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When Jill Ellis speaks of what's ahead for the United States womens national team and herself as coach for the next month hopefully, the entire month there's no word she uses more frequently than attack.
That is her approach to the 2019 FIFA Womens World Cup: The Americans will attack the tournament and attack within every game. This team may be the reigning champions, but please do not ask if theyre defending their title.
Theres a catch, though. Theres going to be some defending required.
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And in the space of two months at the start of this year, the USWNTplayed a series of games that engendered substantial concern about whether this team has the sort of defense of which World Cup champions are made. They played World No. 4 France in a friendly and yielded three goals. They played No. 7 Japan in the SheBelieves Cup and let in another two, then two more against Corey Bojorquez Jerseys No. 3 England. When they played No. 6 Australia in another friendly, the Matildas banged in three (although the Americans did win the game by attacking and netting five).
I think its a legitimate concern that the U.S. overextends themselves and Gerhard De Beer Jerseys leaves themselves vulnerable, soccer journalist Caitlin Murray told Sporting News. She is the author of the definitive history of the U.S. womens program.
Because weve seen it time and time again when that happens. Thats what happened in 2016 when they got eliminated from the Olympics. It was three quick pa ses, and all the midfielder players got bypa sed. They do take risks. I also think the defense hasnt looked as good. The U.S. played top-10 teams five times this year; in four of those games, they conceded multiple goals. So who are they going to be facing? Who are they going to have to get through to win a World Cup? They have to get through those top-10 teams.
It is po sible to counter by pointing out that the lineup expected to take the field in Reims on Tuesday to open the World Cup against Thailand Ellis 11 preferred starters was not the one that faced France. There were five mi sing starters, and Crystal Dunn was playing right midfield rather than left back. Becky Sauerbrunn, who excelled at the 2015 World Cup and is Americas most experienced center back, did not play alongside new partner Abby Dahlkemper in either the Japan or England games Reggie White Jerseys , and Aly sa Naeher was not in goal against the Lione ses.
The explanations begin to run thin, though, when examining the Australia game. The only mi sing regular was right back Kelley OHara. They just werent good. They were good enough to win, but no one expects to be marauding through the knockout rounds at a World Cup winning 5-3 games. In 2015, the average winning team from the round of 16 on scored twice and yielded a shade more than half a goal. Eight of 15 teams that advanced won by shutout. The U.S. did not allow a goal until the final.
I feel exceedingly confident, Sauerbrunn told Sporting News. Theres always, I think, a narrative needs to be found to be talked about so people have something interesting to say. Our attack is the best in the world, and theyre going to score goals. So then its like: Where is the weakest part of the team? And people are going to say the defense. I dont agree with that.
Everyone is responsible for the attack, and everyone is responsible for defending. So if we do let in goals, its not usually the back line that you can just pinpoint and say, Oh, the back line is the weak spot. Everyone, when a goal goes in, is responsible at some point: for not breaking up the play, for losing the ball, for not being in the right spot. Ive never felt the back line and if youre including the goalkeeper is considered a weak link in this team.
Naeher stepping in for Hope Solo is a significant change. This will be herfirst major tournament in goal for the U.S. Solo was a controversial player suspended multiple times before being terminated by the squad in 2016. But she also was a great player. The U.S. was ble sed with extraordinary goalkeeping from Briana Scurry and Vernon Scott Jerseys Solo for two decades. Its not yet clear Naeher is on that level.
I think she was put into a difficult position; thats a big hole to fill because Hope is an extraordinary goalkeeper, Sauerbrunn told SN. Aly sas done a very formidable job filling in that presence. Shes a different type of player. Hope would talk just to have her voice heard. She was almost like an overcommunicator, which is not a good thing or a bad thing. It made her feel better to make sure she was speaking. I think with Aly sa, shes very to the point, gets what she wants to have said very quickly and then relies on us that were doing the job we need to do.
I think physically Aly sa is an excellent goalkeeper. Shes gotten more and more confident as this phase has gone and continued on.
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Ultimately, though, the best defense Ty Summers Jerseys may come from a proficient offense and not just a productive one.
"I just think they have to do a better job of controlling the game and dictating it when they have the ball so they're not put on their heels as much," Fox Sport lead analyst Aly Wagner told SN. "They have to know when to hold up and filter numbers forward in a controlled matter. Your offensive shape oftentimes is also a preventative defensive shape. When they control the ball, they can have better awarene s of their defensive responsibilities."
When Ellis was building the team throughout 2018 in the attacking style she imagined playing a 4-3-3 formation with veteran forwards Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath at the front the U.S. won 18 games, lost none and drew twice while scoring 64 goals and conceding only 10. Against top-10 opponents, they allowed five goals in seven games.
Individually, I think all the defenders are brilliant, Christie Rampone, a veteran of five World Cups and now an analyst for Fox Sports, told SN. Its just about when they come together collectively.
Going up against Alex and Tobin and Megan Rapinoe and Christen Pre s and the other dynamic forwards in practice, I think they should be prepared and ready for those tougher opponents. The starting back four hasnt had a whole lot of time together. So I think game by game theyll be getting stronger and theyll be playing their Jack Heflin Jerseys best soccer when needed, further out into the tournament.
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