USA spent much of the year on home soil but recent trip to Europe provided valuable experience on and off the pitchSince the United States lifted the World Cup in Canada in 2015 their journey towards next summer’s title defence has been littered with potholes. This year, however, something has clicked. They have won 18 of their 20 matches – draws against France and Australia in the SheBelieves Cup and Tournament of Nations respectively came in friendly competitions that they won – and despite the progress of their competitors it is hard to look past them retaining their crown.USA have spent much of the year on home soil but the decision to bring the team to Europe for their final...
With the Tournament of Nations behind them, the world’s No 1 team is eight weeks from opening their France 2019 qualifying campaign. Here are five things they must do to retain their titleBy the time 2017 ended, it seemed as if the US could do little wrong in midfield. Anchored by the partnership of Julie Ertz and Samantha Mewis, plus a rotating cast of talented attack-minded midfielders, Jill Ellis’s team found it easy to dominate matches and out-press their opponents. However, the team was unable to pick up from where they left off in the new year, and still have not found that form. Injuries to both Ertz and Mewis, as well as several others, have forced Ellis to try...
The World Cup-winning manager is reshaping USA’s player pool ahead of France 2019, and in the process, may be reshaping the culture around the teamWhen the US women’s national team hosts the Tournament of Nations starting this week against some of the world’s top teams, manager Jill Ellis could stick with what she knows has worked before. Veteran superstars like Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd could be the focus of the American attack and, if she wanted, Ellis could start all the same defenders that went 513 minutes without conceding a goal in the Women’s World Cup two years ago, a tournament the USA won.But don’t bet on that happening. In a team that was once leery of too much...
Players such as Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan have chosen to pursue spells in Europe. But it’s not just money that proves an attractionWomen’s soccer players might be lured to Europe by money or the occasional tweet by Lyon’s Jean-Michel Aulas, who has signed athletes such as USA striker Alex Morgan (on loan) and young Canadian defender Kadeisha Buchanan.But most of the players who head to Europe or Australia for all or part of the year are doing so for a much simpler reason. They want to get better. Related: Alex Morgan: ‘If Fifa start respecting the women’s game more, others will follow’ | Donald McRae Related: Manchester City sign Carli Lloyd, two-times world player of the year Continue reading...
Disappointing results dominated the landscape for both the women’s and men’s teams this year as some famous names slipped off center stageThe USMNT had never lost a World Cup qualifying game in Guatemala when they played there in March, but a 21-game unbeaten streak against their opponents was about to end in abject fashion. Related: Guatemala 2-0 USA: World Cup 2018 qualifying – as it happened Related: Argentina hammer four past outclassed USA to reach Copa América final Related: Hope Solo ignores Zika chants to star in USA Olympic soccer win over France Related: Hope Solo's punishment shows that women are judged more harshly | Shireen Ahmed Related: Mexico's Rafael Márquez scores late winner to stun USA in World Cup...