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A stern reminder about an upcoming U.S. Soccer-related event, whether you plan to check it out live and in person, on the “telly” or that wacky world wide web.

Feb. 21, 2003

A stern reminder about an upcoming U.S. Soccer-related event, whether you plan to check it out live and in person, on the “telly” or that wacky world wide web.

First test of 2003? Passed. So the U.S. Women didn’t exactly make it through the difficult Four Nations Tournament in China with flying colors (See the 2-0 loss to the host nation in front of a frenzied crowd of over 40,000), but first place is first place. Considering that a number of players were sick for that match and they notched their second consecutive victory over Norway, who is traditionally the team’s toughest rival, we give them a B+.

The next exam comes in less than a month, as Mia and the mighty Yankettes head to the southern part of Portugal for the annual Algarve Cup. Ahhh, the Algarve. It just so happens to be the only major tournament that the U.S. hasn’t dominated over the years. In fact, in seven trips to the Iberian Peninsula, they’ve only won one title.

After finishing second twice (the inaugural tournament in 1994 and 1999), third (1998) and fourth (1995), the U.S. finally got the monkey off their back by winning the 2000 incarnation. But in the last two years, they’ve taken some lumps, dropping all the way to sixth place in the 2001 event and finishing a disappointing fifth in 2002.

This year won’t be any easier, as they’re stuck in a challenging Group A with Canada, Norway and Sweden. They open against their regional rival on March 14 in Olhao (2 p.m. local / 9 a.m. ET), try to keep their two-game winning streak alive against Norway on March 16 in Ferreiras (4:15 p.m. local / 11:15 a.m. ET) and then finish up group play on March 18 in Vila Real San Antonio against two-time Algarve champ Sweden (4:15 p.m. local / 11:15 a.m. ET). The winners of Group A and B will meet for the championship on March 20 in Faro, while the other teams will play placement matches in cities to be determined.

While not available on TV, fans can follow all of the U.S. games as they look for that elusive second Algarve title on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker, presented by Philips Electronics.

Table of Contents
1) Armchair Midfielder (Off-season MLS Pick-ups)
2) In Threes (w/ U-19 WNT goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris)
3) Desert Island Discs (w/ WNT midfielder Tiffany Roberts)
4) Queries and Anecdotes (w/ MNT midfielder Ben Olsen)
5) Mark That Calendar (On to the Algarve...)
6) Superstar!!! (w/ WNT, U-21 WNT forward Lindsay Tarpley)
7) FAN Point/Counterpoint (Who will save the Fire in 2003?)
8) "You Don't Know Jack (Marshall)" (Algarve Cup Trivia)