The U.S. women’s national team has already secured its place at the 2023 World Cup, and only a very strange pair of outcomes on Monday night would keep them from winning their CONCACAF W Championship group.
Still, facing a Mexico side that must win in front of their home fans to keep any chance of getting into a World Cup playoff later this year alive, the USWNT is embracing the opportunity for a younger squad to learn how to navigate a charged atmosphere.
“We’re very happy to be qualified. Obviously, that was the first box that we wanted to check, but our job is not done yet,” head coach Vlatko Andonovski told reporters on Sunday, just before his side’s final training session before they play Mexico at the historic Estadio Universitario. “In this next game, we are actually very excited to go into, because to some degree, this is the game that we were looking forward to, because we expect a lot of fans to come, to show up, create a little hostile environment for younger players that haven’t been in a situation like this before.”
The USWNT has defeated Haiti and Jamaica without conceding a goal thus far, but the crowds at both games have not been a factor. Mexico, meanwhile, didn’t recover from losing a somewhat even game against Jamaica, collapsing in a 3-0 loss to Haiti on Thursday that eliminated the home side from Olympic qualifying and cut their chances of moving on to the World Cup playoff in September down to the merest glimmer of hope. On top of that, starting defenders Rebeca Bernal (injury) and Greta Espinoza (red card) are both unavailable to face the USWNT.
Despite Mexico’s troubles, Andonovski has not changed his tune, having circled this game from the moment the tournament draw came out. “We’re gonna have a good opponent ahead of us,” said the USWNT boss on Mexico. “We’re gonna have to be very sophisticated, very precise in the way we play.”
Andonovski wanted more of the same from the USWNT on the ball, but stressed that focus is a must against a Mexico team with NWSL attackers, name-checking Houston Dash winger Maria Sánchez and North Carolina Courage striker Diana Ordoñez as players the USWNT wants to limit. Despite Monica Vergara’s side struggling to create openings and being too reliant on crosses, Andonovski made his respect for their capabilities clear.
“Out of possession, we have to stay focused throughout the whole game, throughout 90 minutes, because they have very good strikers, very good attacking players,” said Andonovski. “I mean, someone like (Maria) Sánchez and (Diana) Ordoñez now, players that can punish you if you give them a little time and space.”
“The fact that Mexico has something to play for is something that makes us excited, because we want them to come out in the strongest and best fashion, and create the toughest possible environment for us,” added Andonovski, who pointed out that next year’s World Cup being so far away from the U.S. will likely mean the USWNT won’t have the vociferous support their home-heavy typical schedule comes with.
On the game itself, defender Naomi Girma—speaking to reporters days after an outstanding performance against Jamaica—said a key for the USWNT was to take their time on the ball and cajole openings in Mexico’s shape rather than thinking every pass had to open the game up.
“We talked about just being patient out of the back, playing what’s on, not trying to force the ball in if Jamaica was sitting low on us,” said Girma on the Jamaica win. “So I think it just took us communicating, and finding the right moment to go and attack and get our goals.”
While Andonovski was willing to mention some specific lineup changes before the Jamaica match, he stopped short of actually naming starters for Monday night’s game.
“We’re fortunate enough to have a really good roster and every player that is on the roster is capable and able to to play well and contribute for our success. We believe in our team,” said Anvonovski. “So for the next game, I’m sure we’ll see a couple of new faces from the previous game.”
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