2006 Algarve Cup Preparations
{{date|February 19, 2006}}

Teams are preparing for the [[w:Algarve Cup|2006 Algarve Cup]] international soccer tournament, March 9, 11, 13 and 15.  The annual [[w:Category:Women's football (soccer)|women's invitational]], held in the [[w:Algarve|Algarve]] region of Portugal, features some of the [[w:Women's football around the world|world's top teams]] and may foreshadow face-offs in the [[w:Women's World Cup|2007 Women's World Cup]].  The [[w:US WNT|United States women's national soccer team]], champions in four of the last six Algarve Cups and second [http://www.fifa.com/en/womens/statistics/index.html ranked] in the world, will join the number one ranked [[w:Germany women's national football team|Germany]] at this year's competition.  The three "groups" of four teams who will play each other at the beginning of the tournament have yet to be finalized.  However, it's been reported that the U.S. will be in a group with France, Denmark and China.  The U.S. recently beaten China and tied France to win the 2006 Four Nations Tournament.  

Teams with the luxury of being full-time players (some [[w:Women's professional sports|women professional athletes]] must keep regular jobs) will take a break from training before they begin arriving in Algarve next week.  

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== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://wleague.uslsoccer.com/home/119935.html
 |title=15 W-Leaguers at Algarve WNT Camp
 |author=US Soccer News Release
 |pub=www.ussoccer.com
 |date=February 2, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.paddocktalk.com/news/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=26852&newlang=&topic=34&catid=58
 |title=USA Going For Fourth Straight Algarve
 |author=MSulka
 |pub=PaddockTalk
 |date=February 1, 2006}}

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[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Football (soccer)]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Portugal]]
[[Category:Women's football (soccer)]]
Teams are preparing for the 2006 Algarve Cup international soccer tournament, March 9, 11, 13 and 15.  The annual women's invitational, held in the Algarve region of Portugal, features some of the world's top teams and may foreshadow face-offs in the 2007 Women's World Cup.  The United States women's national soccer team, champions in four of the last six Algarve Cups and second  ranked in the world, will join the number one ranked Germany at this year's competition.  The three "groups" of four teams who will play each other at the beginning of the tournament have yet to be finalized.  However, it's been reported that the U.S. will be in a group with France, Denmark and China.  The U.S. recently beaten China and tied France to win the 2006 Four Nations Tournament.  

Teams with the luxury of being full-time players (some women professional athletes must keep regular jobs) will take a break from training before they begin arriving in Algarve next week.
Sports Football (soccer) Europe Portugal Women's football (soccer)