Here’s a quick guide to the United States in 2019.
The reigning World Cup Champions will certainly be a team to watch for trophy contenders in France for 2019. The Americans have been a dominant team over the past 6 years in major tournaments. In 2012 the USA won a gold medal at the Olympics, beating the technically savvy Japanese side 2-1 in Wembley Stadium. After 2012, the USA soccer federation saw a coaching change, hiring Tom Sermanni as the head coach in the beginning of 2013. Under Sermanni’s organization, the team placed seventh at the Algarve Cup, with a loss to Sweden and Denmark. After releasing Sermanni from his coaching duties, the team quickly picked up Jill Ellis, an English born player who moved through the ranks of NCAA coaching positions before moving into youth national team head coach jobs (Coaching Staff, n.d.). Moving forward into 2015, the Americans mirrored their 2012 finish by defeating the Japanese 5-2 to raise the World Cup trophy is BC Place Stadium.
In the 2016 Olympics the defending Olympic Champions struggled. The Americans finished their World Cup campaign losing to the Swedish national team in penalty kicks in the quarter final stage. After a poor finish in 2016, the aging American side had multiple home loses while trying to reformat their roster, making space for younger players to entire the senior international stage.
Looking into 2018 the USA national team is looking to break stride leading into the 2019 World Cup. The younger, yet more experienced side has drawn encouraging results against top tier competition. In their most recent tournament, the SheBelieves Cup, the USA had modest 1-0 wins against both England and Germany, who rank among the best teams in the World. The United States also drew against France, and Canada early in the year, giving them win or tie results against the top 5 in the world.
So, who should you look for on the TV screen in 2019?
The Veterans. Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan.
Rapinoe has been in form moving from 2017 into her 2018 season with goals against Germany and Mexico in the past 6 months. The winger from California has 135 caps with the national team, winning both the 2012 Olympics and 2015 World Cup (Megan Rapinoe, n.d.). The forward is known for her pace and clinical finishing ability from both in the run of play and set pieces.
Alex Morgan is another powerhouse forward for the US side. At the young age of 23 Morgan was awarded USA player of the year, scoring 28 goals that calendar year (Alex Morgan, n.d.). Morgan has played in 2 previous world cups, coming in second in 2011 and starting every game for the champion side in 2015. In the past year Morgan has gained international experience with the pro side Olympique Lyonnais, as well as with the Orlando Pride. Morgan, also known for her pace and finishing ability, will look to be a key scoring threat for the Americans in 2019.
The most exciting, and crucial part of the 2019 American squad are the young guns coming into the starting lineup for the Americans.
It’s impossible to not mention Mallory Pugh when looking into 2019. The 19-year-old American professional has become a consistent starter for the Americans. Pugh scored a crucial goal to tie France in the SheBelieves Cup in 2018 as well as the tying goal against Columbia in 2016 Olympics to send the Americans out of their group and into the quarter final. The young footballer from Colorado will be looking to put her first international trophy on her shelf in 2019 and subsequently in 2020. For 19, Pugh is composed on the ball running at speed, and has a powerful finish.
Honorable mentions go to Andi Sullivan, Tierna Davidson and Emily Sonnett. These 3 players have an ease on the ball that is entertaining to watch. Their playing style fits in with the Europeans, finding switches in the point of attack, and creativity to get out of hard situations in the centre back or holding midfield role.
References:
Alex Morgan – USWNT. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ussoccer.com/players/m/alex-morgan#tab-1
Megan Rapinoe – USWNT. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ussoccer.com/players/r/megan-rapinoe#tab-2
WNT Coaching Staff – Jill Ellis and Her Assistants. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ussoccer.com/womens-national-team/coaching-staff
