Take A Look At The Second Anual SheBelieves Cup
With the SheBelieves Cup 2017 dates and venues announced, I thought we'd take a look at the competition, its participants, and look on to what it could mean in this summer's Euros.
The US host the competition with four of the five top ranked teams in the world competing.
World Cup champions USA (of course) boast a squad full of world famous talent. They'll be without suspended Hope Solo regarded as the greatest ever female goalkeeper. The US will have captain and FIFA World Player of the Year Carli Lloyd, 34 alongside Chelsea's new signing Crystal Dunn and Alex Morgan who recently joined Lyon. There are a number of uncapped players in the squad too with Kristen Edmonds, Christina Gibbons, Sarah Killon, Rose Lavelle, and Taylor Smith as well as goalkeepers Jane Campbell and Adrianna Franch. The most notable absentee is the aforementioned Hope Solo who will most likely see eleven times capped Ashlyn Harris, 31 take the number 1 jersey for this tournament. This will be Harris's chance to show whether she can take over from Solo, 35 who will eventually retire (not in the foreseeable future, though). Jill Ellis could decide that the slightly younger Alyssa Naeher, 28 might be a better choice for a more long term replacement. Ellis could also hand a debut to one, or both of the two younger uncapped goalies. Defensive stalwarts Julie Johnston, Ali Krieger, Kelly O'Hara, and vice captain Becky Sauerbrunn are included. Big name stars Megan Rapinoe and Tobin Heath join forwards Dunn and Morgan, and Amy Rodriguez and Christen Press as the more experienced players in the team. What will be interesting for USA is how Jill Ellis will use those formidable experienced stars alongside the less experienced younger players as the US make a transition from the team that won the 2015 World Cup in Canada.
Olympic gold medallists and World Cup semi-finalists Germany have won eight of the last nine European Championships and go into this summer's tournament as defending champions. They're currently on six consecutive championship titles. Germany's new head coach Steffi Jones is unbeaten in her five matches in charge since taking over from FIFA World Coach of the Year Silvia Neid after the 2016 Rio Olympics. Germany's first game in the tournament will be against hosts USA in Chester, near Philadelphia. Germany are the top ranked team in Europe and only second in the world to the USA. They'll have captain Dzsenifer Marozsán in midfield and a lethal and experienced strike force of Anja Mittag and Wolfsburg team-mate Alexandra Popp. Four of the five most capped players in the Germany squad play for Wolfsburg with goalkeeper Almuth Schult (38caps) Babett Peter (102caps), and Mittag (149caps) and Popp (77caps). Arsenal's Josephine Henning is also in the squad with 36 caps. The most lethal threat will be the 24 year old captain Marozsán who has 30 goals in 69 international appearances, a goals per game ratio only slightly bettered by Popp's 35 goals in 77 national games.
France are ranked third in the world and second in Europe. They're among the favourites to win this year's Euros, along with Germany and England. France have never made it past the quarter-final stage of a European Championship but, have finished fourth in the World Cup (2011) and Olympic Games (2012). They have never won a major trophy. Ten of the French squad play for Lyon who dominate the French game and (along with Wolfsburg) the Champions League. Only one of the French team play football outside their homeland, 166 times capped Élise Bussaglia, 31 plays for German side Wolfsburg. They have only one uncapped player in the squad, Montpellier's Laura Agard. This is a very experienced team with seven players on over 100 caps. Three of those have scored over fifty international goals each. The Squad includes big stars Laura Georges, Wendie Renard, Camille Abily, Eugénie Le Sommer, Marie-Laure Delie, Gaetane Thiney, goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi, and Bussaglia.
World Cup bronze medallists England are the lowest ranked side in the SheBelieves Cup. England are ranked third in Europe but, fifth in the world, just one ranking point behind Canada. England endured a poor Euros in 2013 when they failed to progress past the group stage when, in 2009 they'd finished as runners-up. Mark Sampson took defending Cyprus Cup champions England to the final of the friendly competition in 2014 in his first tournament as England manager. In 2015 Sampson went one better by reclaiming the Cyprus Cup trophy as the team prepared for the World Cup in Canada where England achieved their highest ever placing by beating Germany in the third place play-off. Strong performances since 2015 have made England one of the favourites for upcoming Euros and the SheBelieves Cup is seen as important preparation as the Cyprus Cup was to the World Cup in 2015. Mixing it with the three best teams in world football is precisely what England relish. Mark Sampson's current squad includes big names Lucy Bronze, captain Steph Houghton, vice-captain Jordan Nobbs, Jill Scott, Karen Bardsley, Laura Bassett, Fara Williams, Izzy Christiansen, Alex Scott, Casey Stoney, Karen Carney, and Ellen White. Young stars Nikita Parris and Dan Carter are also included. There are just two uncapped players in the squad, Chelsea's goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer and young forward Leah Galton of NWSL side Sky Blue FC. Galton is one of two players currently plying there trade outside of WSL. The other being Rachel Daly from Houston Dash, also of the American NWSL. Daly has just one cap for England and one goal after scoring on her debut in a 7-0 Euro 2017 qualifier against Serbia at Wycombe Wanderers' Adam's Park stadium.
Though, these aren't the final squads the nations will be taking to the American North East, it is a good indication of what the teams might look like in March. For Germany, France, and England, it's a chance to test where they are and what they need to do to be successful come the summer. For the USA, it's a rare chance (outside of World Cups and Olympics) to test their level against some of the best teams in the world.
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The US host the competition with four of the five top ranked teams in the world competing.
World Cup champions USA (of course) boast a squad full of world famous talent. They'll be without suspended Hope Solo regarded as the greatest ever female goalkeeper. The US will have captain and FIFA World Player of the Year Carli Lloyd, 34 alongside Chelsea's new signing Crystal Dunn and Alex Morgan who recently joined Lyon. There are a number of uncapped players in the squad too with Kristen Edmonds, Christina Gibbons, Sarah Killon, Rose Lavelle, and Taylor Smith as well as goalkeepers Jane Campbell and Adrianna Franch. The most notable absentee is the aforementioned Hope Solo who will most likely see eleven times capped Ashlyn Harris, 31 take the number 1 jersey for this tournament. This will be Harris's chance to show whether she can take over from Solo, 35 who will eventually retire (not in the foreseeable future, though). Jill Ellis could decide that the slightly younger Alyssa Naeher, 28 might be a better choice for a more long term replacement. Ellis could also hand a debut to one, or both of the two younger uncapped goalies. Defensive stalwarts Julie Johnston, Ali Krieger, Kelly O'Hara, and vice captain Becky Sauerbrunn are included. Big name stars Megan Rapinoe and Tobin Heath join forwards Dunn and Morgan, and Amy Rodriguez and Christen Press as the more experienced players in the team. What will be interesting for USA is how Jill Ellis will use those formidable experienced stars alongside the less experienced younger players as the US make a transition from the team that won the 2015 World Cup in Canada.
Olympic gold medallists and World Cup semi-finalists Germany have won eight of the last nine European Championships and go into this summer's tournament as defending champions. They're currently on six consecutive championship titles. Germany's new head coach Steffi Jones is unbeaten in her five matches in charge since taking over from FIFA World Coach of the Year Silvia Neid after the 2016 Rio Olympics. Germany's first game in the tournament will be against hosts USA in Chester, near Philadelphia. Germany are the top ranked team in Europe and only second in the world to the USA. They'll have captain Dzsenifer Marozsán in midfield and a lethal and experienced strike force of Anja Mittag and Wolfsburg team-mate Alexandra Popp. Four of the five most capped players in the Germany squad play for Wolfsburg with goalkeeper Almuth Schult (38caps) Babett Peter (102caps), and Mittag (149caps) and Popp (77caps). Arsenal's Josephine Henning is also in the squad with 36 caps. The most lethal threat will be the 24 year old captain Marozsán who has 30 goals in 69 international appearances, a goals per game ratio only slightly bettered by Popp's 35 goals in 77 national games.
France are ranked third in the world and second in Europe. They're among the favourites to win this year's Euros, along with Germany and England. France have never made it past the quarter-final stage of a European Championship but, have finished fourth in the World Cup (2011) and Olympic Games (2012). They have never won a major trophy. Ten of the French squad play for Lyon who dominate the French game and (along with Wolfsburg) the Champions League. Only one of the French team play football outside their homeland, 166 times capped Élise Bussaglia, 31 plays for German side Wolfsburg. They have only one uncapped player in the squad, Montpellier's Laura Agard. This is a very experienced team with seven players on over 100 caps. Three of those have scored over fifty international goals each. The Squad includes big stars Laura Georges, Wendie Renard, Camille Abily, Eugénie Le Sommer, Marie-Laure Delie, Gaetane Thiney, goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi, and Bussaglia.
World Cup bronze medallists England are the lowest ranked side in the SheBelieves Cup. England are ranked third in Europe but, fifth in the world, just one ranking point behind Canada. England endured a poor Euros in 2013 when they failed to progress past the group stage when, in 2009 they'd finished as runners-up. Mark Sampson took defending Cyprus Cup champions England to the final of the friendly competition in 2014 in his first tournament as England manager. In 2015 Sampson went one better by reclaiming the Cyprus Cup trophy as the team prepared for the World Cup in Canada where England achieved their highest ever placing by beating Germany in the third place play-off. Strong performances since 2015 have made England one of the favourites for upcoming Euros and the SheBelieves Cup is seen as important preparation as the Cyprus Cup was to the World Cup in 2015. Mixing it with the three best teams in world football is precisely what England relish. Mark Sampson's current squad includes big names Lucy Bronze, captain Steph Houghton, vice-captain Jordan Nobbs, Jill Scott, Karen Bardsley, Laura Bassett, Fara Williams, Izzy Christiansen, Alex Scott, Casey Stoney, Karen Carney, and Ellen White. Young stars Nikita Parris and Dan Carter are also included. There are just two uncapped players in the squad, Chelsea's goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer and young forward Leah Galton of NWSL side Sky Blue FC. Galton is one of two players currently plying there trade outside of WSL. The other being Rachel Daly from Houston Dash, also of the American NWSL. Daly has just one cap for England and one goal after scoring on her debut in a 7-0 Euro 2017 qualifier against Serbia at Wycombe Wanderers' Adam's Park stadium.
Though, these aren't the final squads the nations will be taking to the American North East, it is a good indication of what the teams might look like in March. For Germany, France, and England, it's a chance to test where they are and what they need to do to be successful come the summer. For the USA, it's a rare chance (outside of World Cups and Olympics) to test their level against some of the best teams in the world.
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