By David Gold
January 17 – United States women’s team coach Pia Sundhage has arrived in Vancouver with a 20 woman squad for the 2012 Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Olympic women’s qualifying tournament, which takes place on January 19 until 29.
Two teams will qualify for the London 2012 Games at the conclusion of the eight team tournament, for which the US, the reigning gold medal holders, will be favourites alongside hosts Canada.
Among those selected were Abby Wambach and Hope Solo, stars of the US team which lost on penalties to Japan in the final of the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany.
In all 19 of those selected were in Germany, giving the US an experienced look ahead of the start of the tournament on Thursday.
“The players made it hard for us to choose the 20 for Canada,” said Sundhage.
“We had a great camp in December and this past week in Los Angeles.
“I’m excited that we have a new player in the mix who wasn’t in the World Cup (Sydney Leroux) and that will change the environment a bit in a positive way.
“As always, we are excited to play the next game and we will be prepared.”
The US will play their first game on Friday (January 20) against the Dominican Republic, before facing Guatemala and Mexico.
Mexico will be the toughest opponent for the US in their bid to reach the Olympics, which they have never failed to qualify for, and have won three times out of four.
In the other group, Canada take on Cuba, Costa Rica and Haiti.
The US have also won the last three Olympic Qualifying tournaments, and will join Great Britain, Sweden, France, Cameroon, South Africa, North Korea, Japan, Brazil and Colombia if they win qualification.
All games are taking place at BC Place, and the top two in both groups will progress to the semi-finals, with the two finalists both qualifying for London.
Full squad: Nicole Barnhart, Hope Solo, Rachel Buehler, Ali Krieger, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, Kelley O’Hara, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn, Shannon Boxx, Tobin Heath, Lori Lindsey, Carli Lloyd, Heather O’Reilly, Megan Rapinoe, Amy Rodriguez, Lauren Cheney, Sydney Leroux, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach
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