Jun 29 (newsonjapan.com) - All eyes are on the Tokyo Olympics that will start in less than a month from now.
USA has always been a big shot in the Olympics, having won the most medals, a total of 2523 in all competitions. The United States women's national soccer team has unveiled the players that will represent the country in the Tokyo Olympics.
Vlatko Andonovski, the head coach, has put together a world-class collection of athletes to be part of Team USA this summer. Vlatko Andonovski is yet to lead USWNT in a major tournament after replacing Jill Ellis in 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic delayed the Olympics for one year. The head coach has led the team in 3 recent friendlies and has now named the 18-player Olympic roster:
Goalkeepers
Who is in
Alyssa Naeher, A.D. Franch
Who is out
Ashlyn Harris, Jane Campbell
USWNT has picked Alyssa Naeher as the starter to be behind the goal post. In addition, the head coach has frozen out Ashlyn Harris in 2021, a move that saw goalkeepers such as Campbell get a chance during the friendlies.
However, Jane Campbell is not in the Olympics' roaster, and the backup selected for this tournament is A.D. Franch. Franch is back to form. In the 2019 World Cup, she was the team's third-stringer and thus more experienced than Campbell when it comes to international competitions.
Defenders
Who is in
Abby Dahlkemper, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O'Hara, Tierna Davidson Crystal Dunn, Emily Sonnett
Who misses out
Alana Cook, Midge Purce
The backbone of the team is made up of Dahlkemper, Dunn, Sauerbrunn, and O'Hara. Sauerbrunn and Dahlkemper will pair up as the center backs, and all eyes will be on them.
Sonnett is a very crucial addition to the team as she can play in every position at the back. She can also play as a holding midfielder, something that can help USWNT with Julie Ertz's health still a concern.
Davidson is another player who is comfortable at any position at the back and midfield and is the youngest in the team at just 22. Purce, who plays either of the wide forward or fullback, is not on the team as more experienced options were considered. Cook didn't play in any of the friendlies, but it is just a matter of time before she proves her worth and we see her on USWNT.
Midfielders
Who is in
Julie Ertz, Kristie Mewis, Sam Mewis, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle
Who misses out
Andi Sullivan, Catarina Macario
Andonovski decided to include Julie Ertz on the team despite her injury being still a concern. However, the USWNT team can do without her for one and a half weeks during the group stages if it is determined that she needs more time to recover.
Horan is the possible replacement for Ertz in the holding role, and her experience and ability to attack from deep will come in handy. Andonovski that he is also likely to test Noran at other positions after the lessons he picked from their game with Nigeria.
Lavelle suffered a minor injury as they faced Jamaica in friendlies, and her health is a slight concern. Sam West will most likely be a box-to-box player and seems more likely to be a starter. Kristie, Sam's older sister, is back on the team after a long stretch and will also be part of the midfield.
Andi Sulivan is a naturally holding midfielder but is left out due to her inconsistent involvement with the team this year. Macario, at just 21, failed to prove her potential and was as well left out.
Forwards
Who is in
Alex Morgan, Christen Press, Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, Tobin Heath
Who missed out
Lynn Williams, Sophia Smith
Rapinoe, Morgan and Press bring in the needed big-game experience to take the team to the next level. Heath is also experienced, but her health is still questionable. She hasn't played a major game since January. She was also unable to participate before the Olympic team fully, but her talent and positive indicators from health staff were all the head coach needed to include her among the 18 players.
Williams looked like a possible pick due to her pressing ability and speed, but she lacks in the end product, which could have likely cost her a spot. On the other hand, Smith has displayed her talent at just 20 and played sparsely during the three friendlies and appears to be groomed for the future.
USWNT has won four titles at the prestigious events and will be looking to add a fifth. The best sportsbooks online have a special interest in this team that was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Sweden back in 2016. The team's fixtures against Australia and Brazil that were scheduled for April 10 and April 14, 2020, were canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The team has won two friendlies against Columbia in 2021 and still retained the SheBelieves Cup title after beating Brazil, Canada and Argentina.
