Oswaldo Alvarez, better known as Vadão, is the Brazil coach for a second time (Photo: CFB)
Brazil has brought Vadao back to coach it’s national team one year after he was replaced by Emily Lima following the Olympics. Lima was fired over the weekend following a two-game sweep in a set of friendly matches in Australia. Before that the Brazilian side led the United States 3-1 in the 80th on the middle match day of Tournament of Nations only to lose 4-3. Four days later they were thrashed by Australia 6-1.
Lima arrived with great expectations as the program’s first female coach and at a time when the federation has been putting in more resources than ever. This year’s squad was a shell of the one that represented the country on home soil last summer.
Vadao returns after being at the helm from 2014-2016. During that time Brazil endured a disappointing World Cup. They won their group without conceding but went out to Australia in the Round of 16. The Olympics saw another trip to the knockout rounds where they returned the favor to Australia on penalty kicks. A round later, in the semifinals, they lost on penalties to Sweden before being shut off the podium by Canada in the Bronze Medal Match.
Mexico announces roster for China trip
Mexico technical director Roberto Medina Arellano called in 21 players that will travel to China next month for a tournament that will also include Brazil and North Korea. The tournament will run October 19-24.
The only current NWSL player named to the team is Bianca Henninger who has s pent the second part of the season with the Dash but has yet to see the field. Erstwhile NWSL names include former Hermann Trophy winner Teresa Noyola and former Sky Blue striker Monica Ocampo.
The Mexican team is in a state of transition following the end of Leo Cuellar’s tenure that lasted more than two decades but did not include a single match win in the World Cup or Olympics. Cuellar finally stepped down after Mexico failed to qualify for Rio last summer. Before that they flamed out in the World Cup group stage for the third time in as many tries.
The Mexico roster is:
Goalkeepers (2): Bianca Henninger, Cecelia Santiago
Defenders (7): Rebeca Bernal, Greta Espinoza, Cristina Ferral, Christine Murillo, Kenti Robles, Bianca Sierra, Marcela Valera
Midfielders (6): Natalia Gomez-Junco, Eva Gonzalez, Stephany Mayor, Karla Nieto, Teresa Noyola, Gabriela Rivero
Forwards (6): Adriana Calderon, Briana Campos, Charlyn Corrral, Yamile Franco, Anisa Guajardo, Monica Ocampo
