Algarve Cup 2012: US Women Need Strong Showings from Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan

The US Women's National soccer team kicks off against Denmark today in the Algrave Cup, and team USA desperately needs great performances from its star players. 

Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach and Hope Solo are the three biggest stars on the team, and all of them have to dominate starting Feb. 29. And then all the way to the championship match on March 7. 

After having great success in the Women's World Cup, the US Women's National team has to build off of that to continue gaining popularity, not just for them, but also for women's soccer in general. 

These ladies are making headlines, and the more they win they better off things will be. 

This will be the 19th edition of the Algarve Cup. It's a tournament that the US team has won seven out of the last 10 times. 

They thrive in Portugal, and they must continue their reign by winning the Algarve Cup for the third straight year. 

By succeeding at a high level once again, the US Women's National soccer team will remain in the spotlight. That is something they need to keep doing. 

Of course, this tournament isn't as big as the Women's World Cup, but it's still a big even that will help the US Women's National team gain more notoriety. 

There are 12 total teams split into three groups. The United States team is in Group B with Denmark, Norway and Japan—the team that beat the US in the finals of the Women's World Cup. 

Getting out of that group on top will not be easy.

But if the star players step up in a big way, the US Women's National soccer team will excel. Settling for anything less than a championship is unacceptable and won't end well for women's soccer.