Scouting Report: USA must hit the pedal against Germans

The USA and Germany have not played in more than two years, but there will be no secrets when the world's No. 1 and No. 2 teams meet on Tuesday in the Women's World Cup semifinals. The USA has the edge on defense, while Germany has the better attack. But the key might be whether the USA chooses to press the suspect German defense.

1. There are no secrets between these teams.

Alex Morgan says she and her teammates have watched every game at the Women's World Cup but they've paying special attention to Germany after its match against France. Replays air on the television in the team meal room.

Morgan and U.S. teammate Tobin Heath play on the Portland Thorns with German captain and goalkeeper Nadine Angerer. Meghan Klingenberg and Christen Press played for since-bankrupt Swedish club Tyreso against German midfielders Alexandra Popp and Lena Goessling when Wolfsburg won the 2014 UEFA Women's Champions League final. U.S. right back Ali Krieger spent four seasons in Germany with FFC Frankfurt.

"I've played with them more than I played against them," said Krieger. "They're good one-v-one attacking. They can shoot from anywhere. And they're strong in the air as well."

2. USA will look to build on China victory.

The USA played its most complete game of the Women's World Cup when it beat China, 1-0, on Friday night. The Chinese were the weakest attacking team the USA has faced so far, and it took advantage by pressing them all game. "This team gets energized when it presses," said Ellis in Monday's pregame press conference. "I still think our best performance is ahead of us."

As France showed on Friday, the Germans can be put under pressure at the back, which is considered their weak link. If Ellis wants to keep the foot on the pedal, that will likely mean she will keep Amy Rodriguez up top with Alex Morgan and use Abby Wambach off the bench. A-Rod did a good job of pressing the Chinese, but Morgan had the weakest game of her three starts as she comes back from her knee injury.

In midfield, Megan Rapinoe and (probably) Lauren Holiday will return from suspensions. Carli Lloyd, who has scored in the last two U.S. games, will start, leaving Ellis to choose among Kelley O'Hara, Morgan Brian and Heath for the fourth spot.

3. Germany aims to get back on track.

Which Germany will show up on Tuesday? The team that steamrolled over Sweden, 4-1, after the Swedes held the USA to a 0-0 draw and would have won but for Klingenberg's late goal-line clearance? Or the team that struggled against France and needed a late penalty kick to equalize?

Saskia Bartusiak should return in the middle of German backline after missing the France game due to suspension. but the Germans could be without midfield star Dzsenifer Marozsan. Coach Silvia Neid has used Marozsan off the bench in the last two games. She scored against Sweden and was Germany's best player against France but suffered a hyperextended left ankle in overtime. She converted her penalty kick but is listed as uncertain for Tuesday's game.

Germany has a wide edge on the USA in goals (20 vs. 7) and shots on goals (59 vs. 24). Celia Sasic and Anja Mittag rank 1-2 at Women's World Cup in scoring with 6 and 5 goals, respectively. In midfield, Simone Laudehr has been along with France's Elodie Thomis the tournament's top player on the right side. Behind Laudehr is Leonie Maier, the best attacking right back in the tournament.

U.S. Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): 18-Ashlyn Harris (Washington Spirit), 21-Alyssa Naeher (Boston Breakers), 1-Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC)
DEFENDERS (8): 16-Lori Chalupny (Chicago Red Stars), 6-Whitney Engen (Western NY Flash), 19-Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), 22-Meghan Klingenberg (Houston Dash), 11-Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), 5-Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue FC), 3- Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC), 4- Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City)
MIDFIELDERS (7): 7-Shannon Boxx (Chicago Red Stars), 14-Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), 17-Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), 12-Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City), 10-Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash), 9-Heather O'Reilly (FC Kansas City), 15-Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign FC)
FORWARDS (5): 2-Sydney Leroux (Western NY Flash), 13-Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC), 23-Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), 8-Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City), 20-Abby Wambach (unattached).

Germany Roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Nadine Angerer (Portland Thorns FC), 12-Almuth Schult (Wolfsburg), 21-Laura Benkarth (Freiburg)
DEFENDERS (7): 2-Bianca Schmidt (FFC Frankfurt), 3-Saskia Bartusiak (FFC Frankfurt), 4-Leonie Maier (Bayern Munich), 5-Annike Krahn (Paris SG/FRA), 14-Babett Peter (Wolfsburg), 15-Jennifer Cramer (FFC Turbine Potsdam), 17-Josephine Henning (Paris SG/FRA)
MIDFIELDERS (7): 6-Simone Laudehr (FFC Frankfurt), 7-Melanie Behringer (Bayern Munich), 10-Dzsenifer Marozsan (FFC Frankfurt), 16-Melanie Leupolz (Bayern Munich), 20-Lena Goessling (Wolfsburg), 22-Tabea Kemme (FFC Turbine Potsdam), 23-Sara Daebritz (Freiburg)
FORWARDS (6): 8-Pauline Bremer (Bayern Munich), 9-Lena Lotzen (Bayern Munich), 11-Anja Mittag (FC Rosengard/SWE), 13-Celia Sasic (FFC Frankfurt), 18-Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg), 19-Lena Petermann (Freiburg).

57 comments about "Scouting Report: USA must hit the pedal against Germans".
  1. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 9:05 a.m.

    Today we Need; "THE MIRACLE ON TURF"... it's not as desperate as The Hockey team versus the Soviets... But our players must get their Heads Screwed on from Minute One... (or 2, in the case of Amy Rodriguez)

  2. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 9:36 a.m.

    Our problem for this Group of Selfish, Soft, Players is Expressed in the "Read Between The Lines" section of something Michelle Akers said back in January; **Re-Post** "What They're Saying: Michelle Akers, Jan. 24th 4:00pm..."I’d also like to see more partnership and support off the field with the past veterans and current players in pushing the game forward, i.e contracts, salaries, opportunities, vision, equal rights, etc. There is a rivalry there that I’m not involved in, but it is frustrating not to all be on the same team when there is so much to lose or gain for each other and our future U.S. teams. If I had one wish, it’d be for the current players to involve the oldsters in growing the game in the way we want it to grow.”-- U.S. women's great Michelle Akers, who has sought a role on the women's national team and says she was rebuffed. (SoccerWire.com)

  3. Tim Gibson, June 30, 2015 at 9:47 a.m.

    Likely Akers got no response cuz of her rehabilitation lawsuits against the USSF after her retirement.

  4. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 10:29 a.m.

    @Tim,.. You are most likely correct... Read Between the lines... This group of Selfish, Soft, Prima Donnas, have not put in the Hard needed to Progress the Game...They and their Coaches, (From Youth Club level to National Program) have not Put in the Necessary Work to develop Skills that can be Applied Under Pressure...It's easIer to Run the Piss out of the Opponent and Live Off the Accolades of Past Teams, than to Put in the extra work to DOMINATE Your Opponent with Skill... They are too busy Blogging, Self-Promoting and making Commercials to do the work...Do You think Mia, Michelle, Foudy, Lilly, April, etc. etc.. etc... Would have put up with "F"ing YELLOW SOCKS !!! ...and NO RED, WHITE and BLUE ???

  5. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 10:43 a.m.

    But then, What do you expect from players that have been Coddled all their Careers... I have been involved with the "Older" players, when they didn't even know where theIr next meal was coming from... Having to go from Summer Camp to Summer Camp In 110 Degrees. Then when the little monsters are off to Dinner or the Pool, Go and Practice into the Darkness, Hour after Hour, on some Crappy Parking Lot...You see any of these players doing that??? And then "Reading Between The Lines" They have the Gall, to "Cut Out" those that any before them...

  6. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 11:02 a.m.

    **Re-Post** from WOW article... Santiago 1314 commented on: June 29, 2015 at 9:53 p.m.....Don't let us Down gals!!! ... Lots of years in the Trenches went Into getting you here... Few of this USA Generation has had to Struggle to find Fields, Equipment and even sometimes Food/Money or Housing...You play less Skilled and Tactical aware than any Team we have ever put on the Field, at this Level...But like Amy Rodriguez showed, We can Out Work ANYONE...We are fighting for an Ideal,..We are fighting for a Way of Life... We ARE THE U.S.A!!!... AND WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN WIN !... WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN WIN.!!.. WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN WIN.!!! ....***JUST WIN BABY, WIN.!!! "Just Do It". !!!... In those Ugly Yellow NIKE Socks

  7. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 11:04 a.m.

    If that don't get you Fired Up, his about this !!!... "Take up our quarrel with the foe:...To you from failing hands we throw The torch;...be yours to hold it high...If ye break faith with us who die,..We shall not sleep,...though poppies grow, In Flanders fields."...

  8. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 11:39 a.m.

    I'll have to get back to you on the Tactical way to beat the Panzerinas... I'm still too Wound Up !!!

  9. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 3:33 p.m.

    Ok... Hear we go...  I agree with the  Author of the Article, Paul…The Germans Struggled against the Pressure of France… We have to keep them Checking back and Receiving balls facing their Keeper and Krahn … If we let them Face us and Run at us, in a Track Meet …Turn Out The Lights…

  10. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 3:37 p.m.

    Germany Line-Up……GK-Angerer…2-3-1-3-1 ….. 2, Deep lying Central Thug Defenders (Kranh and Bartusiak)…… 3, IN-FRONT OF DEFENSE, Sweepers (Lt-Kemme, Ct-LeuPloz, Rt-Meier)…… 1, Schemer, Goessling…… 3, Attacking Mids. (LT-Popp, CT-Mittag, RT-Lauder)…..1, High Forward, Sasic...

  11. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 3:39 p.m.

    Their strength is that They have 4 players(Popp, Mittag, Laudehr, Sasic) with the combined abilities of Rapinoe(Skill), Wambach(Size) and Alex (Athleticism)… Plus TWO Good Overlapping Full/Wing Backs…  

  12. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 3:42 p.m.

    Germany had TW0 Weaknesses: Goalkeeper on Crosses and the #5 (Central Defender) Krahn..

  13. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 3:44 p.m.

    But, we CAN have a SECRET Line-up that will Throw them Off…(It’s not really that different than what we have been playing.)  … Clog the Midfield WoMan-To-WoMan…(Being Politically Correct)   We should counter with THE SAME;….HOPE-GK…2-3-1-3-1… Johnston, Sauerbrunn /// Klingenberg, Boxx, Krieger /// M.Brian /// Rapinoe, Lloyd, Heath /// Rodriguez   

  14. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 3:44 p.m.

    Amy STARTS, because Amy PRESSES, like a Bat outta Hell..!!! And Pray that Amy WONDOLOSKI will not Re-Appear  on the next sitter she gets…

  15. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 3:48 p.m.

      Everyone says that Abby doesn’t deserve to start… Yet, Alex Morgan has done NOTHING, This Whole Tournament… So, why should she Start ??? Because she is The Marketing Princess??? She didn’t help Rodriguez in the Pressing anyway…This will Free Lloyd up, to go into the Box for Headers(see German Weaknesses-GK) and NOT have any Real Defensive Chores..(ala Dempsey) And she can make those Stupid Fouls in THEIR side of the Field…  

  16. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 3:50 p.m.

    Krahn is Slow Footed, Slow on the Turn and Slow Thinker… As long as you can stay out of her Reach, she Hurts them and Helps you… 1st half, she had 10 Long Passes for Turn-Overs and always takes One Extra Touch to Prepare the Ball before she hits it… Force them to Play Through her, Out of the Back… Then have Rodriguez Trap her with the ball…P.S. She has Trouble getting a Credit Card under her Feet when she Jumps…Almost Gave up a Goal to France in the 37th minute, when she Flicked the ball on to the French player…Goalkeeper made a Great Save… On the Goal Germany gave up, She Turned her back and the ball deflected off her and  into her OWN goal…I’ve seen Braver 9 year olds…  

  17. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 3:52 p.m.

    The Goalkeepers weakness is in the Air, on Crosses… As Dr. Joe and Tony Di, have taught me over the years…Don’t run out Straight Out to get the Ball, Run at an Angle OR an Opponent will Cut you Off at the Near Post/Zone…There were Numerous times  that Angerer caught Crosses BEHIND the head of the French Player… Lloyd should be running Near Zone on Crosses…Crosses need to be more Floated than driven to the Near Zone… Angerer will be Tempted Out and will always be One Step Behind them…GOOOOOOOLLL  !!!!!

  18. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 3:54 p.m.

      On Offense; The German Outside Backs Play more like Wing Backs…They push up WAY too High, Too Early, before the ball has been connected into Ct Mids or Forwards…This causes them to always be facing Krahn and Bartusiak to Receive Balls against Touchline……Easy to Set a Trap and Intercept…Push Heath and Rapinoe UP ON THEM….On Defense; these Full/Wing Backs don’t drop to Zonal Marking, They play like Sweepers INFRONT of the Defensive Line… This leaves spaces behind them on the Outside, to play balls into…One of the Slow Central Defenders are then Exposed as they have to come Outside to close down the play… CT. Holding Mid(Front Sweeper-#16 LeuPolz)… then is forced to drop Into the Defensive Line, running back and Facing her own Goal, as Crosses come in…Nice set up for an Own Goal…  

  19. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 3:58 p.m.

    Goessling(Schemer) is mostly interested in Offensive Link Play, Doesn’t like to come back too far… High work rate…always Buzzing… Can Morgan Brian stay Concentrated and With Her ??? (Holliday will get Killed by her, Lack of Mobility)( Would actually be a good Job for Rampone, But I don’t think the US Coaches are Brave enough to make that Move)  

  20. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 4:09 p.m.

    3 German Attacking Mids… High Work Rate, Good Skills and Athleticism… LT-Popp, CT-Mittag, RT-Lauder… They were Negated in the First Half because the French Forced play through Krahn, and 90% of the Balls Krahn hit were Turn-Overs… Need to go Man-to-Man with Klinenberg, Boxx,(Yup, They Brought her for some Reason) ,Kreiger… With Support from SauerBrunn or Johnston, when necessary…   1 High Forward-Sasic… Think Jozy… Gets Turned Off from the Game, if she doesn’t get Service….Sauerbrunn and Johnston can Tag Team her…and still Sweep over to help Outside Defenders…  

  21. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 4:28 p.m.

    The Germans also do this Funny thing With their Center-backs... When they are Building out of the Back. . They are sooo Far Apart... They are on different sides of the 18... Ahead of the Goalkeeper and the Wing backs are Way Up... So if we Trap and Steal in the Middle, We have a clear path to Goal...

  22. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 4:33 p.m.

    US outside mids will be Doubled... Need to Check and Flick it off quickly, so WE Don't get Trapped...

  23. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 4:43 p.m.

    So, that's it.. USA Wins 3-1, if they do what I say...Otherwise... Slugfest... and We lose 2-1..

  24. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 6:55 p.m.

    That Fox Intro... That's about American Exceptionalism... if any of you Non-Americans haven't figured out what I have been Preaching

  25. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 6:56 p.m.

    Damn ... They Screwed up the Play back on our National Anthem. !!!

  26. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:07 p.m.

    Brian looks lost in there

  27. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:07 p.m.

    I told you gk was weak on Crosses

  28. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:10 p.m.

    Nice foul by Heath

  29. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:11 p.m.

    Germany pressing with 2

  30. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:13 p.m.

    Alex Morgan pulling another "Princess in the Pea".. Totally NOT INTENSE

  31. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:15 p.m.

    Now she missed 1v1. . Should have been Amy sfarting

  32. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:16 p.m.

    HOLLIDay terrible turnover... that should have been Boxx

  33. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:22 p.m.

    MB really starting to figure this out. . Nice composure

  34. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:23 p.m.

    Sacic playing too Deep for Germany

  35. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:27 p.m.

    Morgan, another Flat Footed Miss Trap.. Follwed by No Pressue.. Followed by Over Hitting Wall Pass to Rapinoe..
    TURD IN THE PUNCH BOWL

  36. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:28 p.m.

    Rapinoe and Heath need to stay Outside more With their players

  37. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.

    I told you they were going to ManHandle Brian

  38. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:35 p.m.

    Yes Rapinoe... see what happens when you Step up
    ..Yellow Card to #4

  39. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:38 p.m.

    Johnston-BECKENBAUER...I told you she could play.. Their GK is a Shook up

  40. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:40 p.m.

    Sauerbtunn just abSplit Second too slow tonight

  41. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:45 p.m.

    OMG..Morgan!!@#@#$#... Worse than A Rod Miss... What are you doing on the Field???

  42. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:54 p.m.

    Hey!?!?!! Isn't Checking into the Boards Two minutes in the Box..??? HOLLIDAY "F"in L... Another Kill Flow TurmOver... Oop, Princess Alex fell on the Pea.. GET IN THE BATTLE, YOUR KILLING US!!! Half-Time... We Own Them!!!! USA !!! USA !!! USA !!!

  43. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 7:58 p.m.

    I told Krahn was Weak.. Alex made her look bad on the Auto-Pass Flick... Should have Buried TWO GOALS.. It's like watching the Bismarck and The Enterprise.. Big and slow on the Turn, both of them. ..

  44. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 8:09 p.m.

    Gpessling needs to switch with # 16 if Germany is to create

  45. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 8:11 p.m.

    Princess Alex is Already Mentally OUT...5 minutes into the 2nd half

  46. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 8:15 p.m.

    Another Alex TURN over and them Paout and No Press... You Screw it up ?!?! At least Work to get it back. . GET HER OFF...TIME FOR WAMBACH!!!

  47. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 8:18 p.m.

    GOESSLING starting to move Forwad.. Morgan must watch her

  48. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 8:21 p.m.

    Bouncing Ball on Turf...Johnston should have Headed ot back.. Should be Red Card... Choke by Sasic... Hope hasn't touched the Ball. . And she still SAved us! !!

  49. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 8:23 p.m.

    LOWER CROSS KREIGER...LLOYD WAS OPEN

  50. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 8:25 p.m.

    K lingenberg Sweet 1v1. . But our crossing Sucks

  51. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 8:27 p.m.

    ALEX MORGAN... YOU PRIMA DONNA BALL HOG...CENTER THE BALL! !

  52. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 8:32 p.m.

    Haha Krahn.. I told you all... She SUCKS...PK.. LLOYD!! LLOYD!! LLOYD !!!... USA! !! USA!!! USA!!! "AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM" !!! I told you it was worth ONE GOAL a Game..
    WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN WIN!!! WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN WIN!!!

  53. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 8:49 p.m.

    My Smart phone literally Melting Down...122 degrees on the CPU...Good Subs by Coach...Great Goal for Lloyd-O'Hara

  54. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 9:12 p.m.

    I told you the Weakness of Krahn would be the Difference in the game..Hey..Remember this one??  ***Carl Hudson commented on: June 27, 2015 at 7:39 p.m..."Santiago, you blab too much, without a clue as to what you are blabbing about. If you are talking about defensive back Number 5 for Germany, Krahn, she was just about their best player, a superb header, and outstanding at getting the ball downfield. She was player of the game."... Santiago 1314 commented on: June 27, 2015 at 10:56 p.m.@Carl,... If she was so fantastic, why did the French set a Trap for her... They Funneled all the German attacks to start through her... That was why Germany had Such a tough time... She can't create.. got striped of the ball or turned it over under pressure...Rodriquez will have her for lunch. .Go back and watch the Tape.. then Blah, blah, blah Santiago 1314 commented on: June 27, 2015 at 11:07 p.m.p.s...@Carl.. Your Germany Sucked... They Should have lost to France...Big Questions and Doubts being raised about Der Panzerinas.??? Santiago 1314 commented on: June 28, 2015 at 8:34 a.m.@Carl Hudson...PLAYER OF THE MATCH...According to the Official FIFA Match Report??? GOALKEEPER..ANGERER...Now WHO, Doesnt know what their Talking about??? YOU MAYBE!!! So get your facts straight before you Blah, Blah, Blah !!!.." *** TOMA YA!!!

  55. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 9:19 p.m.

    @Carl Hudson,... In case you forgot!!!...*** Santiago 1314 commented on: June 27, 2015 at 11 a.m...Let Rodriguez run the Piss out of #5... She is the Weakest, Slowest, Clumsiest Defender I have ever seen at this level...Then bring Abby in(65) to Over Power her...

  56. David Mont, June 30, 2015 at 10:11 p.m.

    Wow, the capital of Chile program must be stuck in an infinite loop!

  57. Santiago 1314, June 30, 2015 at 11:24 p.m.

    Si, Si, Senor David... Finals in the Copa America, and USA in the Finals...What a Week..!!!

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