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U.S. Women's National Team head coach Pia Sundhage called upon Janet Rayfield as an assistant for the fourth time during Sundhage's tenure and for the first World Cup appearance since being named head coach in November, 2007.
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June 20, 2011
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois women's soccer head coach Janet Rayfield will coach with the United States Women's Soccer National Team staff as an assistant for the duration of the 2011 World Cup, held in Germany from June 26 - July 17. Rayfield will update a forthcoming fightingillini.com blog during her time with the U.S. National Team while she assists head coach Pia Sundhage as the U.S. competes for its third World Cup title.
Rayfield is a recurring assistant on Sundhage's U.S. National Team staff, fulfilling coaching duties with the senior-level squad in the summers of 2009 and 2010 as well as for the 2011 Algarve Cup. In addition, Rayfield has been involved with various U.S. national soccer programs throughout her coaching career. Rayfield coached with the Arkansas Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 1996-98 as well as the U.S. Youth Soccer Association ODP (1993-95). Following her work with the Arkansas state-level ODP, Rayfield served as a U.S. Soccer National Staff Coach for Region II, a 13-state range which encompasses the Midwest, while simultaneously completing duties as an assistant for the U-16 and U-19 National Team programs from 2000-02.
The U.S. National Team will compete as part of Group C during the 16-team opening round of the World Cup along with the People's Republic of Korea, Sweden and Columbia. USA opens play against Korea on June 28 before facing Columbia on July 2 and closing group play against Sweden on July 6. The top two finishers from each of the four groups earn a spot in the World Cup quarterfinal round, which occurs from July 9-10.
