by Denise Duffy (2/7/23)
Above: The USWNT are fully focused to win their third successive World Cup. Photo: Goal.
Four stars on the shirts of the USA is all you need to know about the history of the US team at World Cups. Performance under pressure has been their winning formula. Always prepared, the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) will again make this World Cup about taking the top prize.
The athletes on the current roster are not the ones we thought the team would be built around. There will be no Catarina Macario, no Sam Mewis, no Christen Press, no Abby Dahlkemper, no Becky Sauerbrunn, and the devastating loss of Mallory Swanson is something that lingers in the minds of many fans. Injuries to key players might be an issue, however, the US has depth at most positions.
This tournament lands mid-season for the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and players are in the midst of weekly matches. Like all nations, they will be whisked away for a camp where they train in an environment as tough as any top competition in the world. Both of these factors give the USWNT an edge in preparation. They are mentally and physically fired up. It’s up to Vlatko Andonovski to keep it going and truly find the best chemistry and strategy for this team.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Alyssa Naeher (90 caps, Chicago Red Stars), Casey Murphy (14 caps, North Carolina Courage), Aubrey Kingsbury (1 cap, Washington Spirit).
Defenders: Alana Cook (24 caps, OL Reign), Crystal Dunn (131 caps, Portland Thorns FC), Naomi Girma (15 caps, San Diego Wave), Emily Fox (28 caps, North Carolina Courage), Kelley O’Hara (157 caps, NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (74 caps, OL Reign)
Midfielders: Savannah DeMelo (0 caps, Racing Louisville), Julie Ertz (118 caps, Angel City FC), Andi Sullivan (44 caps, Washington Spirit), Ashley Sanchez (24 caps, Washington Spirit), Rose Lavelle (88 caps, OL Reign), Lindsey Horan (128 caps, Olympique Lyon), Kristie Mewis (50 caps, NJ/NY Gotham FC)
Forwards: Alex Morgan (206 caps, San Diego Wave), Sophia Smith (29 caps, Portland Thorns), Lynn Williams (52 caps, NJ/NY Gotham FC), Megan Rapinoe (199 caps, OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (17 caps, Washington Spirit), Alyssa Thompson (3 caps, Angel City)
Head Coach
In 2019 when Jill Ellis stepped down the next natural progression in the evolution of the USWNT team was to hire Macedonian American Vlatko Andonovski. He was celebrated in the NWSL as a strategic genius, often able to create results with depleted club team squads.
Under his guidance, the USWNT was up to 44 straight wins, and they were truly humming. Then came the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo and the sportscar fell apart. A terrible match against Canada and an overall lacklustre tournament with substitutions en masse left people scratching their chin as to what Andonovski was thinking, or overthinking. The big question is can he allow this team to flow again? Can he redeem himself? No one will want to prove his winning ways more than him.
World Cup History
Winners in 1991, 1999, 2015, and 2019. Though globally, women’s football has been catching up in terms of physical fitness, physicality, and technical ability, USA is still the number one team in the world. The US will use their belief in themselves, belief in each other, and the legacy of the teams in the past to keep them motivated when moments get tough. The mental edge is theirs.
It is not uncommon for the USWNT to look discombobulated in pre-tournament matches. It happened in 2015 and 2019. This past year, losses to England and Spain might be shocking to some, however, these are the times when questions are answered and adjustments are made. Pre World Cup losses are fuel for the fire for these professionals.
How they qualified
Competing in the CONCACAF (The Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football) region, the USWNT participated in the qualifying tournament held in Monterrey, Mexico, in July 2022. Demonstrating their dominance, they defeated Haiti, Jamaica, and Costa Rica. Notably, the US team played a role in crushing Mexico’s aspirations of making the World Cup. By reaching the final, they had already secured their qualification. In a highly anticipated match against Canada, motivated by a longstanding rivalry, the US emerged as the winner.
Strengths
Transitional ball is the name of the game for the USWNT. The US are the fastest and most physically fit team in the tournament. Their forwards’ press and force turnovers in a way that most teams cannot handle. If the opposition can get it out of their half, there are aggressive and highly motivated US defenders looking to strip the ball and get forward on the counter.
Development Areas
There are questions in the midfield. Under an Andonoski team, the composition changes with the opponent. Without consistency in the centre of the pitch, the team has lacked a fluidity and sense of where each other are. This often leaves the players second-guessing on where to place a pass or how to position themselves.
Will Lindsay Horan play forward or towards the back? Will Julie Ertz start? Will Rose Lavelle recover from injury in time to play and show her creative instinct and brilliance on the pitch? Will left outside back Crystal Dunn get more time up in midfield and cause some offensive chaos as she so publicly wants? Lots of uncertainty there.
Key Players
Even without Mallory Swanson, the American forward lineup, in whatever form it takes will be the most feared of the tournament. As a unit, they are fast, unpredictable, tough, and will look for each other. All are expected to put in huge defensive shifts, pressing in the back and pouncing on turnovers, a forte of Lynn Williams.
Forward Sophia Smith is having a year in the NWSL. She is currently on fire and primed for the big stage. She scores both inside and outside of the box. Watch out world, she’s about to become a household name. And don’t forget Alex Morgan, Trinity Rodman, and Megan Rapinoe. These three are three of the most phenomenal playmakers and goal scorers in the game, each willing to sacrifice their bodies to generate chances for each other.
As the cap numbers show, there are some very experienced athletes on the USWNT. Rapinoe and Kelly O’Hara are currently recovering from injuries, and as seasoned veterans, they will be diligent in managing their physical well-being.
Perhaps the two most important players in the group of defenders are Alana Cook and Naomi Girma. Relatively new on the world stage, these two Stanford grads will need to work together and play a tournament of their lives to help the US win. Splitting them will be targeted by opposing teams.
The midfield is where creativity, with Ashley Sanchez and Rose Lavelle, meets strong physicality and a winning mentality that Julie Ertz and Lindsay Horan bring. It’s Andonovski’s most intricate puzzle. The USWNT head coach has invited a red-hot Savannah DeMelo who is a proven goal scorer in the NWSL, though at zero caps she will need to create some chemistry with these other athletes. Tying into this will be question marks at the outside back positions. A healthy Dunn is a certainty, but will Emily Fox move to the right, or will O’Hara be ready to slot in there?
Getting this midfield vibe right will be a top priority in the final preparations before heading to New Zealand.
In goal, there are three solid choices, with Alyssa Naeher having the most international experience. While Nahear holds the top spot, a six-foot-tall Casey Murphy, is making the case for appearances at the World Cup with her solid play in the NWSL. The question is will Andonovski play Murphy? If cohesion is the problem, will he want Naeher to be the General for as much of the tournament as possible and be the consistent voice organizing the back line?
One to watch
The last two World Cups, Julie Ertz was perhaps the toughest player on the pitch. Unafraid of breaking up play with fierce challenges, she epitomizes the intense physical mentality of the USWNT. After being away from the game for 19 months due to pregnancy, the question is can she still execute in the same way at the number six position?
Most fans are glad to have her back, though a lot is unknown. So far in her recent return to NWSL play, she looks good but hasn’t reached greatness yet. If she can return to her aggressiveness and quick reflexes, USA will have found their guard dog back and a big hole in the middle will be filled.
Success would be
Winning, anything else would be a disappointment.
Having said that, with every stage in this tournament, women get paid more. The USWNT is on the forefront of that discussion. Though we are only at 25% of what the men receive, winners of the tournament take home 270k, second place 195k, third place 180k, and fourth 165k. Those who make it to the quarterfinals get 90k, round of 16 get 60k, and group stage participants get 30k. The numbers are not where they need to be and the USWNT can squarely look FIFA in the eye and continue to demand more.
The USWNT are a global phenomena and at least a billion people will be watching this tournament, with eyes on them. They are willing to put the world of women’s football on their backs and will continue to elevate this and other important topics. A win means their voices are amplified, however, it’s not the only result that matters. They have got the ball rolling, so to speak, and will continue to support women’s teams in negotiations with their federations around the globe on their quest to uplift women and trans participants in sports.
Prediction
We learned in 2015 and in 2019, the red, white, and blue are the one to beat. It won’t be easy. Assuming they win their group, the toughest match in their path to victory will be a semi-final match versus Sweden in Auckland. If England makes it to the final, it will be right in USA’s sweet spot of teams to play against. Having already played them recently, the USWNT will know exactly what they are dealing with.
Group E Fixtures
22nd July – Vietnam, Eden Park, Auckland.
27th July – Netherlands, Sky Stadium, Wellington.
1st August – Portugal, Eden Park, Auckland.
To read the other World Cup nation previews published so far, click on this link: https://impetusfootball.org/international-football/
Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. COMING soon – our new TikTok platform…
impetusfootball.org 