Algarve Cup 2011
| Algarve Cup 2011 | |
|---|---|
| Number of nations | 12 |
| winner |
 USA (8th title)
|
| venue |
 Portugal ( Algarve )
|
| Opening game | March 2, 2011 |
| Endgame | March 9, 2011 |
| Games | 24 |
| Gates | 62 (⌀: 2.58 per game) |
| Top scorer | 5 players (3) |
| Best player |
 Homare Sawa
|
The 2011 Algarve Cup was the eighteenth of the women's football tournament held in Portugal every year. It is the most important women's football tournament for national teams after the women's Olympic tournament , the World Cup and the European Championship . The Algarve Cup 2011 took place from March 2nd to 9th, 2011.
In 2011, the Cup took place without the participation of the German national team, because they had to prepare for the World Cup in their own country. For this purpose, the national coach had requested and received a three-month preparatory phase from all those involved. But other nations are using this mini-World Cup to prepare for the actual event.
mode
Twelve national teams took part in the tournament. The eight teams with the highest ratings formed groups A and B, the four weaker teams formed group C. First, the teams in their group played each against each other for the placement. First the best number of points, then the direct comparison and only then the goal difference was decisive for the placement. Then proceed as follows:
- Game for 11th place: the third and fourth placed team in group C.
- Game for 9th place: the second-placed team in group C against the worse fourth-placed team in groups A or B.
- Game for 7th place: Winner of group C against the better fourth-placed team in groups A or B.
- Match for 5th place: the third-placed teams in groups A and B.
- Match for 3rd place: the teams placed second in groups A and B.
- Final game: The winners of groups A and B play for the tournament victory.
If it was a draw after the regular playing time of the placement games, there was no extra time , but a penalty shoot-out immediately afterwards .
Since FIFA classified the games as friendlies , each team was allowed to make six substitutions per game.
The tournament
Group stage
Group A
| Pl. | country | Sp. | S. | U | N | Gates | Diff. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
United States
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8: 1 | +7 | 9 |
| 2. |
Japan
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7: 2 | +5 | 6th |
| 3. |
 Norway
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2: 4 | −2 | 3 |
| 4th |
 Finland
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1:11 | −10 | 0 |
| March 2nd, Lagos | |||
| Norway | - | Finland | 2: 1 |
| March 2nd, Vila Real de Santo António | |||
| United States | - | Japan | 2: 1 |
| March 4th, Lagos | |||
| Japan | - | Finland | 5-0 |
| March 4th, Vila Real de Santo António | |||
| United States | - | Norway | 2-0 |
| March 7th, Parchal | |||
| Norway | - | Japan | 0: 2 |
| March 7th, Quarteira | |||
| United States | - | Finland | 4-0 |
Group B
| Pl. | country | Sp. | S. | U | N | Gates | Diff. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
 Iceland
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5: 2 | +3 | 9 |
| 2. |
 Sweden
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5: 3 | +2 | 6th |
| 3. |
 Denmark
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2: 4 | −2 | 3 |
| 4th |
 China
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1: 4 | −3 | 0 |
| March 2nd, Loulé | |||
| Sweden | - | Iceland | 1: 2 |
| March 2nd, Ferreiras | |||
| China | - | Denmark | 0: 1 |
| March 4th, Albufeira | |||
| Iceland | - | China | 2: 1 |
| March 4th, Olhão | |||
| Denmark | - | Sweden | 1: 3 |
| March 7th, Olhão | |||
| China | - | Sweden | 0: 1 |
| March 7th, Lagos | |||
| Denmark | - | Iceland | 0: 1 |
Group C
| Pl. | country | Sp. | S. | U | N | Gates | Diff. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
 Wales
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5: 5 | ± 0 | 6th |
| 2. |
Portugal
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4: 2 | +2 | 5 |
| 3. |
 Romania
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4: 3 | +1 | 4th |
| 4th |
 Chile
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1: 4 | −3 | 1 |
| March 2nd, Vila Real de Santo António | |||
| Portugal | - | Wales | 3: 1 |
| March 2nd, Lagos | |||
| Romania | - | Chile | 2-0 |
| March 4th, Vila Real de Santo António | |||
| Portugal | - | Chile | 0-0 |
| March 4th, Lagos | |||
| Wales | - | Romania | 2: 1 |
| March 7th, Faro | |||
| Chile | - | Wales | 1: 2 |
| March 7th, Parchal | |||
| Portugal | - | Romania | 1: 1 |
Placement games
All games took place on March 9, 2011.
Game for 11th place
| Parchal | |||
|
Romania
|
- |
Chile
|
1: 1 (5: 6 i.E.) |
Play for 9th place
| Loulé | |||
|
Finland
|
- |
Portugal
|
1: 2 |
Game for 7th place
| Albufeira | |||
|
China
|
- |
Wales
|
2: 1 |
Play for 5th place
| Ferreiras | |||
|
Norway
|
- |
Denmark
|
0: 0 (5: 4 on perk) |
3rd place match
| Parchal | |||
|
Sweden
|
- |
Japan
|
1: 2 |
final
Best goalscorers
|
Awards
- Best player: Homare Sawa (Japan)
- Fairest team: Chile