Just when things have started to get interesting we had to go and neglect the blog. We were a bit overwhelmed getting Issue 13 together and had some technical difficulties posting from Cary. But we're back and will be reporting from DC. So stay tuned.

The U.S. launched their Olympic qualifying campaign tonight with a 6-0 victory over Jamaica with goals from Carli Lloyd, Abby
Wambach (2), Lauren Cheney, Heather O'Reilly, and Tobin Heath. The loss means that Jamaica is out after losing to Mexico 8-1 on Tuesday. The U.S. and Mexico will go through to the semi-finals but the U.S. needs a victory to finish top of the group and avoid an early meeting with Canada (assuming Canada finishes top of their group) before the final. Both finalists will represent CONCACAF in the Beijing Olympics.

Reports are coming out of Beijing that China's Football Association has fired women's national team coach Elisabeth Loisel.

In the better late than never department, I've started editing the video I took in the Algarve. Next time I'll make sure to load my editing software onto my laptop before I go. The first entry is the "Crossbar Game" as chronicled in the WNT Blog.

In a few hours, I will be heading to Lisbon to catch a plane home. It has been an incredible week of soccer here in the Algarve and while I am anxious to get home to my family, I am sad to see it end.

It isn't often that you get the opportunity to see a team transform before your eyes and while they still have some work to do, I feel like the team I saw take on Denmark today was a better and different team than I saw against China just last week. They faced tougher opponents as the tournament wore on and while their new, more possession oriented style of play wasn't automatic when the pressure was turned on, they stuck with it and it looked better and more natural with each game.

During the opening minutes against China through the waning minutes of the final, I was struck by the chatter I heard out on the field. The team was communicating at a volume I haven't observed since Julie Foudy left the pitch. Sometimes it was captain Christie Rampone exhorting the troops. Other times it was Kate Markgraf shouting out instruction. Heather O'Reilly was frequently heard calling for the ball. At first I wondered if it was my imagination or if the chatter was more noticeable due to the lack of fan noise on the field, but Rampone confirmed my observation.

"The communication is just really good, better than I think it’s ever been," said Rampone. "It’s definitely something we’ve been working on in training because everyone is responsible out there. We’ve been working on being on the same page and having the same voice instead of making so many different commands and I think everyone is feeling more and more comfortable."

As to Pia Sundhage, other than a quick interview at the College Cup, this was my first real exposure to her. She has an enthusiasm that is contagious and while she is a very savvy coach, in some ways she is just a big kid that loves soccer. She talks a lot about belief, courage and confidence. Her team seems to have bought in and will leave the Algarve with more confidence in what they are doing as they have seen it work.

The team will get a week off when they get home although they have a running program to keep them on track, then they are back together to get ready for Olympic Qualifying.

As for me, they are still pictures to post, videos to edit and thoughts to share (as well as Issue 12 to pull together), but they will have to wait until I get back to Georgia and get a few hours sleep. Thanks for sticking with us during the 2008 Algarve Cup. Look for an update on Friday.

Does anyone recognize the mystery woman in the visor?

New Coach of Women's Professional Soccer's New Jersey franchise, Ian Sawyers, scouting talent for his new team.

There is good news and bad news from today’s match against Norway. The bad news is that U.S. had a really rough first half. They had difficulty solving Norway’s pressure and had a tough time playing the ball through the midfield.

The good news is that the U.S. had a really rough first half, but stuck to the game plan, found a way to solve the pressure, and came back and spanked Norway 4-0 in the second half.

Yes, they had a little help from Norway’s ‘keeper, Ingrid Hjelmseth, but both goals that were in part the result of ‘keeper error wouldn’t have happened with out some pretty spectacular individual effort. Natasha Kai did well to read Hjelmseth’s casual ball placement and put herself in great position to take advantage.

“The big lift in the second half was Tasha Kai’s goal to start off our scoring streak,” said Heather O’Reilly. “Her energy and read on that play was just phenomenal.”

Amy Rodriguez’s shot was weak and should have easily been handled by Hjelmseth, but a nice ball from Wambach and some equally nice moves from Rodriguez put her in position to take the shot in the first place.

Wambach and O’Reilly’s goals were first class.

Pia Sundhage once again used all six subs (Tarpley, Whitehill, Heath, Rodriguez, Lopez and Osborne) and was pleased with the effort she got off the bench.

“The players coming off the bench, they did a great job and that’s a strength,” said Sundhage. “We will play the bench and that’s a message I want to send.”

This match was a better opportunity for Sundhage and the coaching staff to assess Nicole Barnhart and she looked good. Her performance here should keep her in the mix for the trip to Beijing.

Christie Rampone earned the Sierra Mist Player of the Match for the second game in a row. Rampone had an outstanding World Cup and just seems to be getting better and better.

I think it is pretty safe to assume that Natasha Kai, Amy Rodriguez, and Lauren Cheney are competing for two spots on the Olympic roster. They’ve each gotten a start in this tournament and so far, I can’t say that any one has distinguished herself one way or the other over the other two. We’ll see what happens on Wednesday when the U.S. takes on Denmark.

Today at practice all the photographers noticed that Leslie Osborne was sporting a tremendously huge bruise on her thigh. I asked her about it and she shared the gory details.

"I guess I got hit, right when I got in (against Italy). She hit me pretty hard and she went cleats up on me so I actually have her whole cleat on my thigh, but I got it worked on. I have another one on my left thigh, just to make it even. They were pretty brutal out there, kind of like the Brazilians, so it was good."

* Bruise photos compliments of Patricia Giobettii

Cat Whitehill made her first appearance of the year at halftime of yesterday’s match against Italy. She injured her ankle before match play began in the Four Nations Tournament and has been recovering and working on her fitness.

In my article yesterday for ESPNSoccernet, I included a quote from Pia Sundhage about how the coaching staff is working with Cat on her fitness and pushing her to get more out of her game.

Cat graciously talked with me after practice this morning about her recovery and the extra workload. I have to agree with Pia that her attitude is great and she seems ready to do whatever she needs to do to contribute to the team.

You got your first minutes of 2008 yesterday. How did it feel to be back on the field?

To be completely honest, I was nervous at first. I was telling my dad last night that I don’t normally get nervous before games. I think the last game I was truly nervous was before the gold medal game at the Olympics. It was a different feeling. Once I calmed my nerves a little bit after the first 10 minutes, I felt a little bit better and it was fun to be out there.

You injured your ankle in China. Tell me about that.

Unfortunately, it was the practice the day before the first game. I went up for a ball against Tarp and I just landed completely wrong on my ankle. I’ve never actually sprained that ankle before and it took a little bit more than normal to recover.

I talked with Pia yesterday and she indicated that they were working you pretty hard on your fitness to get you back. How’s that going?

It’s tough. I’m doing a little bit more than everyone else. My legs are definitely feeling it, my brain is feeling it, but it’s good for me.

Pia said you had a great attitude about it.

(Laughs.) Well, good. You know, I might as well. I’m getting ready to hopefully play in the Olympics or Olympic qualifying first. Hopefully, I’ll make the Olympic qualifying team and hopefully after that, the Olympic team if we qualify. I want to work as hard as I can so that I can be the best Cat I can be.

What are you doing extra?

Basically, it is everything with a ball, which is really nice. So, they’ll play me a ball thirty yards ahead of me and I have to run catch it, cross it, and then run back to my spot for a minute or two minutes and then based on my heart rate is how long my rest is. I try and get my heart rate down as quickly as possible and then I do it all over again.

How are you legs for practice after doing that?

Well, they don’t feel refreshed. They definitely feel like they’ve been worked and I know that other people are tired and they come to me and are like, “I can’t imagine how you are feeling.” That’s okay. If I’m pushed through this, my body can take more than I expect it to. I’m learning that right now.

Today's 2-0 win over Italy wasn't as "pretty" as the 4-0 trouncing of China earlier in the week, but it was more exciting.

It was nice to see the team knocking the ball around so well and it's good for the ego to score a bunch of goals, but when a team rolls over like China did, there's no drama.

Italy didn't roll over, not for a moment. They pressured the U.S. from the opening kickoff to the final whistle and though it wasn't always "pretty", it made for an lively match.

“It was really a battle. The Italian team was definitely inspired and motivated for this game for the whole 90 minutes," said Heather O'Reilly whose second half goal was a beauty. "It’s not like they lost their desire at any point. It was a very intense game, so it was really a battle for us to calm it down, ping it around, and keep possession, and I don’t think we did that quite as much as we would have liked, but we won 2-0, it’s a great win and we’re moving on towards Norway.”

The midfield shined against China, but it was the back line, led by Christie Rampone, that stood out against Italy. They were tested by the Italians, especially number eight, Melania Gabbiadini, who was consistently dangerous. They came out unscathed, but had some help from the Italians who were frequently caught offsides.

“It was a great match for us because it challenges us. We seemed a little stressed at times…but we just have to stay composed," said Rampone. "We’re a good team. We’re good on the ball and we just have to believe that and I think these games test us, which is good going into qualifying because at times like that we have to compose ourselves and settle down.”

It is imperative to the development of this team to be put in uncomfortable situations before they get to the Olympics. It's easy to possess the ball when there is no pressure, but this was an opportunity to test themselves against some consistent pressure. It wasn't perfect, but it was an important step towards being able to handle the heat the next time they face down a Brazil or North Korea.