USWNT looks stuck in post-World Cup limbo in 0-0 vs. Colombia

That World Cup hangover hasn’t disappeared simply but for the United States ladies’s nationwide staff. The USWNT and Colombia performed to a 0-0 draw Thursday in the primary of two friendlies between the 2 sides, with the second going down on Sunday in San Diego. The match bore a powerful resemblance to what the world noticed from the U.S. at the latest FIFA Women’s World Cup: the nice, the unhealthy and the ugly of that.

The vibe was actually totally different when in comparison with the pair of friendlies the U.S. performed towards South Africa final month. In these matches it was all sweetness and lightweight and smiles because the USWNT collectively celebrated the stellar careers of Julie Ertz and Megan Rapinoe. As such, the U.S. seemed relaxed — although not fully sharp — on the best way to a pair of victories by a mixed rating of 5-0.

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On Thursday, with out the celebratory temper, the U.S. veered nearer to their disappointing displaying in Australia and New Zealand when the defending champion was eradicated in the spherical of 16. Certainly Colombia had one thing to do with that. Their efficiency on the World Cup, the place Las Cafeteras reached the quarterfinals, did not appear like a fluke then and the identical is true now. The indisputable fact that Colombia was lacking the likes of midfielder Mayra Ramírez and striker Catalina Usme put much more of a shine on the consequence for the guests.

That stated, the U.S. protection was strong, nearly suffocating in reality. Colombia famous person Linda Caicedo had some dynamic moments, however was additionally prevented from doing any main harm. She recorded zero pictures and only one likelihood created on the evening. The backline might even have fun the return of center-back Becky Sauerbrunn, who after lacking the World Cup with a foot damage entered the match initially of the second half to make her first look since taking part in towards Republic of Ireland in April.

But besides from some sparks courtesy of Trinity Rodman, the assault for essentially the most half seemed tentative, and the midfield sluggish. It wasn’t till a flurry of second-half substitutions that the U.S. seemed able to imposing its will on the guests for a sustained interval. Ashley Hatch seemed energetic after coming into the match in the 67th minute, with a tight-angled shot six minutes after approaching forcing a pointy save from Colombia goalkeeper Natalia Giraldo. Another substitute, Sophia Smith, practically snuck a shot previous Giraldo in second-half stoppage time just for it to carom off the publish twice with the assistance from the keeper.

Another World Cup reminder was Alex Morgan wanting properly wanting her greatest. She clanged a penalty towards the publish in first-half stoppage time, bringing again reminiscences of her failure to transform a spot kick towards Vietnam on the World Cup. She additionally fired straight at Giraldo in the twenty fifth minute after being arrange by Lindsey Horan. From the run of play, particularly in the primary half, the ahead did not supply a lot of an outlet to assist the U.S. get away of its personal half.

Morgan’s efficiency, together with these from the World Cup, raises the query of whether or not interim supervisor Twila Kilgore will look to another person to steer the road in the quick time she has left on the helm. Morgan’s numbers with the San Diego Wave this season have dropped significantly, scoring simply seven objectives in 2023 after netting 16 instances in 2022 in roughly the identical variety of minutes.

For now Kilgore appears set to stick with Morgan. When requested if another person would start taking penalties, she stated: “I trust Alex Morgan to take penalties.”

Apart from particular person performances, the U.S. staff’s tempo — or the dearth of it — stuck in the reminiscence essentially the most. The lack of urgency was singled out by Kilgore in her postgame information convention.

“This team is a team that’s being challenged to make quicker decisions, and when we don’t hesitate and we do those things and we execute a little bit faster, we find more success,” Kilgore stated. “And I think hopefully we go through the film and we can point some of those things out and we’ll be a little bit quicker in our decision making.”

But there additionally appeared to be extra to the U.S.’s attacking malaise than simply tempo. A scarcity of off-the-ball motion stays a difficulty as properly, some extent that was highlighted by Sauerbrunn in an interview with TBS after the match.

“I really think when this team has been the most successful, everyone is so connected and closer to one another, and you feel like you’ve got options and availability,” she stated. “When we struggle is when everyone feels isolated and alone and they basically have to pass on the isolation to another player, and that player has to do something amazing to break the pressure.

“We ought to be capable to use each other to interrupt strain, and I feel, at instances, we really feel like we’re on an island. When we’re at our greatest, there’s folks round, we’re bopping, we’re shifting, we’re doing, and we are able to try this isolation when we have to, as a result of we’ve got superb outdoors attacking gamers and central gamers. But I actually suppose the connection will deliver us again to the success that we have had.”

The matches towards Colombia come at a clumsy time for a number of causes. The NWSL playoffs are in full swing, and no participant on the sector — a minimum of these on groups which can be nonetheless concerned — needs to jeopardize their standing with their membership staff.

Then there’s the truth that the USWNT is in limbo — and can stay that method — till a brand new supervisor is employed. Kilgore is doing what she will to maneuver the staff ahead, speaking of watching sport tape, and figuring out points in a bid to hurry up the U.S. assault. But she will solely take the staff to date.

The United States Soccer Federation has stated that the purpose stays for the brand new supervisor to be in place by December. Until then, the USWNT must keep on, and attempt to rid themselves of the reminiscences from final summer season.