Similar to the U.S. males’s nationwide group in 2014, Jill Ellis’ World Cup-bound ladies’s nationwide aspect will face a steep problem on the upcoming event in Canada. ASN’s John Halloran has extra.
BY
John D. Halloran
Posted
December 06, 2014
4:03 PM
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WHEN THE UNITED STATES ladies’s nationwide group takes the sphere this summer season in Canada for the 2015 Ladies’s World Cup, it would have one factor in frequent with america males’s nationwide group that took the sphere this previous summer season in Brazil—will probably be enjoying within the Group of Demise.
On Saturday, the U.S. was drawn into Group D, alongside Sweden, Australia, and Nigeria—all of whom have been thought-about to be the strongest groups of their respective pots.
Sarcastically sufficient, when FIFA made the choice to develop the 2015 Ladies’s World Cup to 24 groups, some pundits nervous that the event’s high quality would change into diluted. And whereas that could be an issue in some teams, lopsided rating strains received’t be among the many worries for the U.S. squad subsequent summer season in Canada.
Right here’s a fast take a look at the opponents the U.S. will face within the group stage and a breakdown of the roster the U.S. introduced on Friday for the group’s upcoming event in Brazil.
The Group of Demise
Reacting to the U.S.’s placement, even head coach Jill Ellis admitted the problem in entrance of the Individuals, saying: “It’s certainly the toughest group.” Nevertheless, she additionally expressed the arrogance anticipated from the coach of the world’s No. 1 group, saying, “With our depth and the preparation we have over the next five to six months, I think we’ll be ready.”
The U.S. will open up the World Cup with No. 10 Australia, which has given the U.S. hassle up to now and has a entrance line led by forwards (and NWSL veterans) Lisa De Vanna and Samantha Kerr. 4 days later, the U.S. will face Sweden, the one group the entire seeded groups had hoped to keep away from. Sweden is coached by former U.S. supervisor Pia Sundhage, who led the U.S. to the finals of the 2011 World Cup and gold within the 2012 Olympics.
Sundhage and Sweden can be enjoying with a chip on their shoulders subsequent summer season after not getting a top-six seed for the draw, although the membership is at present ranked No. 5 on this planet. Ellis appeared unfazed that the U.S. had drawn Sundhage’s Sweden: “It’s easier playing a friend. I have tremendous respect for her. It’s going to be a great game.” Apparently, nevertheless, Sundhage was not as proud of the draw, responding with what Ellis would solely say was “a colorful expression.”
The final time the U.S. met Sweden, within the 2014 Algarve Cup, Sweden received 1-0. Led by one essentially the most completed strikers on this planet, Lotta Schelin, Sweden will current a formidable opponent and one that would do severe harm to the U.S.’s hopes of successful the event. The group that finishes second in group D will face the winner of group E (possible Brazil) within the Spherical of 16.
The “easiest” match of the group can be within the U.S.’s third recreation, when it faces Nigeria. And whereas Nigeria is just ranked No. 35 on this planet, it’s the prime group in Africa, successful the 2014 African Ladies’s Championship. Nigeria’s youth groups have additionally given the U.S. U-20 group matches up to now. Ellis described the Nigerian group as “very athletic,” which may current a selected drawback for a U.S. squad that struggled in opposition to the pacier CONCACAF groups in qualifying.
The Roster for Brazil
On Friday, Ellis introduced the group’s roster for the Worldwide Event of Brasilia, a four-nation event happening over the following two weeks. The U.S. will play China, Brazil, and Argentina in a round-robin then play one remaining recreation with the highest two and backside two groups within the group dealing with off in opposition to one another.
Listed below are the 24 gamers who can be becoming a member of the group for the event.
GOALKEEPERS: Ashlyn Harris (Washington Spirit), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)
DEFENDERS: Lori Chalupny (Chicago Crimson Stars), Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Whitney Engen (WNY Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Crimson Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Houston Sprint), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas Metropolis)
MIDFIELDERS: Morgan Brian (Virginia), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lauren Vacation (FC Kansas Metropolis), Carli Lloyd (Houston Sprint), Samantha Mewis (UCLA), Heather O’Reilly (FC Kansas Metropolis), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)
FORWARDS: Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), Christen Press (Chicago Crimson Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas Metropolis), Abby Wambach (WNY Flash)
Goalkeepers
There have been no surprises within the goalkeeper pool with Solo, Harris, and Naeher being named to the group. Solo is undoubtedly the group’s No. 1 and arguably one of the best goalkeeper on this planet.
Backing up Solo can be Harris, who was the group’s No. 2 within the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying event in October, and Naeher, who was not on the roster for qualifying, however skilled with the group all through the event.
Defenders
The largest shock of Friday’s roster announcement was the inclusion of Lori Chalupny, who hasn’t been with the group since 2009. Whereas Chalupny had remained an lively skilled, she was not thought-about by U.S. Soccer for nationwide group call-ups for a few years as a consequence of her historical past of concussions. Then, in August, Chalupny reached out to U.S. Soccer and, at their request, was in a position to cross evaluations by two unbiased concussion consultants.
The Chalupny call-up may throw quite a few positional battles up within the air, as she provides the U.S. an skilled left again and can even play within the midfield. Moreover, Chalupny is of course left-footed, a bonus not one of the different candidates for left again take pleasure in.
In October’s World Cup qualifying event, Klingenberg placed on a sequence of dominating performances and gave herself the within observe over O’Hara and Dunn. With Chalupny coming in, that battle might start over again.
Rounding out the alternatives within the again are Rampone, Engen, Sauerbrunn, Johnston, and Krieger. The callup for Johnston seems to verify that she has labored her approach in entrance of World Cup veteran Rachel Van Hollebeke because the U.S.’s fourth middle again choice as Johnston additionally made the World Cup qualifying roster whereas Van Hollebeke didn’t.
Whereas Johnston additionally has the benefit of being versatile sufficient to play as a holding midfielder, it is value noting that Van Hollebeke is at present enjoying on mortgage abroad in Japan. Ellis famous on Saturday that Van Hollebeke continues to be in her plans: “My plan is to bring Rachel into the January camp,” she stated.
Additionally unnoticed of the group have been Stephanie Cox—who additionally missed the World Cup qualifying roster and is at present on the surface trying in—and Kristie Mewis, who’s enjoying on mortgage in Japan in the mean time.
Midfielders
The midfield pool solely had one shock: UCLA senior Sam Mewis. Mewis has acquired senior call-ups up to now, however may have a tough time bypassing any of the established gamers in time for subsequent summer season. Mewis is joined by Lloyd, Vacation, Brian, Heath, Rapinoe, and O’Reilly.
Brian won’t be part of the group till after the NCAA Championship recreation on Sunday. In Virginia’s 3-1 semifinal win over Texas A&M on Friday night time, Brian assisted on the group’s opening purpose with a lovely chipped ball in behind the Aggie protection.
This roster additionally appears to have spelled the top for Allie Lengthy’s probabilities of making the World Cup roster. Lengthy had not solely been referred to as up, however had earned a few begins this summer season. Now, she has missed the final two U.S. rosters.
Forwards
At ahead, Ellis referred to as within the regular contingent of Wambach, Morgan, Leroux, Press, and Rodriguez. Morgan continues to be recovering from an ankle damage sustained throughout qualifying, however stated on Saturday that she can be becoming a member of the group in Brazil for coaching and “maybe a game.”
General
Though this group did have just a few “new” names like Chalupny and Sam Mewis, it is apparent that Ellis intends on utilizing the event in Brazil to work together with her established gamers and prepare for Canada subsequent summer season moderately than experimenting. On Saturday, Ellis stated she plans on utilizing the following two U.S. camps “gelling” and dealing on “relationships on the field.”
Whereas followers who have been hoping to see gamers like Amber Brooks, Erika Tymrak, Yael Averbuch, Jen Buczkowski, Kealia Ohai, or Sarah Hagen can be upset, Ellis’ roster, at this level, is smart. Contemplating the U.S.’s inconsistent performances throughout World Cup qualifying, the place the U.S. usually struggled to seek out an offensive rhythm, locking down the roster early and spending the following six months engaged on discovering that rhythm isn’t a nasty thought.
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John D. Halloran is an American Soccer Now columnist. Observe him on Twitter.
