U.S. vying for third straight Women’s World Cup title
Even with out a few key gamers, the United States heads into the Women’s World Cup with a formidable group of wily veterans and keen newcomers.
The query is, will or not it’s sufficient for the staff to carry worldwide soccer’s most prestigious trophy once more?
The United States has received the final two World Cups and the objective is to three-peat. But American dominance in ladies’s soccer isn’t assured anymore.
Teams like England and France have caught up, Germany and Sweden stay robust, after which there’s that rival to the north, Canada, which received gold on the Tokyo Olympics.
The progress of ladies’s soccer globally means better parity. And which means the United States has needed to adapt.
“There’s so many leagues around the world that are paying players more, that are playing more often throughout the season, and that are treating players in a professional way that we’ve been fighting for a long time, so I think that that has a lot to do with it,” star ahead Alex Morgan stated.
The Americans look far totally different now that they did 4 years in the past, after they beat the Netherlands 2-0 within the World Cup last and followers in Lyon, France, feted them with chants of “Equal Pay!”
The gamers did certainly obtain equitable pay with their male counterparts, coming to a historic collective bargaining settlement with U.S. Soccer in 2022. As a part of the deal, the women and men on the nationwide groups will break up World Cup prize cash.
On the sphere, the staff settled for a disappointing bronze medal on the Tokyo Olympics two summers in the past. Afterward, U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski turned his consideration to growing younger expertise.
Among the kids is 18-year-old phenom Alyssa Thompson and up-and-comer Trinity Rodman, the 20-year-old daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman.
There’s additionally Sophia Smith, who has made a rapid ascent with the nationwide staff and along with her membership, the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League. Just 22, she was named NWSL Most Valuable Player and U.S. Soccer’s Player of the Year final 12 months.
Smith was left off the roster for the Tokyo Games. Andonovski stated it was a troublesome dialog when he let her know his choice, however he’s been impressed with how she responded.
“She had to face some adversity, she had to face some tough times. I know I’ve had some tough conversations with her, but from every conversation and every moment she just rose above and was better,” Andonovski stated. “Every time it seemed like she had a setback or she had a tough moment, she took it as an opportunity to grow and get better and that’s why she’s where she’s at now. She performs very well. We’re very happy with where she’s at, but I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Sophia Smith.”
Two different younger gamers who have been additionally a part of Andonovski’s plans for the long run, Catarina Macario and Mallory Swanson, received’t be a part of the staff in Australia and New Zealand due to accidents.
Swanson, 25, was the staff’s prime scorer this 12 months earlier than she injured the patellar tendon in her left knee throughout an exhibition match in opposition to Ireland in early April.
Macario, 23, tore an ACL final 12 months whereas enjoying for the French membership Lyon. She tried to recuperate in time — she was even handled in Qatar at Aspetar, one of many world’s main orthopedic hospitals — however finally time ran out on her return.
Arguably the largest absence for the United States is captain Becky Sauerbrunn, who introduced {that a} proper foot damage suffered in April will maintain her out of the World Cup.
Sauerbrunn, 38, has performed in three World Cups and three Olympics. She is extra than simply the anchor of the staff’s backline: She led the battle for equal pay and has acted as an ethical compass, usually talking out on social justice points.
The United States, which has received 4 World Cup titles total, most of any nation, will play in Group E subsequent month, together with Vietnam, the Netherlands and Portugal. The match as a complete kicks off July 20, however the U.S. doesn’t play till July 22 in Auckland in opposition to Vietnam.
The Americans will play their group stage matches in New Zealand. Should they prime the group, they’ll journey to Sydney for the Round of 16.
There remains to be additionally a press release to be made: While the staff has received its battle for equality at residence, now gamers are advocating for the motion to go world.
“I’m really proud of being on this national team for the last 12-13 years and fighting for not only ourselves, but for the future of this sport, both in the U.S. and globally,” Morgan stated. “And as much as we can support other athletes as well in their fight, we will. I think that all of that combined is going to create just an incredibly special World Cup that people will be talking about for a long time.”
