ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

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The Algarve Cup 2015 was the 22nd edition of this important tournament series for women’s national football teams and took place from the 4th to the 11th. March 2015, as in previous years, took place at various venues in the Algarve, the southernmost region of Portugal. Six teams from the top ten FIFA World Rankings took part in the tournament. The Algarve Cup is therefore often referred to as the “mini World Cup”. The tournament served for nine participants as preparation for the 2015 World Cup. Brazil and Switzerland participated for the first time. On February 27, a new trophy for the winning team was presented.

Regulations
Twelve national teams took part in the tournament. Unlike previous years, there were some changes to the game mode. The eight highest-rated teams were no longer divided between groups A and B and the four weaker teams were assigned to group C; Rather, the three groups were roughly equal in 2015. But as before, the teams played first in their group each against each for placement. First the best score, then the direct comparison, then the goal difference in all games, the number of goals scored, the fair play classification and lastly the place in the FIFA world ranking was decisive for the placement. This rule also applied – with the exception of direct comparison – to the determination of the best group winners, second, third and fourth.

The procedure was then as follows:

Final: The two best group winners of groups A, B and C played for the tournament victory.
Play for place 3: The worst group winner against the best second-placed team of groups A, B and C.
Game for place 5: The two remaining group runners.
Play for 7th place: The two best group thirds in groups A, B and C.
Game for 9th place: The worst group third against the best fourth-placed team of groups A, B and C.
Game for 11th place: The two remaining group fourth.

If it was tied after the regular season of the placement matches, followed no extension, but directly afterwards a penalty shooting.

Since FIFA classified the games as friendly matches, each team was allowed to replace six players per match, in a maximum of four game breaks, including a maximum of three game breaks after the start of the second half. Yellow cards received during the tournament did not have an accumulative effect. After a yellow-red card, a player was automatically blocked for the next game.

The Tournament
All times in Central European Time (CET), which corresponds to local time (UTC±0), or Coordinated Universal Time, plus one hour.

Group phase

Group A

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Group B

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Group C

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Placement games

Play for 11th place

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| colspan="4" | 11. March at 16:00 in Parchal

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Play for 9th place

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| colspan="4" | 11. M