U.S. Women's National Team: Pia Sundhage's Lineup Creates Disjointed Effort

In their first game since their runner-up finish in this summer’s World Cup, the U.S. Women’s National team took the field last night against CONCACAF rival Canada and played to a disappointing 1-1 draw.

Deploying a new look 4-2-3-1, Sundhage clearly is trying to introduce new ideas to the team prior to the Olympic qualifier tournament to be played in Canada this January.

While the 4-2-3-1 opens up some nice attacking possibilities for the U.S., the right personnel must be chosen to make it work.

On Saturday, the U.S. opened up with a solid backline of Ali Krieger, Christie Rampone, Rachel Buehler and Amy LePeilbet, played Carli Lloyd and Lauren Cheney as holding midfielders, Amy Rodriguez and Heather O’Reilly as outside attacking midfielders and deployed U.S. World Cup supersub Megan Rapinoe as an attacking midfielder just underneath forward Abby Wambach.

While the new formation opened up plenty of space on the wings for Rodriguez and O’Reilly, Rapinoe was disconnected for much of her time on the field and looked uncomfortable playing with her back to goal. Rapinoe struggled to connect passes and, by playing in the middle, was handcuffed from using her most dangerous weapon, her service from the outside.

Lauren Cheney also looked far less effective playing as one of Sundhage’s “possession” midfielders instead of the attacking role she excelled at during the World Cup.

Also disturbing was the fact that Alex Morgan again did not start despite her brilliant performances in the World Cup. In the second half on Saturday, when Morgan did come on, she looked dangerous from the start, getting several chances to test the Canadian keeper. Morgan came on for Wambach, which makes one wonder if Sundhage thinks that in her new one striker formation that only Morgan or Wambach can be in the starting 11.

In the second half, with Tobin Heath coming on for Megan Rapinoe as the attacking center midfielder, the U.S. was able to pry open the Canadian defense much more effectively. Although they were unable to score, the U.S. attack looked much more fluid as Heath repeatedly provided solid service to her teammates and held the ball up well when she needed to wait for help.

It would seem much more effective, as the U.S. goes into its second friendly with Canada next Thursday, to try a different combination of players. Wambach could be deployed as the withdrawn forward, holding up the ball and winning challenges in the air, while Morgan could be used as the high striker which would provide a constant threat for her to get in behind with her pace. This would also allow Cheney and Rapinoe to play in the wide spaces where they could use their strengths of running at defenders and providing service.

Cheney or Heath could also be used as the attacking midfielder with Wambach high and Morgan and Rapinoe out wide. Although Morgan is not a natural wide player, neither is Rodriguez, and Morgan has looked much more dangerous in front of goal than Rodriguez and Morgan has the pace to terrorize defenders out wide.

In either of these setups, O’Reilly, who works hard, but fails to provide consistent service, could be used as a supersub at the wide positions while Lori Lindsey, Shannon Boxx and Carli Lloyd share the responsibilities as the holding, or “possession”, midfielders.

Saturday night’s result should be a stark reminder to the players, and Sundhage, that qualification for the Olympic finals is not a given.

To qualify, the United States will need to finish in the top two of the January qualifying tournament, with rivals Canada and Mexico also looking to qualify to take those spots.

Mexico, who beat the U.S. in last year’s World Cup qualifier, which forced the U.S. to beat Italy in a home and away playoff, has proven it has the ability to beat the U.S. on a good day and on Saturday, Canada proved the same.

While these two games against Canada are being touted as a “Celebration Series”, these are also the only two matches the U.S. will have before the all-important Olympic qualifying tournament. While it is important to “celebrate” the team’s success at this summer’s World Cup, it is far more important at this time to be looking forward and making sure the U.S. qualifies for next summer’s Olympics.

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