The USA faces Denmark Wednesday in the championship game of the Algarve Cup, the biggest women's tournament in the world, at at Municipal Stadium in Vila Real de San Antonio, Portugal (kickoff: 12:30 pm ET).
While the USA leads the series with a 12-4-2 record, the Danes have been tough opponents. The USA's 3-1 loss to Denmark on Nov. 4, 2004, was the last suffered by the Americans and only one of two setbacks in 73 games played since the 2003 Women's World Cup.
The Danes have qualified for the 2007 Women's World Cup in China. They won Europe's Group 3 on the last day of qualifying, beating Finland, 1-0, in front of almost 10,000 fans, the largest crowd ever to watch a women's soccer match in Denmark. Maiken Pape got the historic goal in the 55th minute to send Denmark to China.
The Danes beat France, 4-0, and Norway, 1-0, in their first two games at the Algarve Cup. Coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller rested several starters for the final game against reigning world champion with the knowledge that his team was all but assured of a berth in the final even if it lost to Germany, which it did, 3-0.
Denmark has several attacking threats. Pape plays the role of the target player, while Merete Pederson, a lethal finisher who scored three goals in two games against the USA at the end of 2004, likes to make slashing runs through the middle. The speedy Johanna Rasmussen is the Danes' main threat down the wings. Anne Dot Eggers Nielsen is Denmark's dominant midfielder, while captain Katrine Pedersen is the Danes' emotional leader from her position on the backline.
ALGARVE CUP PLACEMENT GAMES:
Portugal vs. Ireland (11th Place
Iceland vs. China (9th Place)
Italy vs. Norway (7th Place)
Finland vs. Germany (5th Place)
Sweden vs. France (3rd Place)
USA vs. Denmark (Championship)