The 2023 Women's World Cup is just a few days away. Perhaps, what we are most interested in right now is the US team, the defending champion and opponent of the "Golden Star Warriors" in the opening match of Group E, what are the outstanding individuals and achievements of the past 4 years?
The "unrivaled" queen of world football
Being drawn into a group with the defending champions from the “Land of the Stars and Stripes” in the group stage was indeed a challenge for Huynh Nhu, Thanh Nha and Chuong Thi Kieu, especially when looking at the achievements that the US team has achieved recently. However, that does not mean that the girls from the “Land of the Stars and Stripes” do not have pressure from themselves, as striker and captain Alex Morgan of the US team said: “Each of us is carrying the country’s goal on our shoulders under the name of the defending champions.”
Another remarkable thing about the girls from the "Land of the Stars and Stripes" is that before entering this tournament, they had won 2 previous Women's World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, meaning that if they win this title for the third time in 2023, the US team will become the first team in the history of world football, whether male or female, to win 3 consecutive World Cups, an achievement that even their Brazilian male counterparts do not dare to dream of.
The girls from the “Land of the Stars and Stripes” are facing a great opportunity to write their names in the history book of world football as the team that won the World Cup three times in a row. Source: Vox.
Previously, as World Cup champions in 1991 and 1999, the US women's soccer team has 4 stars on their chest, the most of any women's team participating in this year's World Cup, which also means they are only missing one more World Cup title to equal the achievement of their Brazilian male counterparts.
According to OptaJoe statistics, up to now, the US team has never finished outside the Top 3 of the World Cup, so it will be difficult for them not to finish in first place in Group E after just two rounds, even if the team they have cannot be compared to the 2019 World Cup champion team according to OptaJoe.
Notable individuals
For those who follow women’s soccer, and especially the U.S. national team, Rose Lavelle’s stunning goal in the 2019 Women’s World Cup final against the Netherlands will surely be the one that sticks in their minds the most, a goal that came from a series of attacking moves that have become the 28-year-old’s signature style of play over the past four years. Lavelle’s brilliance was evident in the way she dribbled past defenders, in the way she confidently weaved through the orange shirts rushing at her, and most of all, in the way she fired a low shot from outside the box that completely defeated the Dutch goalkeeper.
Lavelle’s success at the age of 24 has given her a bright start to her career with the US national team. It has also inspired the young women of the US national team to compete in this year’s World Cup. Among them are Sophia Smith, who was awarded the two most prestigious individual awards in US women’s soccer in 2022, the US Women’s Professional Soccer Player of the Year and the Player of the Year, and Trinity Rodman, who was a key player in the Washington Spirit’s successful 2021 campaign.
The U.S. defense is also notable for the presence of Naomi Girma, the U.S. Women's Professional League Rookie of the Year, Defender of the Year and Player of the Year candidate that season.
Alyssa Thompson is also a notable name as the second youngest name in the history of the US team. Specifically, this striker from the sunny California region was born in 2004, which is 3 years younger than our Thanh Nha. Previously, the US team had a player who also played at this age, that is Tiffany Roberts, who played at the 1995 Women's World Cup when she was only 18 years and 32 days old. With Alyssa Thompson playing in the final "warm-up" match before the World Cup starts, it is very likely that this girl will be one of the main players of the US team in the attack.
Alyssa Thompson, the youngest name to be included in the US team's squad for the 2023 World Cup. Source: GettyImages.
Megan Rapinoe's "Last Glory"
Striker Megan Rapinoe will return for “one last glorious moment” before retiring from the field. However, her importance as a striker will not be diminished. Rapinoe will most likely be a “reserve” for important moments for the US team.
Rapinoe has been a reliable name in the US national team's forward line in the past and present. According to Opta, she has been involved in more goal-scoring situations for the US team than any other teammate in the last three World Cups. In addition, the US national team's "heavy artillery" has also scored 9 goals and assisted 6 goals in her 17 appearances.
Megan Rapinoa's position and goals after 1228 minutes of playing for the US national team. Source: Opta Analyst.
Rapinoe is also the fourth-leading player in the US Women's Professional Football League this season in assists, alongside teammate Alex Morgan. Last year, Morgan won the MLS Golden Boot with 15 goals. At the 2019 World Cup, at her peak, she scored five goals in the group stage against Thailand, tying the record with Michelle Akers, who also did so in 1991.
Also according to Opta statistics, both Morgan and Rapinoe scored 6 goals at the 2019 World Cup in France, thereby equaling the achievement with Ellen White of England.
Alex Morgan's position and goals after 490 minutes of playing for the US national team. Source: Opta Analyst.
In defence, Crystal Dunn will be a sharp “weapon” on the wing. This is all the more impressive considering that the 31-year-old full-back has only been back for a year after her maternity leave last year. She is arguably the most important name in the US national team squad as well as the Portland Thorns, Dunn’s club, not only because of her talent and versatility, but also because of her experience and excellent commanding ability, which will help inspire a relatively young US national team defence.
The names missed the appointment
Captain Becky Sauerbrunn recently had to "miss" the World Cup after suffering an injury, a huge regret for the US team, especially considering her importance in the US team's defense recently.
With Sauerbrunn sidelined, the young U.S. defense will have to “do it on its own.” Kelley O“Hara and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher will likely be “experienced voices” in defense, but the center-back position will remain open without Sauerbrunn. Girma and Alana Cook are likely to be the names to fill that position.
As the hope of the US national team, Becky Sauerbrunn had to miss the biggest football festival on the planet due to injury. Source: The Striker.
Last year, coach Vlatko Andonovski made no secret of the fact that he would build his team around centre-forward Catarina Macario, who had just signed for Chelsea after a hugely successful campaign with Olympique Lyon in the French Women's Championship, where she finished the season with 13 goals, the third highest in the division.
The North Macedonian-born American coach also shared that Mallory Pugh and Smith would be two important names on the wings. However, his plans were "destroyed" after Macario and Pugh had to miss out due to injury. However, thanks to the depth of the US team, especially in the forward line, Andonovski can make changes when needed.
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Photo and data sources: Vox, Opta Analyst, Getty.
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