USA’s #15 Megan Rapinoe Celabrates with #6 Whitney Engen #25 Megan Klingenberg #2 Sydney Leroux and #20 Abby Wambach

99 Days Until World Cup– Is it too soon for the U.S.?

By Debby von Winckelmann

With only 99 days before the start of the 2015 Women’s World Cup, U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) head coach Jill Ellis has quite a bit of tuning to do if her team is going to be a contender.

The USWNT hasn’t been very impressive on the pitch as of late and Ellis has been the subject of harsh criticism from the USWNT fan base, with some critics going as far as calling for her replacement before the World Cup begins.

Do 99 days give Ellis enough time to figure out which formation and combination of players will get the Americans that trophy?

The U.S. is currently in Portugal, preparing for the 2015 Algarve Cup, a tournament which runs from March 4 through March 11 and should provide Ellis with a great opportunity to make the decisions and adjustments necessary to put together the team she believes can win the World Cup.

The Algarve Cup consists of 12 teams, with all but the host nation, Portugal, ranked in the top 20 in the world. As such, Ellis has acknowledged the importance of the tournament this year, telling U.S. soccer:

“The value of the Algarve Cup is of course great games against top teams in a tournament format without much rest,” Ellis said. “In any year, this tournament presents great challenges, but as we continue to progress towards the World Cup, we want to get tested at the highest possible levels. Our opponents at this tournament give us another opportunity to gauge our depth and fitness.”

The team’s depth already got a boost with the return of Megan Rapinoe, Christie Rampone, and Sydney Leroux, who all missed the international friendlies against France and England due to injuries. Goalkeeper Hope Solo has also returned after serving her much-publicized 30-day suspension from the team.

A couple of adjustments were made after the U.S. lost to France, but what can we expect – or hope- to see during the Algarve Cup?

Offensively, the U.S. is loaded with talent, but hasn’t done a great job of converting opportunities to goals. Alex Morgan is just getting back from her injury and I think we can expect her to continue to improve, as she regains her fitness and confidence. Christen Press has been okay, but I would like to see Leroux and Amy Rodriguez start up front with Morgan.

Leroux is fast, relentless and can chase down anything to score, while Rodriguez has been a scoring machine for her NWSL team, FC Kansas City. So why doesn’t Rodriguez get any playing time under Ellis? Hopefully, Rodriguez will get an opportunity in Portugal. Finally, Abby Wambach is an experienced scorer and leader, but her time on the pitch should be limited. Wambach definitely makes an impact when she is on the field and the team responds to her leadership.

Perhaps the most criticism about the last few games has been directed at the midfield. Lauren Holiday hasn’t been playing her best soccer lately, but I expect Ellis to start her and I like the idea of her feeding Rodriguez, her FC Kansas City teammate. Expect to see Rapinoe back at midfield and Carli Lloyd, who can launch a shot from outside the box, as well as get back on defense. Tobin Heath, Morgan Brian, and Heather O’Reilly will probably come in off the bench, but Shannon Boxx is questionable.

Hope Solo will be back despite off field issues

Defensively, Ellis made a couple of changes against England that had a positive impact: starting Ali Krieger and not playing Lori Chalupny, who just couldn’t keep pace with France’s offensive attack. Krieger did a great job in her first national team start and helped the U.S. to stretch the field wider.

Becky Sauerbrunn will probably stay in the center, as she should. Although Whitney Engen has done a good job in the back, I expect Ellis to start Christie Rampone and have Engen come off the bench.

Crystal Dunn and Meghan Klingenberg have both done a good job defensively, but I think Ellis has overlooked the skills and experience that Kelley O’Hara brings to the game and I would like to see her get a start on the back line.

Finally, despite the publicity surrounding Hope Solo’s absence, goalkeeping didn’t appear to be a problem in the last two games. Ashlyn Harris did a fine job in goal, however, I expect Solo to return to her starting position, with Harris as her back-up.

Ellis brought 25 players to Portugal and will have to cut that down to 23 players before the team plays its first match against Norway (12) on March 4.

The U.S. will also play Switzerland (19) on March 6 and Iceland (20) on March 9.

Hopefully, the U.S. will fare better this year than last, when the U.S. women had their worst performance ever in the Algarve Cup, finishing seventh in the tournament. Their draw in Group B looks to be fortunate, as Group A contains Germany, Brazil, Sweden and China PR, while Group C features Portugal, Japan, France and Denmark.

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ashlyn Harris (Washington Spirit), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)
DEFENDERS (10): Lori Chalupny (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Whitney Engen (Western NY Flash), Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Meghan Klingenberg (Houston Dash), Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Rachel Van Hollebeke (Portland Thorns FC)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Shannon Boxx (Chicago Red Stars), Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Heather O’Reilly (FC Kansas City), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)
FORWARDS (5): Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (Western NY Flash)