ASN: Solo, Press, and Johnston Wanting to Face South Africa

In its second-to-last pleasant earlier than heading to Rio, the US ladies’s nationwide group will face South Africa in Chicago—a compelling match-up as a result of the Yanks know little abouth their opponent.

BY

John D. Halloran

Posted
July 08, 2016
7:20 PM

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CHICAGO—Heading into the ultimate phases of preparation for subsequent month’s Olympic video games, the US ladies’s nationwide group is on a roll.

After breezing by qualifying in February—topped off with a 2-0 win over CONCACAF rivals Canada—the U.S. beat England, France, and Germany in March’s SheBelieves Cup. The group then notched two wins over Colombia in April earlier than selecting up one other victory final month over 2015 World Cup finalist Japan.

Earlier than heading to Rio, the Yanks will play two extra friendlies, the primary approaching Saturday (1pm ET, Fox Sports activities 1) in opposition to South Africa.

Little is thought about Banyana Banyana, who’ve by no means earlier than performed in opposition to the U.S., however American head coach Jill Ellis will not be taking them frivolously.

“Their most recent game was against the Netherlands—we have footage on that—so we have a little bit of information,” defined Ellis, chatting with the media on Friday. “Immediately, there’s respect as a result of they’re representing Africa within the Olympics. Nigeria, Ghana, these groups up to now have at all times been very aggressive, very powerful to beat, so there’s that respect.

“In terms of [their] personnel, we have pretty limited information. I think, and I’ve said this to the players, the focus right now is on us fine-tuning, working on the things we need to execute to be successful regardless of the opponent.”

Goalkeeper Hope Solo agreed together with her coach’s evaluation.

“We saw a little bit of footage last night on South Africa. They looked fit, they looked skilled on the ball,” mentioned Solo. “Actually, I have a higher opinion [of them] now than I did previously. I kind of like not [fully] knowing what to expect. It forces us to change on the fly. The footage I saw was really great.”

Intensive scouting has each advantages and downsides, the goalkeeper mentioned.

“There’s two ways to look at it,” she mentioned. “I hate to say this, however the higher-ranked opponents, there are some tendencies we have to know. We have to see their key gamers, their formation. However typically we simply must play.

“We need to figure out our game and just play. Sometimes the scouting reports get too detailed and then, a lot of times, the team’s don’t even come out and play the way the scouting report showed. For me, it’s too much detail, but the coaches are the ones who run the team.”

Towards South Africa, the U.S. is more likely to be boosted by the return of midfielder Carli Lloyd, who shall be obtainable for choice after coming off an MCL harm earlier this spring. 

“Carli’s made good progress,” Ellis revealed. “She’s been absolutely in coaching which is vital. When you’ve an harm like that, the contact piece is often the final piece so as to add. She’s been in full contact.

“I hope [her layoff] will add a freshness about her. The other players have obviously been playing in the league, [but] it’s not just the games, it’s the travel. For Carli, what she may have lost in terms of the past few weeks, I think she’ll gain in terms of having legs and energy. I haven’t told them the squad that will dress, but she’s available to play.”

On the flip facet, winger Megan Rapinoe, coming off a knee harm of her personal—a tear to her ACL sustained in December—isn’t fairly again to 100%.

“The big question mark for me was, ‘Is Megan going contact?’ We’ve done that, we’ve had her play unrestricted,” confirmed Ellis. “Typically while you come again from an harm, it’s not particularly the harm itself, it’s simply the final physique getting again.

“Right now, she has a little bit of a quad pull which may preclude her from tomorrow and a little bit of tightness in her calf. So, it’s not worth risking her. But have I seen what I needed to see in terms of her going full contact? Yes.”

The match in opposition to the 52nd-ranked South Africans also needs to be an important alternative for Solo to select up her a centesimal shutout, and Ellis thinks the netminder remains to be a significant piece of the puzzle for the American group.

“Hope would fully credit the people playing in front of her, but she’s extraordinary,” mentioned Ellis. “I used to be excited about the [2012] Olympics the opposite day and her efficiency within the closing in London and it was simply exceptional. [Also] her efficiency in opposition to Australia within the World Cup.

“She continues to have big moments where she’s a game-changer for us. To reach that number is quite extraordinary.”

For her half, Solo can be wanting ahead to the achievement.

“I’m excited, I really am,” mentioned the goalkeeper. “It’s something that I’m really proud of, but it’s [been] more of a journey than one game.”

Ahead Christen Press mentioned the group is utilizing this closing camp to work on game-specific situations in preparation for Rio and that the U.S. is extra snug heading into the Olympics absolutely understanding their coach’s expectations.

“Each recreation now we have earlier than the Olympics, we do practice specifics, totally different situations—up a objective, down a objective, set items—various things in every recreation relying on our opponent, relying on what we expect can get essentially the most worth, or what our coaches assume.

“We’ve tampered with the lineup, the formation, everything. The cool part about going into this Olympics is we’ve had Jill now for two full years and we’ve seen all of what she wants from us, whereas in the World Cup we were kind of in the middle of that transition. We’re very prepared in that sense.”

Defender Julie Johnston, who emerged as a star in final summer season’s World Cup, believes the match in opposition to South Africa will assist the U.S. particularly as a result of their opponents stay a largely unknown entity.

“They’re definitely a great opponent for us to learn from,” mentioned Johnston. “Going into the [Olympic] tournament, you’re going to be in a lot of [different] situations. Playing against them will be another thing we can learn from and help us in to Rio.”

Johnston additionally mentioned her expertise in Canada final summer season shall be a significant bonus this time round.

“The one thing I learned with the World Cup experience is that’s it’s important to take everything day by day—and that’s what we’re doing,” she mentioned. “We gained [the World Cup], that’s nice, however we’re on to one thing new.

“We feel good. We’re coming together.”