Euro 2020 Football: Europe begins to build momentum whiles USA shine

Europe’s various leagues are slowly building momentum again for the year with the arrival of warmer weather. Germany and Switzerland are underway following the mid-season hiatus, while in Italy the frontrunners seem in unstoppable form. With only minimal club activity over recent days, FIFA.com also looks at some international action ahead of a busy week on the national team front, including an impressive start to a new era for an unfamiliar looking USA.

Internationals: New look USA start brightly

Tom Sermanni’s reign as coach of Olympic champions and world No1 USA started in winning fashion as the Stars and Stripes eased past Scotland 4-1 on Saturday. The Americans’ side featured three debutants, one of whom – Christen Press – scored a first-half brace in Jacksonville, Florida. Shannon Boxx and Sydney Leroux scored in the second period, book-ending a goal from Scotland’s star attacker, Kim Little. In an odd twist, Sermanni’s first match was against the country of his birth who, in turn, are coached by a Swede, the country of birth of the USA’s previous coach, Pia Sundhage. Meanwhile, the Netherlands kick-started their build-up to July’s UEFA Women’s EURO with a morale-boosting 3-2 win over neighbours Belgium in Waregem, with debutant Priscilla de Vos firing home a superb extra-time winner. A host of international matches will be played in midweek, with Germany’s visit to France among the highlights.

Germany: Slow burn in the cold

The low-key resumption following the mid-winter break in Germany continued over the weekend, with again just one Bundesliga match played. Caroline Abbe’s opener for Freiburg was cancelled out by a goal from Bayer Leverkusen’s Germany FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup skipper Ramona Petzelberger, as the contest between two mid-table sides ended in parity. Second-placed Turbine Potsdam’s home encounter with struggling Sindelfingen was postponed. League leaders Wolfsburg, however, took the field and eased into the last four of the cup with a 3-0 win over Jena. Conny Pohlers hit a quickfire second-half double to set up a meeting with Freiburg, while Potsdam will meet holders Bayern Munich in next month’s semi-finals.

Italy: Top two march on

Leaders Torres continued their fine campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win at Grifo Perugia to maintain their four-point lead at the summit. Teenager Eleonora Piacezzi scored a double for the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finalists, who have now dropped just four points from a possible 60. Second-placed Tavagnacco continued their dogged pursuit of the champions with a 2-0 triumph over Riviera di Romagna. Brescia, however, fell further behind the leading pair after being held 1-1 on their visit south to a Napoli team who also took points off high-flying Torres last month.

Switzerland: Return to action

Another European league building momentum for the second half of the campaign is Switzerland, with the season recommencing with two matches ahead of a full schedule next weekend.

Read also:

http://en.africatopsports.com/2013/02/16/football-different-route-was-taken-by-sweden


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