Tag: SheBelieves Cup

USWNT struggles but the sky isn’t falling: Three thoughts on the SheBelieves Cup

Swanson and the counter-press? Great! Facing a high press? Not so much

At the moment, the U.S. women’s national team is a cliché glass of water.

If you see a team that has now won six straight games and just beat three strong sides in Canada, Japan, and Brazil en route to yet another SheBelieves Cup title, you’re looking at a half-full glass. They have a key player in extraordinary form, injured regulars are approaching full fitness, and they gave up just one goal in what is effectively a preseason tournament while facing sides whose players are in many cases closer to 100%.

If you’re thinking that Canada was a shadow of itself due to off-field issues with its federation, or that Japan worried the USWNT throughout their match, or are picturing Brazil’s near-misses from Kerolin or Adriana, you’re Team Half-Empty. You saw the USWNT struggle with two very different pressing set-ups, and are expecting things to go awry in the first game where the U.S. doesn’t bury their first great look at goal.

Well friends, guess what? You’re both making great points. Let’s get into the positives and negatives of the USWNT’s showing at the SheBelieves Cup.

Swanson’s show

Mallory Swanson is unstoppable at the moment, scoring in all three SheBelieves Cup matches for the USWNT and in seven straight games overall. The list of attacking players anywhere sharing this sort of stratospheric form consists of maybe Sam Kerr, and that’s it.

Under Vlatko Andonovski, there was a Christen Press phase before the pandemic like this, and Catarina Macario and Sophia Smith have spent time as the seemingly inevitable source of goals and assists on this team. Swanson is indisputably having her time under the spotlight right now.

One remarkable thing about this run is that it’s not happening with a particularly stable attacking group around her. The following is a list of what other attacking players were on the field when Swanson scored on this run:

  • Morgan, Smith, Lavelle
  • Morgan, Rodman, Lavelle
  • Hatch, Rodman, Sanchez
  • Morgan, Williams, Sanchez
  • Morgan, Rodman, Sanchez
  • Morgan, Williams, Lavelle

With Smith absent for both camps this year due to a foot injury, and Rose Lavelle missing two SheBelieves Cup games for precautionary reasons, Vlatko Andonovski has toggled between plenty of groups on offense, and Swanson seems to work just as well alongside any of them. We also saw Swanson look very comfortable playing off of Macario in 2021 and the early part of 2022, leaving little worry if the USWNT ends up going back to more of a false No. 9 look come the World Cup.

What’s been very impressive from Swanson is that she’s using her off-ball movement to create the kinds of chances she thrives in: running a channel, receiving the ball just as she breaks in behind the defense. Teams know the USWNT is looking for it. Right-sided defensive players know that’s where she’s going to end up, and still — whether in counter-pressing moments, long balls from the back, passes from midfield, or combination play — they can’t stop her from getting there anyway.

In the months ahead, any team that’s serious about winning the World Cup or that finds itself in Group E is going to be intently studying how to either prevent Swanson from finding these openings, or to cut off her supply from the rest of the group.

It’s vital for the USWNT that they keep opponents guessing, because at the moment, this doesn’t seem like a team that is going to imperiously march through seven games to a trophy. Much like these last two games in particular, the USWNT is on course for some very tight knockout round games in which one player being decisive is the difference.

The good news? The roster is deep with that kind of player, and Swanson in particular is arguably the decisive player in women’s soccer right now. If the team can maintain that — and especially if they add to it — their chances of a third straight World Cup victory are stronger than people seem to think right now.

Pressing problems

That said, there is a reason your social media timeline of choice seems full of doubt. It boils down to some clear issues the USWNT has had facing a high press. To be fair, any organized high press attempted by fast players is by its nature difficult to play through. To their credit, the USWNT has used friendlies to actually work on this rather than simply playing it safe in hopes of an exhibition victory.

However, it’s fair to say this is very much a work in progress, and come the World Cup, we may see them have to adopt some safety-first tactics to get through the opening stages of games. Generally speaking, that’s how high-pressing teams operate: you press for 15-20 minutes trying to get a lead or at least throw your opponent into disarray, then spend some time defending out of a more defined block so you don’t have a team full of exhausted players.

The USWNT, after simply overwhelming a Canada side that had been through so much coming into game one, found themselves on the other side of the coin against both Japan and Brazil. These games weren’t equal — Japan’s press was more organized and dangerous, whereas a tired-looking U.S. gave Brazil an assist by offering up some uncharacteristically sloppy play — but the outcome was close enough to the same that it should be a concern.

(AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)

We’ve seen some other top teams unsettle the USWNT like this over the past few years. Sweden did it at the Olympics, and both Germany and Spain showed that they were paying attention to the trend late in 2022.

As was already covered here, to some extent any press that is executed at a reasonable level is going to make the team in possession look uncomfortable. There seems to be an expectation among fans that can’t be reconciled: many teams are improving worldwide and deserve more respect, but also, the USWNT should be able to beat anyone anywhere with ease, so that discomfort must be an indicator that the team is falling off a cliff.

The sky is not falling for the USWNT, who as a reminder just beat three higher-end teams despite fielding a squad that is (Lindsey Horan aside) in preseason. But it is time for the fanbase to come to grips with a reality that, as high-pressing tactics have become more and more a regular thing in the women’s game, USWNT games might look a little rough around the edges.

It also must be said that the USWNT showed its preseason status in these two games. Some fundamental elements — first touch, body shape when receiving the ball, how often they checked their shoulders, and how early they made their move to be an option for the next pass — were lacking. By contrast, Japan and Brazil both seemed to be closer to top gear. That shouldn’t be the case at the World Cup.

However, here’s where the worried USWNT fan might want to start looking when they consider issues with the team: in this tournament, both Japan and Brazil pressed the way you’d expect them to. Japan’s 3-4-2-1 is not an unknown quantity, and Pia Sundhage’s 4-4-2 with Brazil is something everyone should be very familiar with by now.

Why, then, did these pressing structures seem to come as such a surprise? It’s one thing to enter a game knowing that it’ll be a bit scruffy because both teams are pressing. It’s another to see the USWNT seemingly not prepared to find the angles needed to play around those differing shapes. Every press gives up openings to gain certain things, but the U.S. had to find those spaces rather than knowing where they would be from the jump.

Japan and Brazil both seemed to catch the USWNT off guard, and while the players and coaching staff both did solid work sorting things out on the fly, it’s a bit alarming that they were having to find their way mid-game, and that’s not a completely new issue. Last year’s three-game losing streak saw a similar dynamic play out.

The pressure right now on the coaching staff should be on making sure more games resemble the Canada match rather than a worrisome scramble to get through the first 20 minutes without conceding. Higher-end teams are no longer going to hold off on taking the big tactical risk pressing is against the USWNT, and as we saw last year, there are teams out there good enough to turn a worrying phase for the USWNT into actual goals.

Pressing solutions

The flip side to the USWNT’s issues when facing a press is that they remain an absolute nightmare of a counter-pressing team. That’s down to both the work of the coaching staff — Andonovski’s teams, going back to FC Kansas City and the former Seattle Reign, have largely been counter-pressing experts — and the individual players.

Swanson’s goal came from counter-pressure that ended with Lynn Williams forcing a turnover and getting the ball to Lavelle in space. The USWNT counter-pressed Brazil into a giveaway on Alex Morgan’s goal that wasn’t (a shame, since Andi Sullivan’s first-time through ball was the best pass either team played on Wednesday), and seized on another chaotic situation when Morgan scored a goal that actually counted a few moments later.

Williams is comfortably the best counter-pressing forward on the planet, and last month we were talking about how strong her claim is for a World Cup roster spot despite losing 2022 to injury. This is ultimately why the talk about her not being the most clinical finisher has always missed the point: the USWNT will score more goals with her in games, because they’ll get more chances, because no team and no individual is better at counter-pressing.

It’s not just Williams, though. Anyone who has watched Trinity Rodman in NWSL has seen her — even in mid-block systems, which the Washington Spirit have largely played during her first two seasons — force turnovers by combining a clear understanding of when to jump on an opposing player with her obvious athletic gifts. Rodman’s ability on that front already seems top-tier, and we’ve only really seen the tip of the iceberg. In Mark Parsons’ system this year — expect more high pressure and more counter-pressing — she’s going to improve rapidly.

Swanson and Smith may not force as many turnovers, but they’re both vital cogs in this machine due to how quickly they choose and make the correct run after the turnover comes. Going back to Swanson always managing to get stereotypical Swanson chances even though every opponent wants to prevent them, this is often where they come from. She (and Smith) see the turnover coming, and make the most dangerous run early. The USWNT player picking up the loose ball doesn’t have to cycle through options or take an extra touch to wait for the opening. The ball pops loose, and the pass in behind to a world-class attacker is already on.

The Japan game was a perfect example. Japan’s expected goals were higher, as even a casual viewer would have guessed. However, since they also out-shot the USWNT by nine, their xG per shot was quite low. The USWNT didn’t create a lot, but the chances they carved out were good ones, and with their forwards, the higher xG chances tend to become actual goals.

All of this is to say that counter-pressing, and the avenue towards higher-leverage openings, is how the USWNT has been winning games that seem more even on a surface level. They put teams into terrible positions just when they believe they’ve dealt with the threat and start to open up their shape, and they have a range of forwards and midfielders (it must be mentioned that Lavelle is more or less an ideal No. 10 to receive the ball in a counter-pressing situation) built to thrive in exactly these moments.

More than any other thing, this is the path towards a USWNT World Cup win this summer.

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Alex Morgan became the USWNT’s top scoring mom with a golazo

Morgan now has 14 goals since giving birth to her daughter Charlie in 2020

Alex Morgan set a new U.S. women’s national team record on Wednesday night, as her tremendous goal against Brazil saw her become the team’s all-time top scoring mom.

Morgan fired home an unstoppable effort from the top of the box in the first half, as the USWNT clinched the SheBelieves Cup with a 2-1 win over Brazil.

It was Morgan’s 14th national team goal since she gave birth to her daughter Charlie in 2020, passing Joy Fawcett atop the USWNT mom scoring charts.

In the post-game press conference, Morgan’s strike partner Mallory Swanson paid tribute to her teammate.

“It’s very inspiring,” Swanson said. “Obviously I knew Alex and looked up to her before she had Charlie. But seeing her as a mother and what motherhood brings, she’s just a completely different person. It’s just super inspiring that not only off the field she’s a great mom, but on the field, she’s still able to do what she has always done and score goals, and basically be Alex Morgan.”

“Coaching Alex now for three years, all I can say is she’s a true winner,” U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski said. “She’s a great leader, and she always comes through when you need her as a player but also as a mom. It’s very inspiring for a lot of females that want to have kids and want to come back and play. Obviously she’s not the first one, but for her to model that and continue doing that is great.”

Morgan is one of three moms currently with the USWNT, along with Crystal Dunn and AD Franch. All three brought their children along with them for the SheBelieves Cup, adding plenty of excitement to the national team environment.

“And last thing, we enjoy having Charlie and all the other [kids] in the [USWNT] environment. It certainly gets busy at times, but it’s fun.”

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USWNT counter-presses their way to SheBelieves Cup win over Brazil

The USWNT may need to improve against a press, but their counter-press is looking sharp

Much has been made of the U.S. women’s national team’s issues against high-pressing foes of late, but they showed they can dish it out better than anyone at the SheBelieves Cup.

The USWNT defeated Brazil 2-1 Wednesday night, with counter-pressure leading to goals from Alex Morgan and Mallory Swanson and helping generate much of the U.S. attack during an even contest. Brazil pulled a very late goal back thanks to Ludmila, but ultimately came up just short as the USWNT lifted the trophy in this tournament for the fourth straight time.

Still, it has to be said that Brazil gave them a real test. As was the case in their win over Japan, the USWNT struggled with a foe implementing a high press in the early minutes. It would be unfair to say they were in as much trouble on Wednesday as they were against the Japanese — Crystal Dunn hit the post in the fourth minute, and many USWNT turnovers were totally self-inflicted — but the team still has a clear issue to work on with the World Cup looming this summer.

Even when the USWNT had started to find better angles and more precision to break that press, the Brazilian counter-attack remained a major threat. Kerolin rolled a shot just wide after an incisive break forward after Brazil broke out just as the U.S. had pushed seven players into the attack.

The USWNT finally gave Brazil a taste of their own medicine in the final seconds of the half, with a counter-press ending with Lindsey Horan jarring the ball loose. Andi Sullivan immediately seized the chance, playing a 35-yard pass to send Alex Morgan in alone.

Morgan finished with clinical ease, but an offside flag interrupted her celebrations.

Morgan may have been disappointed, but she didn’t have to wait long to get on the scoresheet. In the final seconds of the half, Brazil hesitated, expecting a foul call after Rose Lavelle was tripped up. Referee Marie-Soleil Beaudoin let the USWNT carry on with their attack, and Horan immediately played a similar ball to Sullivan’s through for Swanson.

Swanson has been in such good form that it was fair to expect her to finish against four Brazil defenders, but with her shot being blocked, Morgan was on hand to pick up the pieces. The San Diego Wave striker took a touch before bending a sublime 24-yard shot around the traffic in the box and into the far corner.

Brazil didn’t let the goal get them down, with winger Adriana lining up a shot moments into the second half that beat Alyssa Naeher but clanked off the crossbar.

Still, the USWNT had their chances as well: Morgan nearly scored one of the least orthodox goals of her career, while seconds later both Becky Sauerbrunn and Sullivan both had point-blank shots blocked in a scrum following a corner kick.

Brazil was starting to look a little unsure about how to progress the ball against the USWNT, and the counter-press factored in yet again as they padded their lead through — who else? — Swanson.

Lynn Williams, mere seconds after entering the fray, won a tackle at midfield, gifting Lavelle possession between the lines. The OL Reign star surged forward against a retreating defense, but once Rafaelle decided at last to step to the ball, Lavelle immediately fed Swanson for a pinpoint low finish.

We should pause to consider Swanson’s form, which remains unreal: seven goals in 2023, and eight in her last six USWNT appearances.

Brazil weren’t offering much in terms of a comeback, but almost out of nowhere, snagged a goal that won’t go over very well when the USWNT reviews this match. NJ/NY Gotham FC fullback Bruninha lofted a cross to the back post, and despite the presence of Naeher, Emily Fox, and Naomi Girma, Ludmila somehow managed to win the header and tuck the ball away by guiding it back across goal.

The same duo nearly combined again as Brazil suddenly showed some life, with Girma having to get her header exactly right under pressure from Ludmila, but from that moment on, the USWNT settled down and saw themselves through to yet another SheBelieves Cup victory.

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USWNT wins SheBelieves Cup for fourth straight year

The U.S. owns this particular event

The U.S. women’s national team clinched the 2023 SheBelieves Cup with a 2-1 win over Brazil at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas on Wednesday.

Alex Morgan scored just before halftime to give the U.S. the lead before Mallory Swanson — the tournament’s top scorer with four goals in three games — found the net in the second half. Ludmila scored a late consolation for Brazil with a 90th-minute header.

The win gave the USWNT a perfect record in the tournament, having defeated Canada 2-0 in the tournament opener before beating Japan 1-0 in the second match.

Japan finished second, with Brazil third and Canada fourth. All three teams finished the tournament with one win and two defeats.

This year’s SheBelieves Cup was vital for the U.S. as it looks to secure an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup title this summer in Australia and New Zealand. The tournament represented the team’s last chance for world-class opposition ahead of the World Cup, as reported friendlies against Ireland in April will be followed by a send-off game in July.

It was the fourth straight SheBelieves Cup the U.S. has won and the sixth out of eight since the inaugural four-team event in 2016.

Only France in 2017 and England in 2019 have managed to wrest away the trophy from the USWNT, which has lost just two games out of 24 in the tournament all time.

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SheBelieves Cup 2023 schedule: TV and streaming in English and Spanish

All tournament games will stream in English and Spanish, with most broadcast on TV as well

The SheBelieves Cup is back for 2023, with the U.S. women’s national team facing some intriguing tests.

All six games in the tournament will be streamed in English on HBO Max, with two USWNT matches broadcast on TNT as well. Universo will broadcast each game in Spanish, with Peacock the streaming option.

This year’s version of the SheBelieves Cup features a USWNT side gearing up for its attempt to be the first team to ever win three straight World Cups. They’ll begin their tournament against their arch-rivals Canada, a tough, resilient side who are garnering additional attention due to their ongoing clash with Canada Soccer.

Next up is Japan, a team that has long given the USWNT fits, and that is building a new, more expansive tactical identity for this summer’s World Cup. Finally, the USWNT will take on Brazil, a nightmare in transition who have two elite match-winners in Debinha and Marta.

Here is the full television schedule for the 2023 SheBelieves Cup.

Schedule

Thursday, February 16

Japan 0-1 Brazil
USA 2-0 Canada

Sunday, February 19

USA 1-0 Japan
Brazil 0-2 Canada

Wednesday, February 22

Canada 0-3 Japan
USA 2-1 Brazil

Standings

  1. USA – 9 points (+4 goal difference)
  2. Japan – 3 points (+1 goal difference)
  3. Brazil – 3 points (-2 goal difference)
  4. Canada – 3 points (-3 goal difference)

Past winners

  • 2016: USA
  • 2017: France
  • 2018: USA
  • 2019: England
  • 2020: USA
  • 2021: USA
  • 2022: USA

USWNT roster

Goalkeepers (3): Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current; 10), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 12), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 87)

Defenders (7): Alana Cook (OL Reign; 21/0), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage; 24/0), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC; 128/24), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 12/0), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign; 27/0), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC; 212/0), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign; 70/1)

Midfielders (6): Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 123/26), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC; 9/2), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign; 86/24), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 47/7), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit; 19/3), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 39/3)

Forwards (7): Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 15/5), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC; 201/120), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 22/4), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign; 197/63), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 12/2), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars; 84/28), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 49/15)

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Mallory Swanson is just feeling it

The USWNT forward is in the form of her life right now

Mallory Swanson was limited to a bench role at the 2019 World Cup. She then didn’t even make the Olympic squad two years later.

This summer, though, Swanson appears poised to not only play a central role for the U.S. as they aim to win a third straight World Cup, but she may be positioning herself as the team’s most important attacking piece.

That’s the kind of form the forward has been in for the better part of a year, which she demonstrated again on Thursday against Canada.

The USWNT defeated Canada 2-0 in their SheBelieves Cup opener, with Swanson scoring both goals. The second was an opportunistic finish after a mistake from Canada but the first was the pick of the night, demonstrating quick thinking and textbook technique to keep the ball down on the volley.

It was the fourth consecutive USWNT appearance with a goal for the 24-year-old, who has six goals over that span. As head coach Vlatko Andonovski said after the game, Swanson is excelling not just on her own, but also in combining with Lindsey Horan and Crystal Dunn on the left to create overloads.

“She plays so well individually but we can see more and more Mal combining with the players around her,” he said. “One of the reasons why I felt like our left [side] subgroup was good was because of her synchronized movement with Lindsey and Crystal.”

Andonovski noted that Swanson is still only 24 and has yet to reach her ceiling but, having made her USWNT debut as a 17-year-old, she is now vastly experienced at the international level.

Swanson has 88 caps already and is older than several of players expected to join her in attack at the World Cup, like Trinity Rodman, Catarina Macario, Sophia Smith and Ashley Sanchez.

The coach is noticing Swanson becoming more of a leader, and demonstrating the USWNT’s ideal patterns of play for some of her less experienced teammates

“A growth that we see in Mal is her leadership qualities,” Andonovski said. “She’s becoming a really good leader on the field. Her understanding of the game is very good and her ability to help the players around [her] is tremendous.

“She doesn’t realize how much she’s helping with her communication, especially some of the younger players that sometimes play around her like Ashley Sanchez or Ashley Hatch or Trinity, so very happy with her and I truly believe we still haven’t seen the best of Mal.”

That is a truly scary prospect for opponents, who will be forced to reckon with Swanson and several other world-class attackers in Australia and New Zealand this summer. Those opponents will hope a couple of them cool off between now and then, but Swanson doesn’t look like she’ll be one of them.

“She’s in the moment,” Andonovski said. “Not just confident and not just playing well but it’s one of those things when you’re just feeling it, and she’s just feeling it. That’s the simplest way I can put it: She’s just feeling it.”

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USWNT midfield ‘tremendous’ in SheBelieves Cup win over Canada

The USWNT boss was delighted with Horan, Sanchez, and Sullivan’s play against Canada

The SheBelieves Cup may be delivering more clarity to the U.S. women’s national team’s midfield picture.

USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski has taken more questions about that part of his team in recent months than any other. However, a recent change has shifted it from a cause for concern to one that is making progress towards being an area of true strength at the World Cup.

Even without Rose Lavelle (who was held out as a precaution due to a minor injury), the USWNT central trio of Lindsey Horan, Ashley Sanchez, and Andi Sullivan controlled play on both sides of the ball, giving their side the platform for a straightforward 2-0 victory over Canada on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Andonovski first praised his entire team from a mentality and effort perspective, and then had plenty to say about the particular qualities of his midfield’s performance.

“Obviously we have a plan,” said Andonovski, alluding to an ongoing process that has seen the USWNT have to move away from having veteran stars like Julie Ertz and Sam Mewis available. “The plan is in several stages, and in the stage that we’re at right now, I’m actually very happy with our midfield.”

Andonovski has most recently made a small, but nonetheless significant change to how his midfield structure looks, and the distribution of roles that comes with it. A team that spent much of 2021 and 2022 playing out of a 4-3-3 formation — with two midfielders (usually Lavelle and Horan) obliged to join the attack — has since this past November moved into a 4-2-3-1. That has sacrificed attacking numbers, but the trade brings solidity against counter-attacks and fluency in possession.

That change helped tilt the win against Germany that ended a rare three-game losing streak for the USWNT, and against Canada it seemed to really be bearing fruit against top-tier opposition.

In a match where Canada were held to 0.24 expected goals despite trailing from the game’s opening stages, Sullivan was a midfield force, tackling with authority and prompting the team’s tempo. Horan seemed to barely put a foot wrong alongside her, easily moving the ball out of pressure and playing passes into the final third. Sanchez, playing as the No. 10, nearly scored an early golazo and was able to repeatedly draw Canadian defenders before dishing the ball off to open players.

Praise for the entire midfield triangle

Andonovski was particularly effusive about the partnership between Horan and Sullivan, and how that benefits both players individually.

“I’m gonna start with Andi. I thought she was tremendous,” said Andonovski. “I thought that she was very good defensively and covered every little gap that developed, and part of the reason why Canada couldn’t break through the middle was because of Andi and her ability to close down.”

On Horan, Andonovski said with a smile that “on both sides of the ball, Lindsey was Lindsey… pressure doesn’t faze her, and she has ability to do things on the ball that not many players can do. She’s just a world-class midfielder. But one thing that I was happy about Lindsey, is that she doesn’t neglect the work off the ball. She puts [in] a proper shift, and effort off the ball. So that’s what makes her world-class.”

Andonovski said that Sanchez, who got her 20th cap but has largely been restricted to appearances off the bench, did well but would benefit from more time to gel with striker Alex Morgan and the rest of the attack. In particular, her relationship with Morgan in the defensive phases was tested, and the USWNT boss says that was a major positive to take from the game.

“Sanchez has got special qualities,” explained Andonovski. “It’s not easy to synchronize her movements right away, because she hasn’t played much with Alex [Morgan], but when they do [synchronize], I think it worked very well. I’m very happy where she’s at positionally, and happy where she’s at in the stage of her development.

“The [area] that I feel like she needs to grow and get better is the defensive part, because she puts so much work and effort [in], but her timing and angle is just a little bit off. And it’s not quite synchronized with Alex’s movement when we want to shift from mid-block into high press, for example.”

Andonovski said that Sanchez “studies the game a lot” and said that Canada’s test of how well the USWNT’s front four could restrict their build-out phase is a great learning opportunity for Sanchez when her side doesn’t have the ball.

“I have no doubt that she’s gonna get better. In fact, games like this as well, it’s going to help her get better, because if we try certain things with her against teams that [are] not going to expose us, we’re probably not going to see everything that we want to see,” said Andonovski. “Now, every little thing: if you’re not in the proper spot, if you’re one step to the left or one step to the right, you’re gonna get exposed, and that’s where you learn the most.”

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Swanson strikes twice, USWNT in control during SheBelieves Cup win over Canada

Swanson is looking unstoppable these days for the USWNT

The U.S. women’s national team showed signs that they’re shifting into World Cup mode on Thursday.

A dominant USWNT created a slew of early chances and stifled Canada en route to a 2-0 win in what was the SheBelieves Cup opener for both teams. Mallory Swanson carried on her inspired recent form, scoring both goals in a match that was never particularly close.

Of course, the game arguably wasn’t the primary concern on the night. Earlier this week, Canada said they’re playing the SheBelieves Cup under protest, and took the field for warm-ups and national anthems in purple shirts reading “Enough is enough.”

Canada’s players refused to train early in the window before being forced back to work by the specifics of Canadian labor law. On Tuesday, players detailed funding cuts and a collective sense of hitting a breaking point with their federation. Both teams gathered in a circle at midfield before kickoff in a striking show of solidarity between two teams who have played so many physical, intense matches over the years.

Meanwhile, the USWNT had a statement of their own already on the docket, with players wearing wrist tape bearing a “defend trans joy” message. That echoed statements from Alex Morgan on the the side’s frustration at seeing anti-trans legislation being proposed or enacted in all three states that will host the SheBelieves Cup.

After the shows of unity and support, the USWNT paid Canada what is arguably their ultimate show of respect, playing at full intensity and challenging their longtime foe at every turn. There is no “let’s take it easy on them” in this rivalry, after all.

Swanson’s shot from the endline nearly beat Kailen Sheridan inside the game’s first minute, and Sheridan had to produce an even better save to deny Ashley Sanchez’s third-minute blast from 19 yards.

The level of pressure was always likely to become a goal, and Swanson answered the call in the seventh minute. Trinity Rodman froze Allysha Chapman before crossing low from the right, and though Morgan couldn’t corral the service, her touch teed Swanson up for a superb half-volley past Sheridan.

Lindsey Horan glanced a 17th minute header off the foot of the post after a deep cross from Emily Fox caught Canada unprepared.

The Canadians finally got a break as the USWNT scaled down its high-press to conserve energy, holding an organized shape and allowing Canada’s defenders to pass amongst one another for a spell.

Unfortunately for Canada, that possession ended up being costly. Under token pressure from Morgan, Vanessa Gilles turned into further trouble, eventually sending a pass to Sheridan that really just set Swanson up for an empty-netter.

Canada’s first serious look at goal came in first-half stoppage time, but it required a stellar save from Alyssa Naeher, who tipped away Janine Beckie’s 21-yard rocket in the final moments of the half.

Play took on a less consistent tempo in the second half, with Canada able to blunt some of the USWNT’s attacking threat by winning some physical challenges and committing some tactical fouls. Still, that was only half of the recipe for a comeback, and Naeher had little to do other than be tended to by trainers briefly for what appeared to simply be some muscle tightness.

Still, the USWNT probably should have run out with a more comfortable final margin. Substitute Kristie Mewis did brilliantly to control a long ball and, while being dragged down, place a delicate pass into the path of Ashley Hatch. In alone, Hatch took an extra touch that allowed Sheridan to close the angle and stop her from eight yards out.

The win puts the USWNT atop the SheBelieves Cup standings, ahead of Brazil — who beat Japan 1-0 earlier on Thursday — on goal difference. The U.S. will take on the Nadeshiko in Nashville on Sunday, while Canada and Brazil will play the second half of the doubleheader.

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Canada and USWNT join in protest ahead of SheBelieves Cup opener

The two teams joined together in solidarity prior to kickoff in Orlando

Canada and the U.S. women’s national team joined together around the center circle prior to Thursday’s SheBelieves Cup opener, as the USWNT showed solidarity with its rival’s ongoing fight against the Canadian federation.

Canada’s players entered the field at Exploria Stadium wearing purple shirts emblazoned with the message “Enough is Enough.” Prior to the game, they warmed up with their shirts turned inside out in an effort to obscure the Canada Soccer logo.

Canada’s players said in a statement prior to the match that the color purple was chosen because “purple has historically been associated with efforts to achieve gender equality.”

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

At issue for Canada’s players is Canada Soccer’s spending cuts in a World Cup year, as well as what they claim to be poor governance and inequity in how the federation treats them compared to the Canadian men’s team.

The team initially said that they would go on strike during the SheBelieves Cup if their demands weren’t met, but were quickly forced to back down from that threat after Canada Soccer threatened them with a lawsuit if they followed through.

“The SheBelieves [Cup] is being played in protest,” said Canada’s captain Christine Sinclair.

The American players, who only recently emerged from a years-long fight against their own federation, have been vocally backing their rivals to the north.

In a statement released prior to the game, the USWNT said: “Although we are now on the other side of this fight and can focus on our play on the field, our counterparts in Canada and elsewhere are experiencing the same pervasive misogyny and unequal treatment that we faced.”

The USWNT also wore armbands that said “Defend Trans Joy” to protest anti-trans youth legislation being proposed and enacted across the country — including in Florida, the location of Thursday’s game.

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USWNT coach Andonovski says team ‘still haven’t shown our cards’

Andonovski discussed the team’s composition and midfield ahead of their SheBelieves Cup opener

The U.S. women’s national team plays its first top-tier opponent of 2023 Thursday, but they’ll be doing so without numerous big names.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday ahead of their SheBelieves Cup opener against Canada, USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski acknowledged as much, but he feels that the team’s proverbial glass is still half-full.

“This is not something that we wanted to see, where several players that are in fight for this final roster that are not in this SheBelieves [Cup] camp, which we were hoping to see a lot of them back,” said Andonovski. “But that’s part of the game, unfortunately. Injuries happen, and we’re just going to have to deal with it.”

The USWNT is without Catarina Macario until at least April, and 2022 NWSL MVP Sophia Smith remains out with a foot injury. Megan Rapinoe just returned to the squad after missing January’s trip to New Zealand, and Tierna Davidson is back in camp (albeit in a training-only role for the time being as she completes her recovery from a torn ACL suffered last year).

The list goes on and on: Christen Press, Tobin Heath, Kelley O’Hara, and Casey Krueger were all name-checked by Andonovski during his media availability, and the coach ended his remarks with a note that Rose Lavelle would miss the Canada match with an unspecified knock suffered in training.

While Andonovski says the USWNT expects her to be available for the other two SheBelieves Cup matches against Japan and Brazil, it just underlines a long-standing problem: he hasn’t really had many chances to field his very best lineup.

Andonovski said that while he has such a long list of players vying for a World Cup roster spot that he’d rather not try to name them all and accidentally forgot one, there are benefits to the situation.

“To some degree, maybe it is better,” explained Andonovski. “We still haven’t shown our cards. Because you’re looking at, in every game you watch, you look at the starting 11, you feel like ‘oh, I wish so-and-so was here too.’ Maybe by the World Cup, we are going to have everyone that we feel like is gonna give us the best chance to win, to be [in the squad], and then show our cards.”

Midfield details emerge

The USWNT’s midfield remains an ongoing point of discussion. A recent move towards looking at the team out of a 4-2-3-1 formation seems an acknowledgement of how to get the best out the central midfielders available.

That adjustment began in November’s 2-1 win over Germany, and carried on into the USWNT’s two wins over New Zealand last month. The shift is straightforward: the team’s deepest-lying midfielder — largely Andi Sullivan over the past couple of years — isn’t left isolated in transition, and their No. 10 (Lavelle or, most likely against Canada, Ashley Sanchez) has more freedom to push higher and become a second goal threat.

Another change in that zone has gotten USWNT fans talking, with San Diego Wave midfielder Taylor Kornieck telling reporters last week that during this window, she’s being looked at as another option for the No. 6 role.

Kornieck has largely spent her professional career in a box-to-box role or functioning as an unorthodox sort of No. 10, but the USWNT’s depth when it comes to midfield anchors has been limited. Sam Coffey received call-ups in the back half of 2022, and Jaelin Howell has been in the mix during Andonovski’s tenure, but neither are in camp.

The USWNT manager detailed some of the specifics of how he’d like to deploy Kornieck in a role that she hasn’t had much experience in.

“We watched the [San Diego] games when Taylor played as a [No. 6], and we watched her play, the only game she played as a [lone] six, I think it was in [2022] Challenge Cup, against Portland, away,” said Andonovski, who added that he agreed with Wave head coach Casey Stoney that deploying the towering midfielder at the base of a midfield triangle isn’t the best use of her skills.

“I do agree that her best role as a six is if she has [freedom] to be an [No. 8],” explained Andonovski. “In order for us to do that, so if we see Taylor on the on the field as a six, that most likely will be with another, [a] double-six.”

In other words, Andonovski sees Kornieck as a player that still needs to have some freedom to leave her post, either to join the attack or to rove around in a ball-winning role. The team’s old 4-3-3 formation simply didn’t allow for that sort of improvisation at the position, but with the right type of player alongside Kornieck, Andnovski says he can see it working in the 4-2-3-1 that seems to be taking hold.

Interestingly though, Andonovski said he doesn’t think it’s very likely that that other player will be Sullivan.

“I feel confident in the abilities of both players, but I just, as of right now, I don’t know if we can see both of them on the field [at the] same time,” said Andonovski. “We will see different combinations of midfielders on the field, different types in different times of [this] tournament.”

The fourth-year USWNT boss stopped short of ruling the idea out entirely, adding that if “it would help us be successful if we have Kornieck and Andi in the same time on the field, then we may try that as well,” but it sounds like a look that isn’t in the cards for the matches against Canada, Japan, or Brazil.

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