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Sermanni names roster for 2nd Scotland match

Jeff Kassouf February 13, 2013 16

Tom Sermanni has named his 18-player US women’s national team roster for the team’s match against Scotland on Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn.

Abby Wambach can join elite company by earning her 200th cap on Thursday. Kristine Lilly tops the U.S. list with 352 appearances. Defender Christie Rampone was set for her 278th on Wednesday night, while the others include Hamm (275), Julie Foudy (272), Joy Fawcett (239), Tiffeny Milbrett (204) and Kate Markgraf (201).

On Saturday, the US beat Scotland 4-1 but lost Alex Morgan to injury before halftime.Morgan will not play on Wednesday. Hope Solo, however, is active after missing Saturday’s game with a minor calf strain.

Christen Press (who scored twice), Kristie Mewis and Julie Johnston each earned their first caps with the senior team on Saturday. Now Crystal Dunn, the 2012 MAC Hermann Trophy winner, can earn her first cap on Wednesday.

Here is the full roster:

GOALKEEPERS (2): 21-Jill Loyden (Sky Blue FC), 1-Hope Solo (Seattle Reign)
DEFENDERS (6): 19-Rachel Buehler (Portland Thorns FC), 27-Crystal Dunn (UNC), 28-Whitney Engen (Liverpool FC), 11-Ali Krieger (Washington Spirit), 5-Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), 3-Christie Rampone (Sky Blue FC)
MIDFIELDERS (7): 7-Shannon Boxx (Chicago Red Stars), 12-Lauren Cheney (FC Kansas City), 17-Tobin Heath (Paris Saint-Germain), 16-Lori Lindsey (Washington Spirit), 10-Carli Lloyd (Western NY Flash), 9-Heather O’Reilly (Boston Breakers), 15-Megan Rapinoe (Olympique Lyonnais)
FORWARDS (3): 14-Sydney Leroux (Boston Breakers), 22-Christen Press (Tyresö FF), 20-Abby Wambach (Western NY Flash)

POSTED IN » News, USWNT
About the author: Jeff Kassouf View all posts by Jeff Kassouf
  • Ashley

    Does anyone know if Sermanni went 4-3-3 last time? That formation is much more exciting than a 4-4-2 in my opinion, especially with all the talent we have in forwards. Leroux and Press on the wings with Abby in the middle (switching out for Alex when she’s back and healthy) would be deadly.
    So stoked that Press is finally getting what’s long overdue for her – a spot on the team and a start. She is a much better player than A-Rod ever was. Good call to rest Morgan – it’s only a friendly and we want her healthy for more important matches like the Algarve Cup, more challenging ones like Germany, and of course the NWSL.
    Sermanni really is doing an excellent job, especially bringing in new defenders – that’s where the ladies team needs the most improvement. Whitney Engen, I love you! Finally!

    • Kendra

      Sermanni went with a 4-4-2 last game. With Heath roaming from her left midfield position. Truthfully I think if he switches to another formation it might be a 4-2-3-1. The European based players are learning this formation and it might be more effect compared to when Pia attempted to implement the formation I believe 2 years ago. The US is becoming a little bit more technical to play in that formation.

      • Steglitz49

        You can have any formation you like as long as you win, to travestize Henry Ford.

        Unless you are dominating the match, ladies play with a flat back four. In the case of Japan their wing-backs regularly come far up the field in attack.

        It is horses for courses. The formation is adapted to the players usually, not the other way round. Before the mid 1960s, many men’s teams played a sort of 2-3-2-3 formation. The great 1940s Turin side that perished in the air-crash essentially played “Total Football”, a term otherwise usually associated with the Ajax and Dutch sides built around Cruyff. In the early 70s, the position of “sweeper” aka “libero” was not uncommon, the great exponent of that art being the Kaiser. I cannot think of a lady player who plays as a sweeper.

        The style of play that Japan has been playing under Sasaki is essentially a modification of that introduced to Barcelona by Cruyff. One should not forget Bobby Robson’s impact on Barcelona and various other teams. The manager of Barcelona’s ladies side is the man who coached Messi as a youngster. It will be interesting to see how they develop.

      • http://www.phasedma.com Anthony

        Seems to me you would lose out on the players who can dominate the midfield. Llyod and Boxx would love that formation, but they don’t need to be that far up the pitch to be deadly.

        Meanwhile you have Heath and Rapinoe wasted so high up. Of course they tend to stay where ever the ball is. Especially Heath so maybe it doesn’t matter whatever you want to call the formation – Those two are just going to roam the attacking 2/3rds regardless.

    • Kernel Thai

      The problem with going 4-3-3 is it neutralizes his wing players. He would likely push either Rapinoe or Heath into the middle but would lose the other along with HAO. I think he will stay with 4-4-2 as his base offense and go either 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 situational during games as he changes personnel.

      • TsovLoj

        What would you guys think of a 3-5-2? This came to me watching Juve and Celtic the other night. I mean, it’s D where we lack depth, so why not capitalize on our strengths some?

        • TsovLoj

          Or maybe a 3-4-3 I suppose?

        • Steglitz49

          Ladies’ football is played on a standard sized pitch. A back-line of 3 women is not enough if the teams are reasonably even. If you dominate the match, two defenders should cope.

  • Kernel Thai

    The big question with the line-up is what does the absence or Mitts and Harris mean, if anything?

    • Steglitz49

      I presume that Ms Harris is already on her way back to her German club who has a critical match this weekend.

    • http://twitter.com/hercircumstance hercircumstance

      Harris is injured with a quad pull or something the last few days judging by reports from open practice and her own twitter. She needs to get better in time for her club game. Mitts… I guess wait until the Algarve roster, but i can’t be a good sign. If she goes out hopefully it will be with a prank though. Winters is another question mark. I assume her injury from Germany is healed as she came into camp, but who knows what is going on there.

      • Steglitz49

        Roll on Algarve. Rumour has it that Mrs Ogimi will be the oldest in the Japanese squad. Sermanni may want to put six old-timers out to grass?

        • http://twitter.com/hercircumstance hercircumstance

          They did that back in the day when Hope was a baby on the team. Turns out we don’t like losing. Starting a coach off with a team of kids could be rough if we lose a lot of games. I’d expect they will shed some old players for good after this game and bring in a mix.

          • Steglitz49

            “You never win anything with kids”, commented Alan Hansen. He is quite self-ironic about his comment, which turned out to be a bit wide off the mark.

  • Steglitz49

    Ms Press’s cup is about to flow over. Madelaine Edlund, Tyresö’s forward, who scored the winning goal against Malmö in the very last match in Damallsvenskan last season, is pregnant and will miss all of next season. ARod has company.

  • becca o

    I think mitts is going out she is 34 prone to injuries, and never a heavy favorite. Judging from his history I would expect a younger player to be chosen as the depth full back.