Member-only story
USWNT Announce Pair of Friendlies Against #2 Ranked Germany: The Good & The Bad
Fall is for PSLs and proving yourself against Europe’s best, or at least that is US Soccer’s thinking. USA Women’s National Team (USWNT) fans have been worried about the recent level of competition for the national team but those concerns were addressed this week with the addition of a friendly in Spain and a pair of friendlies against the #2 ranked Germany. That makes 4 matches against top 10 FIFA ranked competition and will go a long way towards answering a lot of questions that this fan base has with the team’s current set up.
After all, any criticism with personnel, and player usage, is often seen as reactionary when you are winning most games comfortably on home soil.
However, USWNT’s last game against a top 10 opponent was this summer’s 1–0 win over #7 ranked Canada that was an incredibly hard fought game that often saw the home team struggle for their usual scoring explosiveness. That team’s starting XI mirrored what we saw in the most recent set of friendlies, minus a few different options as subs. Showing that the starting XI has had difficulties converting chances against tougher sides recently. Although, the front three of Pugh/Morgan/Smith are all having fantastic seasons which may will in a few of those missed chances.
