Olympic Football Tournament
© imago images
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- The sixth SheBelieves Cup Annual is played from February 18 to 24
- The Argentina-Brazil classic will start the mini-tournament
- Three teams qualified for Tokyo 2020 will participate in it
As preparations for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020For the participating teams, it will be essential to play matches that put them to the test.
Three teams qualified for Tokyo 2020 – Brazil, Canada and the United States – will thus compete in the SheBelieves Cup 2021, which starts this Thursday. Argentina completes the list of the contest after replacing Japan, which withdrew due to the situation of COVID-19 in its country.
The six scheduled games are played at Exploria Stadium in Orlando. This is the full schedule (all times, in local EST time):
- February 18: Brazil-Argentina, 4:00 p.m.
- February 18: United States v Canada, 7:00 p.m.
- February 21: United States-Brazil, 3:00 p.m.
- February 21: Argentina-Canada, 6:00 p.m.
- February 24: Canada-Brazil, 4:00 p.m.
- February 24: United States-Argentina, 7:00 p.m.
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Sunshine State of Mind ????☀️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/p9uq4A3Jsh
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) February 14, 2021
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A tournament marked by rivalries
The first day of the SheBelieves CupHe has two exciting rivalry duels between neighbors, Brazil-Argentina first and then Canada-United States.
Argentina, which makes its debut in this tournament, intends to continue its historic performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 ™, in which it recorded two draws and scored its first points in the history of the World Cup.
In the 2018 Copa América Femenina she was third and lost twice to Brazil, future champions, 3-1 in the group stage and 3-0 in the final round.
All the matches of the SheBelieves Cup will be a major challenge for the disciples of Carlos Borrello, who currently occupy the 31st position of the FIFA / Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking.
The other three participating teams are among the top ten: the United States leads the table and Brazil and Canada share the eighth position. Still, there is no doubt that this represents a valuable opportunity for the Albiceleste.
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#Feminine Selection This is how the last training session in Buenos Aires passed!
????✈️???????? Tonight, the delegation will depart for Orlando.
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– Argentina National Team ???????? (@Argentina) February 14, 2021
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The rivalry between Canada and the United States is one of the most intense in national team football, and the match that awaits them on Thursday will be the 61st in their history, although the first to take place in the SheBelieves Cup, since the Canadians debut in the tournament.
The two teams met in the Concacaf qualifiers for Tokyo 2020, in a clash that the United States, reigning world champions, beat 3-0 thanks to goals from Lynn Williams, Lindsey Horan and Megan Rapinoe.
The United States will defend its title from the SheBelieves Cup 2020, in which it beat Spain, England and Japan. Vlatko Andonovski’s roster is brimming with big names, including Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Crystal Dunn and Julie Ertz, and a number of promising youngsters are also called upon to perform, such as Catarina Macario, Sophia Smith and Midge Purce.
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News and notes
- Brazil recently renewed until 2024 the contract of its coach, Pia Sundhage, who managed the United States between 2008 and 2012; the two teams will meet on February 21
- Christine Sinclair, Canada legend and all-time top scorer, is out due to injury
- Canadian Sophie Schmidt can reach her 200th international match at this tournament
- United States mainstay midfielder Sam Mewis is still recovering from an ankle injury and has been replaced by Jaelin Howell
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“It’s pivotal for us to get going on a good foot as it’s an Olympic year.”
????️ @sophieschmidt13 on #CANWNT February camp pic.twitter.com/YRDPnMTKZo
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) February 11, 2021
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The phrases
“From one to drinking a cup of tea, I would say that I am waiting for the tea to cool down a bit before taking a sip. I’m not full yet, but there is very little left ”.
“I am very excited about these games, because now we are in a good moment. Many players are already looking forward to the opportunity to play against great teams. Despite the withdrawal of Japan, they are three incredible teams and we are looking forward to playing against them. We face these matches as preparations for the Olympics ”.
Alex Morgan about his current form (when asked on a scale of “one to when he celebrated his goal against England by imitating the gesture of drinking a cup of tea”)
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© Getty Images
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“We need new players to join and compete, so that this country does not have to depend on Marta, Formiga or Cristiane. That combination of seniority and youth is very important for the country to be successful. We have started prospecting, the key is there, because I think it is important that we find new players. And I hope that when you see us play you can say that there is a team, a cohesive bloc. They already know Marta and Debinha, who have been playing in the United States for a while, and they are good. And I want to give another name, Rafa’s [Rafaelle], which competes in China. I hope he continues to be fit and ready, because he is going to make a difference in the rear of four, pay attention to him ”.
Pia Sundhage, Brazil coach,on the podcast Fútbol with Grant Wahl
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