Germany, Norway, Iceland and China. Placement games will be played March 12.
The top three ranked teams in the world — the USA, Germany and Japan-are in this year’s Algarve Cup. Also playing are Sweden (6th), Norway (8th), Denmark (12th), China (18th) and Iceland (19th).
The U. S. women, in the tournament for the 19th time, have won the Algarve Cup championship nine times. Last year, the USA defeated Germany, 2-0, in the title game with Alex Morgan scoring both goals.
The 2012 loss to Japan on a late goal marked the first time in 10 years the Americans missed the championship game.
The USA has a 52-10-9 record all-time at the Algarve Cup.