Possible USWNT Lineups for the 2015 Algarve Cup

Left/Right Forwards

Oct 17, 2014; Bridgeview, IL, USA; USA player Tobin Heath (17) celebrates with USA player Sydney Leroux (2) after scoring a goal during a women’s World Cup qualifier soccer match at Toyota Park. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports

Right: LeRoux (ARod, Heath, Wambach in situations)

Left: Press (Heath, ARod, Wambach last in rotation)

I went with (relative) youth for the forward spots. LeRoux will run through and over anyone in her path on the way to goal, so her ability to make something out of nothing is perfect for exploiting the seams in the opponent’s defense. I think she and the adept Press are interchangeable, so long as they are both out on the sides and are being given good defensive cover and the occasional overlapping run from the midfield. I also think both have proven adept at those end-line runs upon which the US so heavily depends for aerial shots on goal, and with a healthy, cohesive midfield, the service into the box should be consistently good.

Nothing would give me greater joy than seeing Rodriguez substituted in after a half. I don’t expect Morgan to come off the pitch, unless it’s a part of scheduled rest for the primary starters, so I think that this is where Rodriguez would be most likely to nab some minutes. Wambach is still quite capable of sending excellent balls into the penalty area during the run of play, so she’s an acceptable last option if everyone else is on the field or has already played their allotment. But frankly, I’d really only prefer to see her coming on for LeRoux in the 65th minute or so, and then the US would switch their shape to more of a 4-4-2 so that Wambach can stay fairly central in that target forward role.

Next: Strikers & Formations