[12 NATIONS TOURNAMENT] The U.S. under-20 women’s national team drew 0-0 with Sweden Monday in its last match of the 12 Nations Tournament in La Manga,Spain. The U-20s earlier drew 1-1 with Norway and lost 3-0 to Germany.
The USA is in the early stages of preparations for qualifying for the 2014 U-20 Women’s World Cup to be heldin Canada. Players born on or after Jan. 1, 1994, are age-eligible.
The U.S. roster featured eight players who played in last year at the Under-17 World Cup in Azerbaijan, including
Paris St. Germain’s Lindsey Horan, who was with the senior national team at the AlgarveCup, is eligible for the 2014 U-20 Women’s World Cup. She was injured and missed the 2012 finals.
The U.S. U-20s will come together next for a training camp running from April 13-20at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. that will be held in conjunction with a U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team training camp.
March 11 in LaManga
USA 0 Sweden 0.
USA — Campbell; Roccaro, Andrews, Naughton, Gardner; Sullivan, Meier (Cousins,67), Lavelle; Jenkins (Meehan, 78), Munerlyn, Doniak.
I’m glad there is exposure for these young players, but I find the handling of the coaches quite cryptic. What happened to Steve Swanson? I haven’t been able to watch full matches of this team/group of players. Are they quality players? How has the coach developed these kids? Why was he let go? Why is Michelle French given the job now? What is her vision? How are these coaches accountable? What style of play are they committed to? How can these coaches be held accountable if they live in the shadows and rotate through even when they fail? If Steve Swanson can’t get the job done he should be relegated to lesser positions not promoted. This kind of slight of hand works at the club level but we deserve more for our national teams.