Match previews – Inside World Football

Beauty and the beast. One will triumph in the W Gold Cup final on Sunday

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 12:56:21 +0000

March 8 – The inaugural W Gold Cup concludes Sunday with the USA facing Brazil in the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. World ranked two against number 11 in the first major women’s championship of 2024 with eyes also focussed on form going into the 2024 Olympics.

The final will showcase the best and most resilient teams of South and North America. It is a clash of styles from two teams who in the US’s case are used to sitting on top of the world,

W Gold Cup semis promise a blockbuster night of women’s football

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 12:52:37 +0000

March 6 – The W Gold Cup enters the semi-final stage tonight with both matches being played at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California.

Three of the four semi-finalists are ranked in the top 11 in the world, while Mexico, ranked 35th, beat number two ranked USA in the group stages in what was a historical result for a fast developing Mexican team.

But it is the other giant Concacaf women’s nation,

Canada’s Priestman fine-tuned for W Gold Cup semi-final classico against the US

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 11:07:16 +0000

March 6 – Canada coach Bev Priestman is confident that if her players perform to their abilities they can beat the USA tonight in the Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, in the semi-final of the inaugural W Gold Cup.

But she is also wary that they have not yet had to play a high ranked women’s nation in the competition and that in their quarter final against Costa Rica they were profligate in front of goal.

W Gold Cup enters quarter finals with reputations on the line and the old world order under threat

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 14:44:05 +0000

March 1 – After nine consecutive days of group games, the W Gold Cup moves into its quarter final stage this weekend with two days of double headers at the BMO Stadium, the Los Angeles home of Angels FC of the NWSL and LAFC of the MLS.

The last eight has all four Conmebol guest teams qualified alongside Concacaf’s leading four nations in the women’s game.

Ranked by their group performances with 1 vs 8,

US set to debut new look and a youthful style in their Gold Cup opener

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 12:00:55 +0000

February 20 – Twila Kilgore, interim head coach of the USA women’s team who kick off their campaign in the inaugural W Gold Cup tonight at the Dignity Health Stadium in Carson, Los Angeles says that the pressure of being favourites is a privilege.

Speaking before their opening game against the Dominican Republic, Kilgore said: “We want to take every moment step-by-step. As far as the group focus goes we are back together and working on our style of play…

“Pressure is a privilege,

Mexico look to carry 2023 form into W Gold Cup opener against a ‘building’ Argentina

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 11:59:16 +0000

February 20 – Mexico open the group stages of the W Gold Cup today against Argentina at the Dignity Health Stadium in Carson, Los Angeles with what could be the key deciding game for group position right at the start of the campaign.

Last October the two sides met in the semi-finals of the Pan-American games in Chile with Mexico winning 2-0 with both goals scored by midfielder Lizbeth Ovalle. Mexico went on to beat Chile 1-0 in the final.