She’s soft-spoken and has a friendly smile, but don’t let that fool you. Girma, who turned 23 in June, is also a former No. So it’s no surprise that she has quickly established herself as a young player who will play a prominent role for the USWNT in the future. In 2022, Girma became the first player to win both NWSL Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year in a single season. ![]() Fox scored her first international goal back in April in a 2-0 win over Ireland. However, she jokes now that she probably wouldn't be able to do any cool moves or flips. She goes by the nickname "Foxy" on the national team and before she committed her life to playing soccer, she was a gymnast. 1 overall pick of the 2021 NWSL draft by Racing Louisville and was traded to the Courage in January. The good thing for her, though, is that with Dunn's return, Fox can also play on the right side and has started there for the USWNT.įox was the No. During that time, Fox, who earned her first cap back in 2018, emerged as Andonovski's go-to left back. That's because she really only burst on the scene while Crystal Dunn was gone most of 2022 after having a baby. It's strange to think that Fox is still one of the younger players on this roster and hasn't played in a World Cup or an Olympics. ![]() Dunn has also owned that role masterfully, with her 2019 quarterfinal performance against a stacked France side shining as one of her best international performances. She even won the Golden Boot and MVP awards as a forward in 2015, when she was the last player cut from that USWNT World Cup roster.įor the USWNT, however, there is a greater need at fullback. She was the starting left-fullback for the team's 2019 World Cup title run.ĭunn's position remains a tense talking point even for her: She is one of the best midfielders in the NWSL for Portland, and she has said repeatedly that she prefers to play there. The only real question is whether she ends up playing on the right or the left. ![]() She's a cerebral center back who tries to position herself to predict opponents' attacks, much like Sauerbrunn.Ĭrystal Dunn is a shoo-in starter for the USWNT at fullback. That summer, she transferred to Seattle-based OL Reign and soon became part of the USWNT picture. Each player had pushed for what looked like one starting spot, but the recent injury to Becky Sauerbrunn will thrust both young players into prominent roles.Ĭook signed with Paris Saint-Germain out of college and was part of the 2021 PSG team that won the league title for the first time, ending Lyon's 14-year run. Will he choose the same at the World Cup? DEFENDERSĬook will almost certainly start in central defense alongside fellow Stanford grad Naomi Girma. Naeher ultimately played in the final, with head coach Vlatko Andonovski choosing to go with experience. Last year, during World Cup qualifying, Naeher split time in net for the U.S. Naeher's Chicago Red Stars have struggled mightily, with the team (and Naeher) conceding 31 goals through 12 regular-season games. 1 goalkeeper from its 2019 World Cup triumph is likely to be the starter in net again, although it hasn't been an ideal leadup to this World Cup. ![]() She also kept a clean sheet in a February win over 2011 World Cup champ Japan. qualify for both this World Cup and next summer's Paris Olympics. In 2022, she started two matches at the SheBelieves Cup and three more at the CONCACAF W Championship, helping the U.S. The Rutgers alum has accumulated some big-game experience despite making her USWNT debut less than two years ago. Murphy would start for just about any of the other 31 teams in the World Cup field she's the best USWNT backup keeper since current starter Alyssa Naeher served as the understudy to all-time great Hope Solo in 2015. Franch, but she's a calming presence in the back, communicates well and is the Spirit's captain. Kingsbury hasn't been called into as many camps as Alyssa Naeher, Casey Murphy and A.D. Named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year in 20, she has started every match and played nearly every minute for the Spirit this season, who have been in and out of the top of the standings. Kingsbury might only have one appearance for the senior national team - earned in a 9-0 victory over Uzbekistan in April 2022 - but she has been one of the more consistent and reliable goalkeepers in the NWSL lately.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |