European powers bring deep squads to SheBelieves Cup
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Feb 28, 2016
2016 SheBelieves Cup Schedule:
March 3 in Tampa
Germany vs. France, 5 p.m. ET
USA vs. England, 7:30 p.m. ET, FS1
March 6 in Nashville, Tenn.
USA vs. France, 3 p.m. ET ESPN3
England vs. Germany, 5:30 p.m. ET
March 9 in Boca Raton, Fla.
France vs. England, 5 p.m. ET
USA vs. Germany, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3
ENGLAND. Mark Sampson has named 19 of the 23 players from the team that finished in third place at the 2015 Women's World Cup. Back are goalkeeper Karen Bardsley, who grew up in Southern California, captain Steph Houghton, midfielder Fara Williams, who scored the gamewinner against Germany in overtime of the third-place match, former University of North Carolina defender Lucy Bronze, who had the gamewinner against host Canada in the quarterfinals, and Portland Thorns forward Jodie Taylor.
England Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Karen Bardsley (Manchester City), Siobhan Chamberlain (Liverpool), Carly Telford (Notts County).
DEFENDERS (9): Laura Bassett (Notts County), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Gilly Flaherty (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Liverpool), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Claire Rafferty (Chelsea), Alex Scott (Arsenal), Demi Stokes (Manchester City), Casey Stoney (Arsenal).
MIDFIELDERS (6): Katie Chapman (Chelsea), Isobel Christiansen (Manchester City), Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Fara Williams (Arsenal).
FORWARDS (6): Eniola Aluko (Chelsea), Karen Carney (Chelsea), Gemma Davison (Chelsea), Toni Duggan (Manchester City), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jodie Taylor (Portland Thorns FC).
GERMANY. Steffi Jones has taken over for Silvia Neid, who had been head coach for a decade. Also gone are longtime goalkeeper Nadine Angerer and 2015 Women's World Cup Golden Boot winner Celia Sasic, who retired. Out are starting midfielders Simone Laudehr, who has college exams, and Melanie Leupolz, who was a late scratch because of an injury. Anja Mittag, who won the Bronze Boot with five goals at the Women's World Cup, will now lead the attack, while Almuth Schult has taken over in goal.
Germany Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Laura Benkarth (Freiburg), Almuth Schult (Wolfsburg), Lisa Weiss (SGS Essen).
DEFENDERS (7): Saskia Bartusiak (FFC Frankfurt), Kathrin Hendrich (FFC Frankfurt), Josephine Henning (Arsenal Ladies/ENG), Tabea Kemme (Turbine Potsdam), Annike Krahn (Bayer Leverkusen), Leonie Maier (Bayern Munich), Babett Peter (Wolfsburg).
MIDFIELDERS (7): Melanie Behringer (Bayern Munich), Anna Blaesse (Wolfsburg), Sara Daebritz (Bayern Munich), Sara Doorsoun (SGS Essen), Lena Goessling (Wolfsburg), Svenja Huth (Wolfsburg), Isabel Kerschowski (Wolfsburg).
FORWARDS (6): Mandy Islacker (FFC Frankfurt), Lina Magull (Freiburg), Dzsenifer Marozsan (FFC Frankfurt), Anja Mittag (Paris SG/FRA), Lena Petermann (Freiburg), Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg).
FRANCE. Injuries have robbed the Bleues of captain Wendie Renard, midfield star Amandine Henry and starting defender Laure Boulleau, but they still have a lot of talent. Laura Georges (167), Camille Abily (158), Elise Bussaglia (150), Louisa Necib (135), Elodie Thomis (125), Eugenie Le Sommer (116) and Sarah Bouhaddi (100) all are members of the century club in caps.
France Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Sarah Bouhaddi (Lyon), Méline Gerard (Lyon), Laetitia Philippe (Montpellier).
DEFENDERS (7): Sabrina Delannoy (Paris SG), Kelly Gadea (Montpellier), Laura Georges (Paris SG), Jessica Houara D'Hommeaux (Paris SG), Sakina Karchaoui (Montpellier), Amel Majri (Lyon), Griedge Mbock Bathy (Lyon).
MIDFIELDERS (9): Camille Abily (Lyon), Viviane Asseyi (Montpellier), Charlotte Bilbault (Juvisy), Elise Bussaglia (Wolfsburg/GER), Kadidiatou Diani (Juvisy), Kheira Hamraoui (Paris SG), Aurelie Kaci (Lyon), Marie-Charlotte Leger (Montpellier), Elodie Thomis (Lyon).
FORWARDS (4): Marie-Laure Delie (Paris SG), Claire Lavogez (Lyon), Eugenie Le Sommer (Lyon), Louisa Necib (Lyon).
