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FIFA WWC Gallery: Relive all the action as USWNT succumb to 0-0 draw against Sweden

By Scott Sinclair

Jun 12, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; The United States poses for a team photo before their game against Sweden in a Group D soccer match in the 2015 FIFA women's World Cup at Winnipeg Stadium. The game ended in a draw 0-0. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 12, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; The United States poses for a team photo before their game against Sweden in a Group D soccer match in the 2015 FIFA women's World Cup at Winnipeg Stadium. The game ended in a draw 0-0. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports /
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United States defender Julie Johnston (19) reacts after a missed shot against Sweden during the second half in a Group D soccer match in the 2015 FIFA women's World Cup at Winnipeg Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow-USA TODAY Sports
United States defender Julie Johnston (19) reacts after a missed shot against Sweden during the second half in a Group D soccer match in the 2015 FIFA women’s World Cup at Winnipeg Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow-USA TODAY Sports /

If Jill Ellis and the USWNT do not make some changes, they will not be playing for the World Cup Championship come July 5th. An uninspired USA squad drew 0-0 with the number five team in the world Sweden in their second Group D match.

Outside of Megan Rapinoe and Julie Johnston, who right now are the two best players on Ellis’ roster, the American side looks flat, tentative, and just plain bad. Again, failure to maintain possession and take advantage of their few scoring chances are what is haunting this squad the most. And Ellis must make changes to her hallowed 4-4-2 if her side is to get anywhere near the championship. Right now, there is no way this squad can beat Germany or Japan, who I still think are the favorites to win it all.

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Aside from solid defense, nothing Ellis has done has worked. The midfield must be shaken up, Carli Lloyd has been ineffective and she and Lauren Holiday just aren’t clicking together.Morgan Brian has done nothing to make her presence known, and there is nobody right now on the right side that can challenge a defense. Too often the middies are clumped together, leaving huge gaps in the middle of the field, only to be bailed out by Johnston and Co.

Mental lapses, sloppy turnovers, you name it, the USA is doing it. To remedy some of their issues, I say bench Holiday and replace her with either Shannon Boxx or Tobin Heath. Boxx will give Ellis roughly 60-70 solid minutes before she needs to be subbed. Heath gives them someone that can challenge a defense and create opportunities. Ellis needs to figure out a way of getting Christie Rampone some time at center defense, but doing so would mean moving Johnston to a more protector role and she’s been too solid in center to do that. I say Holiday (and maybe Lloyd) and Brian should sit against Nigeria, let Heath and Boxx in instead and maybe move Rapinoe inside as well I’d continue to use Abby Wambach as a sub at this point and not having a fully healthy Alex Morgan hurts All these pieces need to come together and soon.If the USA does not win convincingly against a feisty Nigerian side, this team is in serious trouble.

Relive all the action from USWNT’s draw here…

Next: Gallery: USWNT vs Sweden

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