Vlatko Andonovski will hope that in the next three months before World CupSome of his attacking players have regained their sharpness, because through 2 matches against the Republic of Ireland, the United States women’s national team look also short at its best.
Granted, USWNT won both matches, 1-0 on Tuesday in St. Louis took place after last Saturday win 2-0 in Austin, Texas. But the only goal from an attacker was a late Lindsey Horan penalty in the first encounter. The other two goals came from defenders — Emily Fox and Alana Cook — with the latter being the best possible birthday present for Cook thanks to a mistake by Ireland goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.
🎂 Birthday Goal >>>>>>> pic.twitter.com/dAyEyG2CnZ
– United States women’s national soccer team (@USWNT) April 12, 2023
The good news is that the United States – as it often happens – has found a way. If it requires defenders to score, then so be it. Pre-World Cup friendlies aren’t always the best barometer for how a team will perform. (Does anyone remember the 0-0 draw with Korea before the 2015 tournament?)
But Brosnan’s mistakes aside, it was Ireland – not the US – that progressed the most over the course of two games, and that was enough for a pause. While the home team’s offensive moves in Saturday’s match were largely due to poor finishing, in the second game, the US produced an expected goal factor (xG) of just 0.61. . That’s on par with the small 0.46 that the US put before Spain last October.
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In this case, opportunities rarely materialize, even if the US expands its offensive and does not hesitate to strike directly when space is available. The inaccuracy is obvious.
There are also other concerns. The fixed defence, although struggling less on Tuesday than on Saturday, still looked a bit rickety at times, with Ireland’s Louise Quinn being a regular threat from such situations. Ireland also continued to find some success on the left flank of the United States, although Andonovski changed his staff with Kelley O’Hara starting the game in place of Crystal Dunn.
Andonovski attributed the team’s difficulties to his desire to make the first game more about the concept of teaming and solving problems as the game went on, while the second game was more about the performance of the team. individuals.
“We want to see players who haven’t played for a long time,” he said after Tuesday’s game. “Not only do we want to watch them, but we also want to give them minutes. So if and when some of them go to the World Cup, their first minutes are not at the World Cup. Cup, but they have a chance to finish before they get there.”
Andonovski also has several explanations for why the attack failed. One of the biggest things is that Ireland is a team that has improved so much under manager Vera Pauw, who have been consistent with their game plan of being tight in defence, yet dangerous in situations. stationary situations and during transitions.
The United States is also rotating heavily as Andonovski tries to make every opportunity to impress before announcing his final roster later this spring.
“The lost stuff isn’t what worries me,” he said. “Cohesion, that’s what’s missing. It’s a lack of understanding between the players and we’re not surprised by that because we know there’s going to be a misunderstanding, or there’s going to be a missed pass, or The player runs to the spot, not getting the ball. Or running to the left, getting the ball to the right.
“It was something that we expected to happen. And it made the game go crazy sometimes because we lost the ball so quickly after winning it.”
That’s not to say that more should not be demanded of, and for the most part, the players who need to prove the most, such as Trinity Rodman, Ashley Sanchez, Ashley Hatch and Alyssa Thompson – who made their first international appearances. – just did so in a flash.
As time goes on until Andonovski publishes his list, the pressure will only increase. The US manager estimates that there are 10-12 players competing for about six to seven positions.
One player who has helped her a lot is midfielder Julie Ertz. It is true that destruction is easier to do than create, but even if Ertz’s skills tend to lean towards the former, she is proving her worth. This may just be her second match since the Tokyo Olympics in the summer of 2021, but her impact in both matches has been remarkable.
As has happened throughout his international career, Ertz brought an edge to a field the United States desperately needed. If a match turns into a slugfest, Team USA’s survival rate will improve with her on the field. One can only hope that Ertz’s game improves further once she finds a club, which Andonovski said could happen this weekend.
Andonovski said: “Julie has this mentality. When she’s on the pitch, she imposes herself on the game.” “And the players sense that. I think we could see that show up a little bit more in this game. We expect to see that more and more as she gets more games.” more against his club team.”
Better health will help America both physically and mentally. The team is reeling from a tear in the patellar tendon of striker Mallory Swanson, that she underwent surgery on Tuesday. That leaves Andonovski wondering how far he should change his approach after building factions around Swanson and Sophia Smith. Rose Lavelle was ruled out of Tuesday’s game after picking up an injury on Saturday. The sight of Lindsey Horan leaving Tuesday’s game with what appeared to be a leg injury conjured up images of Andonovski wrapping each of his players in bubble wrap for the next three months.
Among them is the balancing act that players will have to manage over the next three months. Stay healthy, but play with intensity. Andonovski will be watching NWSL games with interest and hope that his players — and his team — will reach their peak at the right time.
