U.S. Plays for Title Despite Tie
The U.S. women’s national team managed only a 1-1 tie with Sweden at the Algarve Cup in Portugal on Tuesday, but thanks to Norway’s 1-0 victory over Canada, the Americans advanced to Thursday’s championship game, where they will play China.
A spectacular volleyed goal from 19 yards out by midfielder Aly Wagner gave the U.S. the lead in the 18th minute at Vila Real San Antonio, Portugal. Sweden came back to earn the tie in the 78th minute when Malin Mostrin stole the ball from Julie Foudy and sent it to Hanna Ljungberg, who beat U.S. goalkeeper Siri Mullinix with a 15-yard shot.
China, which will host the fourth Women’s World Cup in September, barely made it to the final. A goal by Sun Wen in injury time earned the Chinese a needed 2-1 victory over Denmark. France earlier had beaten Finland, 1-0, and was poised to reach the championship match in Loule, Portugal, had China failed to win.
China defeated the U.S. in the 1999 Algarve Cup final, 2-1, and earlier this year shut out the Americans, 2-0, at the Four Nations Cup in China.
U.S. Roster Set
Coach Bruce Arena selected 18 players for the U.S. men’s game against Japan in Seattle on March 29, the only mild surprise being the inclusion of four European-based players.
In three games since the 2002 World Cup, Arena has employed only Major League Soccer players, but Japan’s decision to bring its strongest team prompted him to beef up his own lineup by bringing in goalkeeper Kasey Keller and forward Jovan Kirovski from England, as well as midfielder John O’Brien from the Netherlands and defender Steve Cherundolo from Germany.
Ten members of Arena’s 18-man squad played in the 2002 World Cup.
Champions League
A headed goal by Ronaldo earned defending champion Real Madrid a 1-0 victory over Lokomotiv Moscow in Russia and secured it a place in the quarterfinals of the European Champions League for the sixth consecutive year.
Juventus also gained a place in the final eight, despite a 2-1 loss to Basel.
AC Milan, Barcelona and Manchester United, beaten, 2-0, by Deportivo La Coruna on Tuesday, clinched their places earlier. The remaining three spots will be decided in today’s games.
Nigeria Rejected
Nigeria’s plan to co-host the 2010 World Cup with African neighbors Benin, Cameroon, Ghana and Togo was rejected as impractical by Joseph “Sepp” Blatter, the president of FIFA.
“This idea is not feasible,” Blatter told the British Broadcasting Corporation. “We will not consider this idea.”
South Africa is favored to stage the tournament, which Blatter said would definitely be played in an African country. Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia also are bidding.
Brazil Selected
Brazil will, in all likelihood, stage the World Cup in 2014 after representatives of South America’s 10 soccer federations gave Brazil their blessing at a meeting in Asuncion, Paraguay.
“No football anywhere has the merits of Brazil, with its five titles,” Nicolas Leoz, president of the South American confederation, told reporters. “That is what earned it this distinction. We are proud of this selection.”
FIFA has guaranteed the 2014 tournament to South America.
Quick Passes
Oscar Rugerri, a World Cup winner for Argentina, resigned as coach of UAG in the Mexican league after the Tecos lost all six games during his first five weeks in charge.... France’s European Championship qualifying game against Israel on April 2 in Palermo, Italy, should be postponed because of the impending war in Iraq, France’s Coach Jacques Santini said in Paris.
