USWNT: Just How Deep Is The Forward Position?

In Sunday’s 0-0 tie against Brazil, the USWNT were missing some key attacking players in the starting lineup—it showed. Alex Morgan has shown marked improvement as she works to come back from an ankle injury that she received on Oct. 17 against Guatemala in the group stage of World Cup qualifying.

This absence was not a surprise as U.S Head Coach, Jill Ellis, had clarified in an interview beforehand that Morgan would not be playing in the tournament final against Brazil to prevent further injury. Another notable attacking absence was forward Sydney Leroux who was unavailable for choice after picking up a red card in the match against Argentina last Thursday, Dec 18^th.

There is no doubt the U.S missed Leroux’s attacking prowess and sheer physicality on the field tonight. To add to the situation, the U.S team was without scoring power Christen Press, who returned home to the United States upon news that a family member had passed away. Press scored four goals in their last match against Argentina, which helped the USA erase a -7 goal differential and ultimately earned them a spot in the final against Brazil.

Without some of the best forwards in the world for the U.S side in their final match against Brazil, this presented an unusual problem for the coaching staff. It tested the depth of the U.S forward pool and the coaching staff responded by selecting Tobin Heath, Kelley O’Hara, and Abby Wambach to spearhead the U.S attack.

In the few chances the U.S had on attacking opportunities, the team was unable to put the ball away. Abby Wambach, the world’s all-time leading goal-scorer in the women’s game, failed to get on the score sheet tonight and uncharacteristically missed headers under pressure at the top of the six off both crosses and set pieces including a beautiful service into the box from Heath.

Wambach’s inconsistency in the past few matches has come under heavy fire on social media as many fans no longer see her as that “90 minute player” and some have even called for her retirement ahead of the 2015 Women’s World Cup.

Abby Wambach is … struggling :-(
— Stars and Stripes FC (@StarsStripesFC) December 21, 2014

She's a legend, but Wambach is missing open looks and passes more and more. Thise little chips she does are not cutting it. #USWNT
— Vanessa A. Foxx (@VanessaAFoxx) December 21, 2014

And while O’Hara was awarded the MAC Hermann Trophy in 2009 as a forward for Stanford and was an attacking presence this past season in the National Women’s Soccer League for Sky Blue FC, it was clear Sunday night that the converted defensive mindset in O’hara seemed to show more than her success in the attacking third, as she was seen jockeying for position deep in the midfield on countless occasions.

Heath however, is not a converted defender; her career for the USWNT has been primarily on the flanks and in the final tonight she, like O’hara sunk back into the midfield, which shifted the USA into more of 4-4-2 formation with Lauren Holiday in the No. 10 position pushing forward to help Wambach up top.

USWNT: Just How Deep Is The Forward Spot?

By Emily Helle | Dec 21, 2014