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Photograph Copyright Valerie Terranova
The United States girls’s nationwide crew will play Uzbekistan twice within the coming week in pleasant matches. These video games had been scheduled after what sources confirmed was a ‘prime crew from Asia’ needed to pull out of taking part in the U.S. as a consequence of issues introduced by journey within the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
No, the video games don’t leap off the web page the best way some extra marquee, top-10 world opponents would have. Sure, they nonetheless characterize two of the ultimate 4 alternatives to see the U.S. play earlier than World Cup qualifying in July. And with such a newness to the roster, which means there may be nonetheless intrigue from the skin — and competitors inside.
What ought to we watch? And the way ought to we consider these video games? Let’s dive in beneath. And in the event you want this common reminder of why the U.S. roster appears so completely different proper now, head coach Vlatko Andonovski walked by all of it completely for subscribers of The Equalizer Additional again in November.
First caps on faucet in aim?
Alyssa Naeher continues to be the No. 1 for the U.S., however Aubrey Kingsbury and Bella Bixby are every in camp and every uncapped, and there’s no higher alternative than now to get them reps in aim. No, they aren’t prone to be overly busy in opposition to Uzbekistan, however expertise is essential, interval. Let’s work on the knowledgeable and logical assumption that Naeher stays the No. 1 by your entire cycle: having a No. 2 with some expertise is essential. That has lengthy been a criticism how the U.S. has dealt with the goalkeeper place previously, when Hope Solo performed a lot — even typically in in any other case inconsequential video games like these, when one other goalkeeper might have gotten reps — that it seemingly left the People in uncertainty upon her abrupt exit (firing) from the scene.
Extra lately, we noticed the unlucky situation of why a strong and skilled No. 2 is required. Adrianna Franch was referred to as upon on the Olympics when Alyssa Naeher went down injured within the semifinal which the U.S. finally misplaced to Canada. Few issues can put together anybody for a second like that with out residing by it, however the U.S. will wish to be sure that whoever the No. 2 is on the World Cup subsequent 12 months is as prepared as they are often. Will Bixby or Kingsbury make that roster? The pool is deep and aggressive, however now could be the time to seek out out.
Middle-back pairings
Talking of debuts, it’s odd to see the goose egg within the ‘caps’ area subsequent to Naomi Girma’s identify. She has been a fixture for the U.S. on the youth stage and he or she has knocked on the door of the senior crew for a while, together with semi-frequently becoming a member of the squad in camp. Trinity Rodman’s worldwide debut on the SheBelieves Cup, nonetheless, leaves Girma as the one uncapped area participant on this roster. She deserves to get appears, interval, and it’s more and more doubtless that she’s going to, given the circumstances.
Becky Sauerbrunn continues to be sidelined from a surgical procedure she had for a torn meniscus, and Tierna Davidson is out for the 12 months after tearing her ACL final month whereas coaching with the Chicago Pink Stars. That, mixed with Emily Sonnett’s harm absence and Casey Krueger anticipating her first baby, leaves the U.S. curiously skinny at middle again in the mean time, and nearly ensures that Girma will see a while throughout these matches. Girma, Abby Dahlkemper and Alana Cook dinner are the one middle backs on the present U.S. roster. Dahlkemper and Girma play collectively for San Diego Wave FC, and Andonovski will doubtless lean into that familiarity to see what it appears like on the worldwide stage. Sauerbrunn’s age and Davidson’s long-term absence imply that some mixture of those three may be the pair Andonovski has to develop for the 2023 World Cup.
Who’s Uzbekistan?
This might be a query for many U.S. followers. It’s the first time Uzbekistan and the U.S. will meet, making the Uzbeks the fifty fifth opponent within the People’ program historical past. The central Asian nation is ranked No. 48 on the planet and didn’t make the ultimate spherical of qualifying for the World Cup (the AFC Ladies’s Asian Cup).
Nineteen of the 23 gamers on Uzbekistan’s roster play domestically, whereas the opposite 4 play in Turkey. Uzbekistan is coached by former Japan worldwide participant Midori Honda, who represented Japan within the first Ladies’s World Cup in 1991. In February, Uzbekistan performed on the Turkish Cup and defeated Lithuania 1-0, misplaced to Ukraine 2-0, and drew 0-0 with Venezuela.
Find out how to watch
- Saturday, April 9 at Decrease.com Area in Columbus, Ohio (5:30 p.m. ET on FOX and ViX)
- Tuesday, April 12 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa. (7 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and ViX)
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