ASN: Fox Sports activities Analysts Sound Off on U.S. World Cup Crew

Fox Sports activities analysts Tony DiCicco, Angela Hucles, and Alexi Lalas mentioned the USA girls’s World Cup staff, which begins play June eighth with a gaggle stage match towards Australia.

BY

John D. Halloran

Posted
June 05, 2015
11:00 AM

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TO HELP DRUM UP INTEREST within the 2015 Girls’s World Cup, which kicks off this Saturday, Fox Sports activities made three of its analysts accessible to the media. 

Former U.S. girls’s nationwide staff coach Tony DiCicco and former U.S. internationals Angela Hucles and Alexi Lalas shared their ideas—and a few tales—concerning the U.S. squad that may face Australia on Monday (7:30pm, Fox Sports activities 1).

Under is a evenly edited recap of a number of the extra quotable feedback.

On Alex Morgan’s intro to U.S. Soccer

DICICCO: “Once I took over the [U-20] staff from Jill Ellis, [Morgan] wasn’t within the pool. I wished to search out just a little bit extra tempo up high and we put out calls and a few coach mentioned, ‘Hey, verify that child over at Cal.’ One factor led to a different and Alex not solely made the staff, however she had a improbable [U-20] World Cup.

“Pia Sundhage was the [senior] women’s national team coach at the time for the U.S. At the end of the tournament, I said, ‘There’s a bunch of players you’re going to take a look ateventually, but the two you need to bring in are Alex Morgan and Keelin Winters.”

On the keys to victory for the U.S.

LALAS: “Without Alex Morgan, it’s going to be a big question as to what Jill Ellis is going to do up top. I think for someone like Sydney Leroux, who has been driving for that starting spot but at times because of that talent ahead of her hasn’t had that chance, this is a wonderful opportunity. Someone like her, who has the opportunity, needs to step up. This team has relied on Alex Morgan and plays differently with Alex Morgan. But it doesn’t mean that it can’t be as successful with different personnel out there. The [U.S.] does have depth when it comes to scoring goals, which is ultimately how you win games and how you win a World Cup.”

HUCLES: “I really think Abby Wambach is going to play a crucial role for this World Cup. It probably won’t be in the same sense as we’ve typically seen her. There’s some players on the team right now like Shannon Boxx, Christie Rampone, Abby Wambach, Heather O’Reilly that have veteran experience for this team and I think some of these players, like Shannon Boxx, are on this team because they know what it’s like to be in this tournament. When it comes to Abby, whether she’s on the field or off the field, she is the leader for this team. She is a vocal leader and when she’s on the field people know it and respond—her teammates are uplifted. Abby is going to play a crucial role.”

DICICCO: “One of many weaknesses may very well be the midfield. Jill Ellis has determined to play with out a conventional No. 6 holding midfielder and left that duty to Lauren Vacation and Morgan Brian. A traditional participant who has performed that place over quite a few years understands the defensive nuances of it just a little bit higher. I am involved about that within the midfield. In fact, we’re all just a little involved with all their expertise they’ve up high—we have not seen the targets we have been anticipating.

“I will say that the defense is better than in 2011. In 2011, the U.S. conceded seven goals in their last four games. You just don’t win World Cups conceding goals at that point in the tournament. It’s a better defense and I think they’re going to be in the hunt deep in this tournament.”

On Hope Solo and her latest troubles

LALAS: “She’s the best goalkeeper in the world. It’s amazing as players what you will put up with for someone to stand behind you and save your ass on a continual basis. And that’s what she does and that’s why she’s in there. Ultimately, what makes her good is that she’s an incredible competitor. She is intense and she wants to win.”

DICICCO: “Hope is an advanced scenario. She’s the most effective goalkeeper on the earth and if the U.S. wins this World Cup, she’ll be the most effective goalkeeper that is ever performed on the ladies’s aspect. What I used to inform my gamers was, ‘I’ll deal with you all pretty, however I am not going to deal with you all the identical.’ And that is form of been the identical place as U.S. Soccer.

“Hope lost her way and she was suspended, but since she’s been back, she’s been a model teammate and a model citizen. She’s totally focused and she’s playing really well right now. If you look back at the results of what’s transpired, you’d have to say that U.S. Soccer handled it pretty well.”

On Participant Alternatives

DICICCO: “Crystal Dunn would have been on my roster, but in defense of Jill, there’s players I would have kept on my roster that a lot of other coaches wouldn’t have kept. Her job is to get the roster right. I think Crystal Dunn still has a tremendous international career ahead of her.”

“Kelley O’Hara was one of my U-20 players and played for me on the Boston Breakers. We had this conversation. I said, “Kelley, the World Cup roster from 2011 to the 2012 Olympics goes to be a smaller roster. Do the maths, it’s worthwhile to strategy Pia—I had already approached her—about turning into an out of doors again.’ After which she performed each minute of the Olympics at left again.”

“Klingenberg was my left back at the U-20 World Cup in 2008—she’s good there. They’re both good there. I think you’ll see Kelley get some time, either at left back or right back.”