Friendly Tournament. Women. National Teams
Friendly tournaments for women's national teams consist of unofficial matches where squads prepare for major events, honing tactics and unveiling new talents. These games give coaches freedom to experiment without the weight of official stakes.
History and foundation
Women's international friendlies trace back to the 1920s amid the sport's grassroots growth. A milestone was Denmark's 1971 clash with England, sparking regular tests. Highlights include the USA's 1-0 win over China in 1999 pre-World Cup final, and Brazil's 5-1 thrashing of Germany in 2014. Stars like Megan Rapinoe shone here before her 2019 World Cup heroics.
Tournament format
Flexible format: single fixtures or mini-tournaments with 2-4 teams. Matches follow FIFA rules, 90 minutes, sometimes with trial rule tweaks. Teams play 3-10 games yearly, typically in off-seasons or ahead of Euros/World Cups.
Interesting facts
Average goals per match: 2.8, favoring open, attacking play. Top scorers: Birgit Prinz (Germany) with 50+ in friendlies; Alex Morgan (USA) at 40. Standouts: Sam Kerr's (Australia) flair, Wendie Renard's (France) headers, and Marta (Brazil), the test-match queen.