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Rapinoe, Ertz, Lloyd headline USWNT roster for Olympic Qualifying tournament

Megan Rapinoe, Julie Ertz, and Carli Lloyd headline the 20-player U.S. Women’s National Team roster for the upcoming Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski named his roster on Friday, which saw 18 players chosen from the 2019 FIFA World Cup Championship roster. Rapinoe, Ertz, and Lloyd are just three of numerous veterans on the roster, which also includes the likes of Tobin Heath, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Crystal Dunn.

“Full credit to the players for competing hard during our January camp and for making our final roster decisions difficult,” Andonovski said. “We have a balanced roster with versatile players and of course they have a lot of experience in important games. This is a team that understands that you have to be aggressive and unpredictable in how you create scoring chances but also knows how to be smart on defense at the same time. They are mature and savvy players who can adjust on the fly if needed and of course are highly motivated to earn that berth to the Olympics.”

The tournament will run from Jan. 28-Feb. 9 in Texas and California, with the top two finishers clinching its spot in this summer’s Olympic Games in Japan. The USWNT opens it schedule on Jan. 28 against Haiti before also playing Panama on Jan. 31st and Costa Rica on Feb. 3rd.

Group B features Canada, Mexico, Jamaica and first-time final qualifying round contestant St. Kitts and Nevis. Japan, Brazil, England, Netherlands, Sweden, and New Zealand all have qualified so far for the Olympics.

Should the USWNT qualify for the Olympic Games, it will be its seventh consecutive qualification. It’s also seeking a fifth consecutive tournament win.

Here’s the entire USWNT roster:
GOALKEEPERS: Adrianna French, Ashlyn Harris, Alyssa Naeher.

DEFENDERS: Abby Dahlkemper, Crystal Dunn, Ali Krieger, Kelley O’Hara, Becky Sauerbrunn, Emily Sonnett.

MIDFIELDERSJulie Ertz, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Samantha Mewis, Andi Sullivan.

FORWARDS: Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd, Jessica McDonald,Christen Press, Megan Rapinoe, Lynn Williams.

 

Comments

  1. That’s a solid roster. McDonald instead of Pugh was a tough one. But Mcdonald is more
    physical and that is what they made need against the European teams. Last Olympics they only required 2 GKs and for a 20-man roster, & that is all they should have. Otherwise Pugh would have been in there. She was slow rounding into shape in late 2019 Friendlies and may have played herself out of a spot in the Olympics.

    They have Crystal Dunn on the wings if they need another winger so that made Mal expendable. The U. S. should be OK in the qualifying and Mal may be able to play herself
    back into a position for the Olympics itself, as she will continue to work out with the team.

    Reply
  2. I guess its not the time to start a youth movement but is HAS TO START soon. We have to find replacements for our ageing big names at some point.

    And I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THE Rapino show anymore. She has seriously slowed down not to mention her nonsense (all know what I mean)

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  3. I’m happy to see Lloyd here. I’m very much looking forward to seeing her tear it up in Japan!!

    Even though Pugh got the snub, she will still be around in training and still might end up on the squad.

    Reply

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