ST. LOUIS — The 2019 Women’s World Cup is less than a month away and the 23-woman roster is preparing to repeat their 2015 performance by bringing home the gold in France.
Overall, the roster decisions came out as expected, but there are some key players who will make it very difficult for the opposing teams.
Starting with the offense, we have Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Mallory Pugh and Tobin Heath.
Both Lloyd and Rapinoe are seasoned veterans who should stand out as the leaders for the rest of the group. Lloyd had a phenomenal performance in the 2015 World Cup, scoring a hat trick against Japan ending the game with a 5-2 victory.
Then you have Rapinoe, who is known for her incredible accuracy with the ball on corner kicks and moving the ball across the field.
Pugh who is one of the youngest players on the team and will be a thrilling addition in this tournament. This will be Pugh’s first World Cup appearance. Her speed and intense work ethnic on the field will be crucial for their offensive lineup.
And then there's the team’s biggest offensive threat, Heath. She's probably the best female technical player in the world and will be a key factor this summer in France. Heath is known for her advanced footwork, speed and competitiveness and will be one of the most exciting players to watch.
As for midfielders, Julie Ertz and Lindsey Horan will be game changers controlling the ball distribution during the game.
Both Ertz and Horan contribute with their strength and size in the middle of the field and have been important factors when winning balls in the air.
Ertz was one of the few U.S. players who played every minute in every game during the 2015 World Cup and made the FIFA Women’s World Cup All-Star Team following the tournament.
The key returning defenders are veterans Ali Krieger, Kelley O’Hara and St. Louisan Becky Sauerbrunn.
This will be Krieger, O’Hara and Sauerbrunn’s third World Cup appearance, and it will be important to have that experience in the back line.
Krieger and O’Hara will add depth to the defensive line with their strength playing outside back.
Sauerbrunn, out of Ladue, will be key to the team’s defense as their starting center back.
Sauerbrunn’s outstanding vision of the game helped Team USA take home the championship in the 2015 World Cup.
The defending champions will make their final stop before they head to France in St. Louis on Thursday, May 16 at Busch Stadium.
The team’s first game on the World Cup schedule will be Tuesday, June 11 against Thailand.
There will be several other key players who will play major roles during the tournament in the starting 11 and coming off the bench.
To view the entire FIFA World Cup Roster and to learn more about the players, visit the U.S. Women’s Soccer website.
For ticket purchasing for Thursday’s match in St. Louis, visit the Cardinal’s website.
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