USWNT Roster for Brazil Tournament Released
Oct 26, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; United States celebrates after winning the CONCACAF Women’s Championship against Costa Rica at PPL Park. Team USA won 6-0. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
The US women’s national team will be participating in Brazil’s International Tournament of Brasilia from December 10-21, and head coach Jill Ellis has named the competition roster.
#USWNT roster named for International Tournament of Brasilia. READ more here: http://t.co/L5Zgl2TLx0 pic.twitter.com/QkKXoFFEWC
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) December 5, 2014
All participants from October’s CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers will be suiting up for the US, as well as some returners from injury. Defender Crystal Dunn has rehabbed from a suspected MCL sprain that kept her from playing in October, and forward Alex Morgan will be back in action after an ankle sprain took her out in the midst of the US’s 5-0 rout of Guatemala. Also summoned to Brazil; youngster Samantha Mewis, 2014 NWSL Rookie of the Year Julie Johnston, and 2014 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year Alyssa Naeher. Midfielder Morgan Brian will be joining the team in Brazil following the conclusion of the College Cup this weekend.
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Perhaps the biggest news is the long-overdue return of versatile midfielder Lori Chalupny, who has been out of national team rotation for the past five years due to organizational concerns over her multiple concussions. While it’s been a matter of debate whether such concerns were well-founded (as the 30-year-old Chalupny has performed admirably in league play since 2009), longtime fans should be thrilled to see her back in the stars and stripes.
Since Ellis took the reins of the USWNT, there’s been a good deal of flux with regards to positions and roles, so it remains to be seen how players like Chalupny, Johnston, and brilliant playmaker Holiday will be used on the pitch. In one match during October’s qualifiers, a particularly perplexing lineup featured Abby Wambach as center midfielder. There really is no telling what this squad will look like for its first match against China PR on December 10.
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On a team where five of the six players over the age of 30 are recurring starters, there’s also been plenty of concern for long-term player development, so it’s nice to see some of the younger, less-experienced players in the national team pool getting to make the trip to Brazil. We’ll see what other lineup plans Jill Ellis has up her sleeve, and how effective her tactics will be against stouter competition like Brazil and China.
The International Tournament of Brasilia will be the first time that the US women have competed in Brazil since 1997, and the team’s first meeting with Brazil since a 4-1 US win last November in Orlando, FL.
Forwards: Sydney Leroux (Seattle Reign FC), Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), Abby Wambach (WNY Flash)
Midfielders: Morgan Brian (Virginia), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), Samantha Mewis (UCLA), Heather O’Reilly (FC Kansas City), Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)
Defenders: Lori Chalupny (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Washington Spirit), Whitney Engen (WNY 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)
Goalkeepers: Ashlyn Harris (Washington Spirit), Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)