USWNT: 2019 World Cup starters minus Rapinoe headed for Netherlands
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Nov 18, 2020
The USA will play its first women's international match in more than eight months on Nov. 27 when it faces the Netherlands in a rematch of the 2019 Women's World Cup final.
Women's play has been limited in the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down sports action on March 12, a day after the end of the SheBelieves Cup.
But the USA will be boosted by six national team regulars who moved to Europe in recent months: Manchester City’s Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis, Manchester United’s Christen Press and Tobin Heath and Tottenham’s Alex Morgan in England and Emily Sonnett, who just won the Swedish league title with Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC.
Heath scored on Saturday in Manchester United's 2-2 tie with Manchester City. Heath, Press and Mewis started while Lavelle, who has seen limited playing time, was on the bench. On Saturday, Morgan started her first game for Spurs following the birth of her daughter.
“From the physical perspective, they are going to be a little bit ahead of the group that is in the United States,” Andonovski said. “That will help on the field but also in the training environment because ultimately, even though we are going there to win this game, we also want to raise the standards and continue building on what we started at the beginning of this year.”
Lavelle, Mewis, Heath and Morgan started for the USA in the 2019 Women's World Cup final. The lone U.S. starter who won't be available for the rematch: Megan Rapinoe, who has not played since the SheBelieves Cup and is not match fit.
Also out: Sky Bue FC's Carli Lloyd and Mallory Pugh, who are recovering from injuries and both missed the NWSL Challenge Cup.
Players who have benefited from strong performances in NWSL play (Challenge Cup and Fall Series) include the Houston Dash's Kristie Mewis, Sam Mewis' older sister.
The Netherlands-USA game, to be played in Breda, will take place during the November FIFA window.
U.S. Roster
Goalkeepers: Aubrey Bledsoe (Washington Spirit), Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), *Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars).
Defenders: Alana Cook (Paris SG, France), *Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage), *Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), *Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns), *Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals), Margaret Purce (Sky Blue FC), *Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns), *Emily Sonnett (Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC, Sweden).
Midfielders: *Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars), *Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns), *Rose Lavelle (Man. City, England), Catarina Macario (Stanford Univ.), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash), *Samantha Mewis (Man. City, England).
Forwards: Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), *Tobin Heath (Man. United, England), *Alex Morgan (Tottenham, England), *Christen Press (Man. United, England), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage).
*2019 Women's World Cup champion.
