China Circle

The U.S. team that started 2008 at the Four Nations Tournament

The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team is back together for its final two matches of 2008, starting a week-long training camp today at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The team started its historic year in China at the Four Nations Tournament, capped its run of five tournament titles this year at the Olympics in China, and will now end the year against China with matches at The HDC on Dec. 13 and in Detroit at Ford Field on Dec. 17.

Consider these nuggets from this historic year:
The USA set a record for most wins in a year in the 24-year history of the program and is now 31-1-2.

The only loss was in the opening game of the 2008 Olympics, from which the U.S. team famously rebounded to win the gold medal.

If the team wins or ties the two games against China, it will also set a record for best winning percentage in a year that it played more than 10 matches.

The USA won all five tournaments it entered, none of them in the United States:
January: Four Nations Tournament in China
March: Algarve Cup in Portugal
April: Olympic Qualifying in Mexico
June: Peace Queen Cup in South Korea
August: 2008 Olympics in China

The U.S. team that won the 2008 Olympic gold medal