ASN: Press shines because the USWNT cruise previous Costa Rica 6-0 in Olympic qualifying

The USWNT completed group play in Olympic qualifying with an ideal document after a convincing 6-0 stroll previous Costa Rica Monday evening in Houston. ASN’s John Halloran seems to be on the recreation and explores such points because the rising position of Christen Press throughout the group. 

BY

John Halloran

Posted
February 04, 2020
6:00 AM

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THE UNITED STATES ladies’s nationwide group wrapped up the group stage of Olympic qualifying on Monday evening, downing Costa Rica 6-0 in Houston.

The sport itself was largely meaningless, as each groups had already secured development to Friday’s semifinal. However the transcendent efficiency of Christen Press—together with her third and fourth objectives of the match—has raised an vital query: Is it lastly time for Press to develop into a first-choice starter for the American group?

Nobody really is aware of what head coach Vlatko Andonovski’s most popular beginning lineup is, as he’s solely managed 5 video games to date and the group has been coping with numerous accidents and closely rotating the squad from recreation to recreation. Nevertheless, throughout Ellis’ five-year tenure, and particularly her final three years when the group performed in a 4-3-3, the popular attacking line was clearly Megan Rapinoe and Tobin Heath on the wings with Alex Morgan at heart ahead.

The teaching change itself represents a recent begin and an opportunity to reconfigure the depth chart, to say nothing of the truth that Morgan herself is pregnant and out till no less than the spring.

Many have advocated for Press to take Morgan’s spot because the group’s No. 9—no less than within the interim—however lots of that can rely upon how Andonovski sees the position, one other query that hasn’t absolutely been answered. Beneath Ellis, the middle ahead supplied a presence in transition, successful punts and purpose kicks within the air, checking again to get the ball and begin the U.S. assault, and making runs into the field to get on the top of providers from Rapinoe and Heath.

In that position, Morgan typically discovered herself getting hammered by the opposition, with defenders slamming into her repeatedly over the course of 90 minutes. She frolicked on the bottom in almost each match, making an attempt to get well from hits to her head, elbows to her again, and fouls coming by means of the backs of her legs. After which she acquired criticism for not scoring extra typically.

That kind of position is just not appropriate for Press and, assuming Andonovski doesn’t dramatically change the U.S.’ setup, it’s finest left to Carli Lloyd—who demonstrated her worth within the place on Monday with assists on the group’s first two objectives. The primary was a flick to Press, who drove ahead, reduce a defender, after which curled a gorgeous shot into the higher nook of the online.

— Concacaf (@Concacaf) February 4, 2020

On the second purpose, Lloyd took a move from Ali Krieger after which cut up two Costa Rican defenders with an ideal by means of ball to setup Lindsey Horan. Lloyd additionally led the U.S. in 2019 with 16 objectives, almost doubling each different American attacker even whereas getting fewer begins, and claims of her imminent demise have been wildly overstated.

So, as a lot as some have clamored for a entrance line of Rapinoe, Press, and Heath, it in all probability isn’t in the perfect curiosity of the group—or getting the perfect out of Press herself absent a complete tactical rethink on Andonovski’s half.

Lining up on the wing, nonetheless, takes higher benefit of Press’ ability set, her pace, and her capacity to run at defenders in area. That was apparent once more on Monday evening when she burned previous Costa Rica’s proper again, dribbled into the field, and tallied her second purpose.

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— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) February 4, 2020

Even on the membership stage, Press has typically flourished in broad areas. With the Utah Royals, head coach Laura Harvey performed Press out on the flank and she or he scored eight objectives there in solely 14 matches final season. Throughout her finest years in Chicago, she typically floated broad in a two-front due to the usage of a No. 10 taking part in excessive and instantly beneath the forwards, and she or he continuously shredded opposing defenses on the counterattack.

However beginning Press on the wing leaves Andonovski with an equally brutal alternative, having to determine whether or not or not he needs to bench Heath or Rapinoe—two of probably the most dynamic attackers on the planet in their very own proper.

Rapinoe is coming off a World Cup during which she concurrently gained the Golden Ball and Golden Boot whereas some managed to assert that she hadn’t really performed that effectively in scoring six objectives (three from penalties) and selecting up three assists.

Heath is without doubt one of the unique “next generation” gamers, typically coupling her jaw-dropping technical abilities with the audacity to strive issues in video games that few on the planet would ever dare. Nevertheless, she additionally tends to take too many touches, leading to misplaced possessions and making it more durable for teammates to time their runs. Heath additionally began six video games in final summer season’s World Cup, however completed with zero objectives and just one help.

Previously, Press has additionally struggled to make an influence in large video games, one thing she herself has admitted. However she could have lastly shaken that tendency this summer season when she scored one of the crucial vital objectives of the match, a terrific headed purpose in opposition to England within the group’s 2-1 semifinal win.

Teaching america ladies’s nationwide group is without doubt one of the most tough jobs within the recreation. It comes with an immense strain to win, but in addition paralyzing roster selections. It’s additionally what Andonovski signed up for, and if Press continues to play the way in which she has, the coach goes to wish to discover a strategy to match her into his beginning XI.

John D. Halloran is an American Soccer Now columnist. Observe him on Twitter.