Source:https://twitter.com/USWNT
The US women’s national soccer team are all done for 2021 and will be looking to build on the recent introduction of their next generation of stars when the focus shifts onto next year’s play.
After a long year in which Vlatko Andonovski’s side played 24 matches under strict COVID protocols, there is now a break until at least the next installment of the ultra-competitive SheBelieves Cup… if it takes place, that is.
Usually scheduled around February/March in the calendar, there has been no news on whether a 2022 edition will be in place. European-based national teams have demonstrated their reluctance to traveli-was-fairly-sick-with-c in the current pandemic climate - and with a major continental tournament taking place in the summer.
The 2022 European Championship finals in England is at the forefront of the minds of those teams, with the host nation having already organized a warm-up tournament for February in a similar setup and at a similar time to the SheBelieves Cup.
It looks like that break for the USWNT could be even longer than they thought. Currently the only definite fixtures the team has on the calendar for next year are three group stage matches in the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship in July.
There are no opponents as yet because the qualifiers are yet to commence but the US are already considered by many as favourites to go all the way and lift the trophy once the tournament gets underway.
Their dominance of the CONCACAF region is unmatched by any opponent bar Canada, so fans will be looking for the best DraftKings odds boost offers to back their widely-expected success next summer. The top three teams with the best odds to win the Cup are Mexico +130, USA +150, and Costa Rica +1100. Mexico being the defending champions of the tournament.
The US have won the competition previously known as the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup eight out of ten times, with their Canadian neighbours claiming successes in 1998 and 2010. With such a strong historic record and a near-dominance of the sport in recent years it is no surprise that they are favourites and it will take a complete shock to stop them again.
With no sure-fire fixtures to preview for the tournament yet, we can take a look at which players will be making their mark for the side in 2022.
Head coach Andonovski has already started to blood through a talented crop of young players in the final two friendlies of 2021 - the 3-0 win and 1-1 tie with Australia - some of which made their debut appearances for the stars and stripes.
The young roster included 13 players with 10 caps or fewer. Forward Sophia Smith (10 caps) and goalkeeper Bella Bixby (zero caps) were the only two players who didn’t play a single minute after they were placed in concussion protocol. Four players made their debuts in the first of the two fixtures.
The friendlies gave Andonovski a chance to evaluate the less experienced players in a high-pressure environment and the competition for roster and line-up spots has definitely ramped up.
The team’s next camp is in January, and Andonovsi said he’s already told some of the new players they are invited to attend. Next year could be the breakout year for three of the new caps, who we profile here…
https://twitter.com/CaseyMurph
After two stellar debuts, 25-year old goalkeeper Casey Murphy has thrust herself into the conversation for the USWNT’s 2023 World Cup roster.
She kept a clean sheet in the first game, saving at least three tough shots in the final stretch of the first half when her midfielders and backline gave the Matildas too much space in dangerous areas. And despite conceding in the second game she was in similarly fine form, coming so close to a 180-minute shutout.
Murphy’s international debut was one for the record books as she recorded eight saves - the most by any USWNT goalkeeper in a single game since at least 2015 - while also becoming just the seventh goalkeeper in USWNT history to record a shutout in her first cap.
Her impressive 2021 NWSL season, matching a league record with 11 clean sheets for the North Carolina Courage earned her a place in the 2021 NWSL Best X1. Her poise and ability to make game-saving stops should earn her even more opportunities for the national team in 2022.
The 2021 NWSL rookie of the year candidate was heavily involved in attacking plays from the full-back position whilst locking things down defensively in one-on-ones against the Matildas wingers. Most impressive was Fox’s ability to carry the ball out of pressure and at speed, even through three opposing players at a time.
Despite only playing a half in the first game and 78 minutes in the second she put in a good showing and although there is still room for improvement in ball-retention in the attacking third of the field if Fox can get that mastered she will be knocking on the door for the 2023 World Cup.
The 2021 NWSL Golden Boot winner earned a call up to the national team after her superb title-winning season with the Spirit and certainly showed Andonovski why he selected her. Making her first ever starts in both friendlies against the Matildas (she previously had one substitute appearance to her name), Hatch scored in each game including the third-fastest strike in US history, - just 24 seconds into her debut.
With the ability to score from all areas and such a high strike-rate against top level opposition already, she offers something different to first-choice forward Catarina Macario, who is more of an all-round team forward. However, Hatch has shown enough already for it to be a sure-fire thing that she will be starting more games for the national team in 2022.
Following these impressive debut showings, and those from other younger players who featured, the future is bright for the USWNT to continue their global dominance of the sport for the next decade.
