Hope Solo, Megan Rapinoe, and Abby Wambach headline a 24-player roster that may play friendlies towards Canada and Russia. ASN’s John D. Halloran has a lot to say concerning the squad.
BY
John D. Halloran
Posted
January 25, 2014
11:22 AM
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UNITED STATES WOMEN’S nationwide crew head coach Tom Sermanni named a powerful roster Friday, calling in 24 gamers to play in upcoming friendlies towards Canada and Russia.
As anticipated, the roster contained the majority of the crew’s regulars, however as normal, Sermanni did have just a few surprises for U.S. followers. Right here’s the roster.
GOALKEEPERS
Nicole Barnhart (FC Kansas Metropolis), Jill Loyden (Sky Blue FC), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)
DEFENDERS
Stephanie Cox (Seattle Reign FC), Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Whitney Engen (Tyresö), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kristie Mewis (Boston Breakers), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas Metropolis), Rachel Van Hollebeke (Portland Thorns FC)
MIDFIELDERS
Morgan Brian (Virginia), Lauren Vacation (FC Kansas Metropolis), Julie Johnston (Chicago Pink Stars), Carli Lloyd (WNY Flash), Samantha Mewis (UCLA), Heather O’Reilly (Boston Breakers), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC), Erika Tymrak (FC Kansas Metropolis)
FORWARDS
Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC), Christen Press (Tyresö), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas Metropolis), Abby Wambach (WNY Flash)
The place Are They?
At first look, many U.S. followers is perhaps questioning why Rachel Buehler isn’t listed above. However followers of the participant affectionately referred to as the “Buehldozer” shouldn’t fear—she is now going by her married identify, Van Hollebeke, one thing she introduced on Twitter earlier this week.
Accidents influenced this squad: Goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, who is predicted to compete with Jill Loyden for the third goalkeeper spot on the U.S.’s World Cup roster, continues to be recovering from minor knee surgical procedure. Alex Morgan can be nonetheless recovering from an ankle damage and Tobin Heath from a foot damage.
A number of wholesome gamers—together with some who’re anticipated to compete for a World Cup roster spot—had been left off the crew with out clarification. Meghan Klingenberg, who just lately grew to become an allotted participant within the Nationwide Ladies’s Soccer League (that means that the U.S. Soccer Federation is paying her league wage), didn’t make the lower. The identical applies to midfielder Yael Averbuch.
The U.S. federation solely sponsors 26 American gamers within the NWSL and this represents a significant dedication by the federation to the league. Each Klingenberg and Averbuch had been introduced dwelling from European groups for the 2014 season, and their exclusion from the U.S. roster is a shock.
Averbuch’s omission amplifies Sermanni’s resolution to not embody Amber Brooks, who can be returning to the NWSL this yr from Europe. With out Averbuch or Brooks on the crew, the U.S. doesn’t have a real No. 6 on the squad. Meaning both Sermanni is snug fielding two attacking central midfielders in Lloyd and Vacation, or that the upcoming friendlies will probably be used for some experimentation within the heart of the U.S. midfield.
Amy LePeilbet additionally did not make the squad and is seemingly nonetheless not absolutely recovered from her ACL surgical procedure final January.
Forwards Lindsey Horan and Sarah Hagen weren’t included, though neither is mostly a shock. Horan, just lately with the U-20 squad in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, returned to Paris Saint-Germain earlier than the qualifying match completed. Hagen, who was within the U.S.’s January camp, returned to Germany virtually instantly after the camp ended.
Kealia Ohai has nonetheless not been known as right into a senior U.S. camp, regardless of being a significant a part of the U.S.’s U-20 World Cup championship crew and main the College of North Carolina to a nationwide championship in 2012. She was the No. 2 choice within the NWSL draft earlier this month.
Shock Name-Ups
A number of names included on the roster qualify as surprises, led by UCLA product Sam Mewis. Mewis was a part of the U.S. U-20 crew that received the World Cup in 2012 and helped lead UCLA to the 2013 NCAA championship this previous fall. That is Mewis’s first senior crew call-up. She is the forty fifth completely different participant Sermanni has known as into the nationwide aspect throughout his tenure.
Julie Johnston acquired one other call-up from Sermanni, however was listed on this roster as a midfielder. On earlier rosters, Johnston was listed as a defender, the place she performed when she captained the U.S. U-20 aspect to the World Cup championship in 2012 (she usually performed as a midfielder in school at Santa Clara). The itemizing of Johnston as a midfielder might assist clarify why Averbuch and Brooks had been left off the roster, however it might be a shock if she has leapfrogged both on the U.S.’s depth chart.
Stephanie Cox additionally acquired one other call-up after solely just lately returning to the nationwide crew. Cox missed the 2012 Olympic roster, then many of the 2013 NWSL season after giving beginning to her first youngster. Being chosen over each Klingenberg and LePeilbet (who was an everyday starter in each the 2011 World Cup and 2012 Olympics) will increase just a few eyebrows.
Again within the Saddle
Megan Rapinoe is again with the crew after getting back from France. Final week, in a transfer that caught many off guard, Rapinoe left Lyon midseason to return to the U.S. saying that it was higher for her “overall happiness and wellness.” (Has she been consulting with Landon Donovan?)
Kelley O’Hara seems to have lastly recovered from the ankle damage that stored her out most of 2013. Her final begin for the crew was in April.
Erika Tymrak and Morgan Brian each acquired call-ups. Neither had been surprising, however each choices point out that Sermanni is pleased with the progress of those two attacking midfielders. With Rapinoe, Tobin Heath, and Heather O’Reilly within the combine, neither Tymrak nor Brian are prone to turn into function gamers, however each are within the combine for a World Cup roster spot.
Lastly, Alex Morgan’s lingering damage seemingly created a possibility for Amy Rodriguez, who was an everyday in 2011 however noticed her taking part in time just about eradicated with the emergence of Morgan and Sydney Leroux.
What do you consider this roster? We might love to listen to your ideas within the feedback part under.
John D. Halloran covers the U.S. ladies’s nationwide crew for American Soccer Now. Observe him on Twitter.
