USA vs. Norway Women's Soccer: Date, Time, Live Stream and 2015 Friendly Preview
The USA Women's National Team take on their Norway equivalents on Wednesday as the sides do battle in the annual Algarve Cup.
The tournament is considered a vital dress rehearsal this season, with the World Cup just a matter of months away.
The two nations will compete in Group B, alongside Switzerland and Iceland, and are the overwhelming favourites to progress.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Here is how you can catch all of the action between two of women's football's elite collectives:
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: 2 p.m. (ET), 7 p.m. (GMT)
Live Stream: Fox Sports 2Go (U.S. only)
TV Info: Fox Sports (U.S. only)
Match Preview
The USWNT have taken a 25-strong party to Portugal for the prestigious Algarve Cup, a tournament they have had unprecedented success in over the past 20 years.
But the team has not showed great form in 2015, after falling to defeat against France, and only narrowly beating England.
In both games, the USA lacked their usual focus and cohesion, with several issues in midfield and defence.
Head coach Jill Ellis started both matches with an attacking intent, with several forward-thinking players in the line-up, but the USA lacked the ability to dominate possession and territory in their usual style.
Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated questioned Ellis' selection and the construction of her midfield:
"With a central pairing of Morgan Brian and Lauren Holiday (and Carli Lloyd stuck out on the left), the U.S. midfield struggled in a 2-0 loss to France and didn’t impress much in a 1-0 win over England last month.
Against the kind of good teams the U.S. will be facing at the World Cup, you have to wonder whether including a pure defensive midfielder in a 4-1-3-2 formation would bring more steel to the U.S. setup.
"
Morgan Brian was exposed against the French, looking totally out of sorts, but she recovered against England where she improved her form and showed her pedigree.
Alex Morgan will once again be key for the USA, with the prolific 25-year-old looking to utilise her firepower to win the tournament and place her side in good shape for the upcoming World Cup.
Morgan is the prodigal talent of the women's game, and Norway will have to pay her special attention on Wednesday evening.
However, she will be supported by the legendary Abby Wambach who will bring her own unique threat.
Coach Ellis recently spoke about the specific importance of the Portuguese competition this season, per USSoccer.com:
"The value of the Algarve Cup is of course great games against top teams in a tournament format without much rest.
In any year, this tournament presents great challenges, but as we continue to progress towards the World Cup, we want to get tested at the highest possible levels. Our opponents at this tournament give us another opportunity to gauge our depth and fitness.
"
But USWNT will know the credible threat Norway bring as the former European and World champions of the women's code.
Norway have an identical form record to Team USA since the turn of the calendar year, beating Ireland but losing to Sweden, per Soccerway.com.
However, the recall of goalkeeper Hope Solo, after the player had been suspended by the governing body, per Sky Sports, will strengthen Team USA's back line against the European team:
Solo is an integral part of the USA's set-up, and her influence and return is key at the Algarve Cup.
The 33-year-old was replaced by Ashlyn Harris for the contests against France and England, and it was clear the Americans were missing one of their loudest and most commanding voices.
Norway have the class to cause a shock in Group B, but Team USA will be focused on using their warm-weather stay in Portugal to prepare for bigger tests.
And with Morgan and Wambach ready to push their own preparations on, USWNT will be favourites to make short work of their opposition.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
