Abby Wambach was among 19 players selected for the U.S. squad for
the Algarve Cup after missing last year's tournament while
recovering from a broken leg.
Wambach scored three goals at the 2008 Algarve Cup to raise
her total to 12, one shy of Kristine Lilly's U.S. career record.
The U.S. has won the tournament six times in 14 previous
appearances, including three in a row from 2003-05. The Americans
lost to Sweden 4-3 on penalties in last year's final following a
1-1 draw.
Only eight players returned from last year's squad.
Midfielder Heather O'Reilly and Hope Solo will be appearing in
their eighth Algarve Cup, while midfielder Shannon Boxx is going to
her seventh, and Wambach and defender Heather Mitts to their sixth.
Defender Christie Rampone is pregnant, midfielder Megan
Rapinoe is recovering from an illness and defender Lori Chalupny is
taking time off due to concussion-related issues.
The tournament in Portugal is from Feb. 24-March 3, with the
Group A and B winners meeting for the championship.
The U.S. is in Group B and plays Iceland on Feb. 24, Norway
two days later and Sweden on March 1. Group A includes China,
Denmark, Finland and Germany, and Group C Austria, Faeroe Islands,
Portugal and Romania.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Nicole Barnhart, Jill Loyden, Hope Solo.
Defenders: Rachel Buehler, Stephanie Cox, Amy LePeilbet,
Heather Mitts, Meghan Schnur, Cat Whitehill.
Midfielders: Yael Averbuch, Shannon Boxx, Tobin Heath, Lori
Lindsey, Carli Lloyd, Heather O'Reilly.
Forwards: Lauren Cheney, Casey Nogueira, Amy Rodriguez, Abby
Wambach.
