With the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Canada 2015 fast approaching, the participating sides are busy fine-tuning their preparations for the tournament. Recent international friendlies have helped national team coaches identify what condition their charges are in, and FIFA.com has paid close attention to the latest events in order to round-up the most important happenings in the world of women’s football in February.
National teams
Kristine Lilly honoured Former USA international Kristine Lilly, an icon of the women’s game in America, was given the honour of being inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame on 14 February, alongside Brian McBride, who earned 96 caps for the USA men’s side, and former men’s national team coach Bob Bradley. Lilly made a world-record 352 appearances for the Stars and Stripes. “When I was 16 years old, Anson Dorrance changed my life,” Lilly said, thanking her former coach. “He opened the door to a career that I never thought in a million years would lead me to this moment and so many other great moments. He took a chance on me, Julie , Mia and Joy ; four young kids and he gave us a chance to see the world, to work to be the best and to show young girls that they can be the best at something.”*
Eye-catching wins and disappointing defeats In less than 100 days the seventh edition of the Women’s World Cup will kick off in Canada, and the participating sides are busy honing their preparations for the tournament. To that end, the February calendar was filled with numerous international fixtures across the globe, with the standout encounter featuring a tussle between the sides ranked second and third in the world: USA and France. Philippe Bergeroo’s side were celebrating come the final whistle after goals from Eugenie Le Sommer and Jessica Houara earned Les Bleues *a 2-0 victory. Five days later USA bounced back with a narrow 1-0 triumph over England. World Cup participants Australia can travel to the Cyprus Cup full of confidence after the Matildas recorded two victories at a mini tournament, beating Korea DPR 2-1 and New Zealand 3-2. Switzerland, the first European team to qualify for Canada 2015, were somewhat less successful in their friendlies after losing to Portugal twice. By way of contrast, Sweden, who reached the last four at the 2011 finals in Germany, were in top form as they overcame Finland 3-0 thanks to efforts from Lotta Schelin, Sofia Jakobsson and Nilla Fischer. World Cup debutants the Netherlands also caused a stir with a 7-0 thrashing of Thailand.
Kelly Smith bows out In England’s all-time top goalscorer Kelly Smith, a truly exceptional player retired from the international scene in February. Smith made her senior England debut in 1995 and went on to score 46 goals in 117 appearances, as well as participating at four UEFA Women’s European Championships (2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013) and two World Cups (2007 and 2011). Furthermore, she was a member of the British squad that took part at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Despite suffering several lengthy absences through injury she was the third Englishwoman to reach a century of international caps, following in the footsteps of Gillian Coulthard and Rachel Yankey. The highlight of a glittering career came in 2009 when Smith, who played for Boston Breakers at the time, became the first and to date only Englishwoman to be named as one of the three final candidates on the shortlist for the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year award.
Squads named for warm-up tournaments International friendlies are not the only important way teams will prepare for the World Cup, with elite sides also taking part at the Algarve Cup and the Cyprus Cup, both of which kick-off in March and serve as a final dress rehearsal for the showdown in the summer. In USA, Germany, Sweden, France, Brazil, China PR, Norway, Switzerland and reigning world champions Japan, nine of the 24 nations that will compete at Canada 2015 will head to the sunny climes of Portugal for the Algarve tournament. The majority of national team coaches have already announced their squads, so Germany fans can look forward to marvelling at the skills of Alexandra Popp, Anja Mittag and Celia Sasic, among others, with the latter set to earn her 100th international cap. Meanwhile, USA coach Jill Ellis has put her faith in Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan in attack and Hope Solo in goal. Six more World Cup participants will lock horns in Cyprus, where Canada, England, the Netherlands, Australia, Mexico and Korea Republic will jostle for honours. *
Club football
Two-horse race Olympique Lyon have set the record straight in France after the two-time UEFA Women’s Champions League winners were denied the chance to lift a third continental crown after being knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain. In the domestic league, however, Lyon restored order with a 4-0 thrashing of their ambitious challengers from the capital. PSG still have a two-point lead at the top of the standings, but the star-studded Lyon squad have two games in hand.
Contrasting form The eight quarter-finalists in this season’s Champions League showed drastically contrasting form in February, with Paris Saint-Germain enduring a particularly disappointing month. PSG were eliminated from the French cup by Guingamp and can now only hope that Lyon slip-up en route to what looks to be their next league title. By way of comparison, German representatives VfL Wolfsburg and FFC Frankfurt flexed their muscles by going unbeaten in February. Frankfurt chalked up two wins from as many games, while Die Wolfinnen won one and drew the other to remain at the league summit. FC Rosengard became the first team to reach the last eight of the Swedish cup and therefore go into their tie against defending Champions League titleholders Wolfsburg full of confidence. Brondby IF will pit their wits against Linkopings FC for a place in the continental semi-finals with a new coach on the touchline after Peer Lisdorf stepped down due to personal reasons. Per Nielsen was named as his successor and got his tenure off to a promising start with a 7-0 win over BSF in his first competitive game at the helm.
NWSL newcomers Portland Thorns goalkeeper and Germany No1 Nadine Angerer will have a new team-mate from the Bundesliga next season, with Equatorial Guinea international Genoveva Anonma to leave Turbine Potsdam at the end of the current campaign and join her at the NWSL club. Irish international forward Stephanie Roche, who was nominated for the FIFA Puskás Award alongside Robin van Persie and James Rodriguez, will also move stateside to play for Houston Dash in the NWSL next term. The club’s first game of the new season is on 10 April against Washington Spirit.
The stat
50 – USA and Portland Thorns forward Alex Morgan continued to demonstrate her insatiable appetite for goals after the 25-year-old scored her 50th international strike in a friendly against England.
**The words
“The time has come for Costa Rica to overcome the next challenges. The performances of the national team at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil were an inspiration for everyone and the whole country was enthralled. We want to play well and enjoy what will be a historic moment. We’re also aware that we carry a great responsibility. We’ll give our all in every game and will put our heart and soul into every 90 minutes. We’ve taken a big step forward by qualifying and now we’re hoping to make history.” Costa Rica international Dinnia Diaz on her country’s maiden qualification for a FIFA Women’s World Cup.**