Originally published on December 9, 2014 by Jacqueline Brazzale
Fans may still want speculate over the U.S. Women’s National team’s options after learning about placement in the group of death at the World Cup draw, but seven months before the American’s first game, the team is in Brazil preparing for the Brasilia International Tournament.
Here are three things to keep an eye on this week:
Lori Chalupny
Prior to the World Cup draw all the talk was focused on the USWNT veteran’s return to the national stage. Chalupny has been absent for the national stage for five years due to a series of concussions she received in 2009, but the versatile midfielder/defender requested a reevaluation with the U.S. doctors at the end of the 2014 NWSL season. Doctors and head coach Jill Ellis thought is was time to bring the Chicago Red Star’s captain back in the mix.
Chalupny brings it all to the table, naturally a left back for the U.S. between 2000-2009, the 30 year old has often played central midfield for her club. At the close of the NWSL season she had five goals and was a league leader in minutes played. Ellis seems to be cautious about how soon she allows new players jump onto the field (granted this isn’t Chalupny’s first time in red, white and blue), but I would not expect to be seeing her in the American’s first or second game. If Chalupny’s does make her way onto the pitch it will be interesting to see where Ellis plays her.
Return her to her natural left back position, where a series of players including Meghan Klingenberg, Crystal Dunn and Kelley O’Hara have vied for the spot, or in the midfield as a holding center.
How will it take for the offense to get going?
The biggest criticism that came out of World Cup Qualifying was the slow offensive start for the Americans with only one goal in 135 minutes. While the U.S. eventually ended the tournament with a 21-0 goal differential slow starts plagued the team in most of their games.
Hopefully, it will take less time for the American offense to gain some traction in the coming week, as the teams in this tournament have the firepower to put numbers on the board if the U.S. does not convert early. While most of the teams in World Cup Qualifying sat eleven behind the ball, the U.S. should be able to break down these stronghold defenses with clean and accurate passing that moves the attack up the field.
The offense needs to be clinical in front of net early and on the cross and not allow disjointed play to filter through the front six in the first 45 minutes.
Left Back
One of the biggest questions concerning the USWNT starting XI is the revolving door that seems to be left back, with four different players earning starts at the spot in 2014. Most of those starts were earned by Meghan Klingenberg whose stellar performance was a highlight throughout World Cup Qualifying. Is it fair to say the position is hers, or does the recent call up of Chalupny and a healthy Crystal Dunn threaten Klingenberg’s seven consecutive starts?
Fans are also eagerly waiting to see if Kelley O’Hara will get another look at the left back position, or well any position. O’Hara seems to be hanging in limbo with no defined role and increased competition at outside back does not help her case.
Wednesday, December 10: WNT vs China PR at 4:30PM ET
Sunday, December 14: WNT vs Brazil at 3:45 PM ET
Wednesday, December 17: WNT vs Argentina at 4:20PM ET