Champions League On CBS at 3 pm Wed
The Champions League is finally back and Bayern showed they are still alive – as they marched into Paris and dominated a Mbappe less PSG until he finally came on in the last 20 minutes down 1-0. PSG threatened late and should have scored with the Neymar/Messi/Mbappe trio up front – but for Bayern backup keeper Sommer’s (saves). Dortmund and the goal scoring machine American Gio Reyna will host Chelsea (without Pulisic) at 3 pm on CBS Wednesday with Benefica traveling to Belgium’s Brugge at 3 pm on Para+. Also Arsenal faces Man City in a huge mid-week battle on Peacock at 2:30 pm as the top 2 teams in the EPL battle for top spot. (why this game is not on USA or NBC I do not know!) At least CBS is giving us real soccer games on real channels this week.
Europa League on CBSSN & Paramount+ Thur
Thurs Europa League gives us Barcelona hosting Man United at 12:30 along with 5 other games including American Jordan Pfuk and Union Berlin traveling to Ajax. CBS Sportsnetwork on most carriers – will have pregame at 12 noon and whip-around game coverage until 5 pm (of course all the games are on Paramount Plus) see schedule below. It’s a 2 TV day all week for Champions and Europa League play. (See multiple stories below)
US Women – She Believe’s Cup – Thurs, Sun, Wed
The US ladies kickoff the She Believe’s Cup vs Canada this Thursday night at 7 pm on HBO Max, Universo and Peacock as the #1 team in the world will face 3 top 10 teams in Canada, Japan and Brazil over the next 2 weeks. These are huge games for the US ladies – remember we lost 3 in row vs our last real competition late last year when we lost at England, Spain and then at home to Germany. If the US is going to head into this summer’s World Cup as the favorite they need to prove it over the next 10 days. I would say these are the biggest games in US Coach Andonovski’s tenure as coach. Can he find a replacement for Julie Ertz at the #6 (DMid), is the revamped and young front line of Pugh/Swanson, Trinity Rodman or Sophia Smith, and Ashley Hatch good enough to supplant stalwarts Rapinoe, Press, Heath and Morgan? Is Morgan still the best option up top? Are Sofia Huerta and Emily Fox ready for starting roles at outside back? Can Alana Cook step in for aging Captain Becky Sauerbrunn along with Naomi Girma in the centerback slots? Should Franch or Murphy who had better NWSL seasons replace Naeher in goal? Lots of Questions need answers over the next 10 days! Its must watch TV – for true US Soccer Fans !! (tons of stories below)
Shane’s Starters vs Canada Thur Night
Swanson, Morgan, Purdge
Horan, Lavelle, Sanchez
Kornieck
Dunn, Sauerbrunn, Girma, Huerta
Naeher
U.S. women’s national team roster by position (Club; Caps/Goals) — 2023 SheBelieves Cup:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current; 10), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 12), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 87)
DEFENDERS (7): Alana Cook (OL Reign; 21/0), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage; 24/0), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC; 128/24), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 12/0), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign; 27/0), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC; 212/0), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign; 70/1)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 123/26), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC; 9/2), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign; 86/24), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 47/7), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit; 19/3), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 39/3)
FORWARDS (7): Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 15/5), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC; 201/120), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 22/4), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign; 197/63), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 12/2), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars; 84/28), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 49/15)
US Men
Huge news that Jesse Marsch is the leading contender for the Southhampton job just a week after being relieved of his duties at Leeds United. It sounds like he should be announced today in an attempt to do what he did for Leed’s last year in helping them stave off Relegation. Southhampton is last in the table so a save this year would be legendary for the American. Evidently they like his high pressing Red Bull’s system. Awesome news for American coaching! Look for Reyna to come off the bench today as Dortmund hosts Chelsea at 3 pm.
GAMES ON TV
(American’s names in Parenthesis)
Weds, Feb 15 Champions League
2:30 pm Peacock Arsenal vs Man City
3 pm Para+ Club Brugge vs Benifica
3 pm Para+ Dortmund (Reyna) vs Chelsea
5 pm FS2 Mexico U17 vs Panama U17
8 pm FS2 USA U17 vs Canada U17
Thurs, Feb 16 Europa League
12:30 pm Para+ Barcelona vs Man United
12:30 pm Para+ Ajax vs Union Berlin (Pfuk)
12:30 pm Para+ Salzburg vs Roma
3 pm Para+ Juve vs Nantes
3 pm Para+ Sevilla vs PSV
7 pm HBO Max USAWNT vs Canada
Fri, Feb 17
2:45 pm CBSSN Sassolo vs Napoli
8 pm FS2 Juerez vs Leon
Sat, Feb 18
7:30 am USA Aston Villa vs Arsenal
9:30 am ESPN+ MGladbach (Scally) vs Bayern Munich
10 am USA Nottingham Forest vs Man City
10 am Peacock Everton vs Leeds United (Adams, Mckinney, Aaronson)
10 am Peacock Brighton vs Fulham (Ream, Jedi)
12:30 pm NBC New Castle vs Liverpool
3 pm ESPN+ Real Madrid Osona
Sun, Feb 19
7 am beIN Sport PSG vs Lille (Weah)
9 am USA Man United vs Leicster City
9:30 am ESPN+ Dortmund (Reyna) vs Hertha
9:30 am ESPN+ Union Berlin (Pfuk) vs Schalke
12 Para+ Spezia vs Juvenuts
3:30 pm HBO MAx USWNT vs Japan
5:30 pm HBO Max Brazil vs Canada
Tues, Feb 21 Champions League
3 pm Para+ Liverpol vs Real Madrid
3 pm Para+ Frankfurt vs Napoli
5 pm FS2 U17 Concacaf QF 1
8 pm FS2 U17 Concacaf QF 2
Weds, Feb 22 Champions League
3 pm Para+ RB Leipzig vs Man City
3 pm Para+ Inter Milan vs Porto
4 pm HBO Max Canada vs Japan Women
5 pm FS2 U17 Concacaf QF 3
7 pm HBO Max USWMNT vs Brazil
8 pm FS2 U17 Concacaf QF 4
Thurs, Feb 23 Europa League
12:30 pm Para+ Sevilla vs PSV
12:30 Para+ Nantes vs Juve
3 pm Para+ Man U vs Barcelona
3 pm Para+ Union Berlin (Pfuk) vs Ajax vs
3 pm Para+ alzburg vs Roma
Soccer Saturday’s are every Sat 9-10 am on 93.5 and 107.5 FM with Greg Rakestraw
US Ladies
If USWNT doesn’t win SheBelieves Cup, panic for World Cup will set in ESPNFC
5 World Cup questions the USWNT need answered at the SheBelieves Cup ESPNFC
FOUR USWNT PLAYERS WHO DESERVE MORE TIME AT SHEBELIEVES CUP
THE CASE FOR THE MOST ESSENTIAL USWNT PLAYER: BECKY SAUERBRUNN
USWNT ROSTER BUBBLE IS SHRINKING AHEAD OF 2023 WORLD CUP
ALEX MORGAN, BECKY SAUERBRUNN ISSUE SUPPORT TO CANWNT IN STRIKE
USWNT’S ALEX MORGAN AMONG THREE FINALISTS FOR FIFA BEST PLAYER
2023 SheBelieves Cup: Breaking down the USWNT roster, Megan Rapinoe’s potential milestone, who’s playing … and who isn’t
Champions League
Borussia Dortmund vs Chelsea: How to watch live, team news,
Dortmund face Chelsea with faith in ‘final puzzle piece’ Haller
Benfica looking within to fill Enzo Fernandez void
Parker seeks Club Brugge lift-off in Champions League
Lethargic and ego-ravaged PSG show how much they need Kylian Mbappe
Coman scores winner as Bayern edge PSG in first leg of Champions League tie
Champions League: Bayern puts PSG on brink thanks to an overlooked Parisian
Diaz fires AC Milan to Champions League win over Tottenham
Tottenham offer very little in first-leg defeat in Milan
EPL
Jesse Marsch close to being named next Southampton manager
Reports: Jesse Marsch to be named new Southampton manager
Pep Guardiola fires warning to Arsenal: ‘Fight us to take our title away’
Mikel Arteta: I will only be satisfied when Arsenal get our two points back
Can City feed Haaland to unlock Arsenal defense?
Aerial duels key for Arsenal to beat Man City
5 questions the USWNT and coach Vlatko Andonovski must answer at the SheBelieves Cup
9:00 AM ET ESPN
The 2023 Women’s World Cup is fast approaching, and time is running out for the U.S. women’s national team to get ready for the summer tournament in Australia and New Zealand. This week the USWNT will compete in the SheBelieves Cup, which is the last good chance to identify problems (and solutions) before the World Cup.
The SheBelieves Cup features a trio of top-quality opponents in Brazil, Japan and Canada in what is the USWNT’s second-to-last international window before the World Cup. (The last pre-World Cup window takes place in April, but by then it’s probably too late to change much, and the USWNT’s final opponents before a World Cup are usually lower-ranked teams so the Americans can build confidence.)
So, answers need to come over the next week, or they probably won’t come at all before the World Cup in July. And it’s clear the Americans do need answers: The final stretch of 2022 included losses to England, Germany and Spain, with the USWNT hitting a three-game losing streak for the first time in 30 years.
So, with that in mind, ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf, Jeff Carlisle, Caitlin Murray and Sophie Lawson look at some questions the USWNT must get answered during the SheBelieves Cup, which starts on Thursday against Canada.
Is the USWNT defense (subplot: with which defenders?) ready for the world’s top teams?
It is an understatement to say that October and November did not go as planned for the USWNT after their three-game losing streak. Now, February brings another trio of top-11 world teams, each with individual attacking talent that will challenge the U.S. defensively in ways New Zealand — who combined for one shot on goal in two January friendlies — could not. Are the Americans ready?
EDITOR’S PICKS
- SheBelieves Cup 2023: When is it, how to watch USWNT, more1dESPN
- If USWNT doesn’t win SheBelieves Cup, panic for World Cup will set in1dJeff Kassouf
- USWNT Big Board: Williams, Sanchez become locks, but still hope for Press?6dJeff Kassouf
Answering that question requires some scrutiny of Andonovski’s preferred personnel. Emily Fox has long been tabbed as a starter at full-back, but will she be on the left side with Sofia Huerta on the right, or is Crystal Dunn back to 90-minute fitness for this tournament and ready to retake her starting role? A Dunn-Fox combination offers interchangeability on each side.
Centrally, there are more questions: Becky Sauerbrunn is the team captain, on-field coach, and reliable, cerebral difference-maker. She will be 38 when the World Cup kicks off. It is still unclear which pair Andonovski prefers from Sauerbrunn, Alana Cook and Naomi Girma. Cook, by way of starting 15 of 18 games in 2022, has nearly double the caps as Girma, but the latter option gives the U.S. an ability to play out of pressure that neither of her peers do in the absence of injured Abby Dahlkemper.
At the SheBelieves Cup, the entire back line will be put through the wringer against Brazil, Canada and Japan, who offer an array of attacking talent from the highly technical to the extremely athletic. They will need to show improvement from matches against England, Spain and Germany last year. — Kassouf
– USWNT Big Board 3.0: Who will make World Cup team?
Who will fill the USWNT’s all-important No. 6 defensive midfielder role?
Julie Ertz, the midfield linchpin behind the 2019 World Cup-winning side, hasn’t played a competitive match in 18 months (she gave birth to her first child last August), and the chance she will return to play in time to take part at the World Cup is rapidly reaching its vanishing point. Sam Mewis, an all-rounder who at times has played as a No. 6 in Ertz’s absence, has already been ruled out.
Now Andonovski is left still trying to find an ideal replacement. And no, playing the part of Dr. Frankenstein and fusing the best attributes of three players isn’t an option for the U.S. manager — otherwise he’d take Andi Sullivan‘s distribution, Lindsey Horan‘s mobility and Taylor Kornieck‘s defensive prowess and combine it into one player.
Though, upon reflection, moving to a double pivot might be a way to create Frankenstein’s monster for opponents. That’s what Andonovski did in the second match against New Zealand last month when Rose Lavelle dropped down beside Sullivan. Against the tougher opponents the U.S. will face at the SheBelieves Cup, it will be interesting to see which way Andonovski leans. — Carlisle
– What will the USWNT do without Julie Ertz?
Does the USWNT have enough cover in goal?
Backup goalkeepers are the ultimate insurance policies. You hardly think about them until the time comes when you need them.
Such was the case at the Tokyo Olympics, when longtime starter Alyssa Naeher left the semifinal against Canada with a knee injury. Adrianna Franch stepped in and, while she couldn’t be blamed for the 1-0 defeat, two years on she still lacks the international experience or the consistency of Naeher.
It’s not just that Naeher has 87 caps to Franch’s 10. Naeher has consistently shown she can step up in clutch moments, be it the penalty shootout against the Netherlands in Tokyo or the penalty save against England’s Steph Houghton in the semifinal of the 2019 World Cup.
The same concerns that linger over Franch as a backup apply to Casey Murphy, who has just 12 caps and looks like the USWNT’s current No. 2. While it’s impossible to make up 70-odd international appearances in one tournament, Andonovski would be well-served to spread out the playing time at the SheBelieves Cup. — Carlisle
Should Andonovski rein in plans to shift over to the next generation?
With notable exceptions of Megan Rapinoe and Becky Sauerbrunn — two players who seem to serve in almost adviser-like roles to Andonovski — the USWNT coach has been eager to move on from the old guard.
Striker Alex Morgan, 33, found herself on the outside looking in last year, despite being arguably the most consistent player the U.S. has had. In her place, Andonovski has seemed to prefer 23-year-old Catarina Macario as the USWNT’s starting striker. Macario vacated the role due to a long injury, but she’s expected to be back soon, and when she returns, it feels like that spot is Macario’s for the taking.
He has also cast aside 34-year-old Christen Press, who was on the 2019 World Cup-winning team. She was playing well for Angel City FC last season but still couldn’t get a look from Andonovski and now is returning from injury. Ahead of her on the USWNT depth chart at the wings are Sophia Smith, 22, and Mallory Swanson (née Pugh), 24 — two players who have been in the best form of their careers over the past year or so but have also tended to run hot and cold. Behind them and ahead of Press are Rapinoe, 37, and Lynn Williams, 29, who just returned from injury, too.
It seems Andonovski’s mind is set on the players he will bring to the World Cup and his starters. But remember the shock when previous USWNT coach Jill Ellis announced her final roster before the 2019 World Cup? Center-back Ali Krieger was called up after two years out of the USWNT picture, during which Ellis had seemingly moved on. When explaining her abrupt decision to bring in Krieger, Ellis said ultimately it came down to experience: she knew Krieger, a World Cup winner in 2015, could handle the “pressure-cooker” of a World Cup and the adversity of facing top teams.
Andonovski is a very different manager from Ellis and seems far less likely to spring a surprise — but if that’s going to change, it’ll change at the SheBelieves Cup. — Murray
– Why the USWNT without Alex Morgan was a silly idea
Can Andonovski adjust tactics when the USWNT needs it?
To win a major tournament, most teams will need a stocked armory — one that boasts different types of players and plans to get the better of their varied opposition. Even for teams like the USWNT, who’ve won the World Cup four times, there needs to be an adaptability to get the better of their opposition.
Yet, too often we’ve seen the USWNT endeavour with a rigid 4-3-3, persisting with a shape that doesn’t suit the personnel available. It wasn’t until the second Germany game last year — 53 games into Andonovski’s tenure and three days after losing once already to Germany — that we saw more in the way of flexibility from the coach. Still, it was not a total departure from his favoured 4-3-3.
Coming up against Brazil, Canada and Japan, the U.S. will be given three very different types of tests. That will be key to ascertaining how flexible the coach is willing to be, with all three requiring different methods for success. Indeed, as we saw at the 2020 Olympics, long gone are the days of the USWNT simply steamrolling opponents with superior athleticism. Andonovski has yet to prove his tactical adaptability beyond a doubt. — Lawson
2023 SheBelieves Cup guide: USWNT’s World Cup tune-up, match times, how to watch
By Meg Linehan The Athletic Feb 10, 2023 10
With the February FIFA window upon us, the U.S. women’s national team is in Florida preparing for the eighth edition of the SheBelieves Cup.
U.S. Soccer booked three quality teams for the international friendly tournament. Canada, Brazil and Japan should each offer a meaningful test for the USWNT as part of its World Cup preparations. All three opponents have participated in SheBelieves before, and all three will feature at this summer’s big event.
The pressure will be on the U.S. to pick up definitive wins over all three teams to settle lingering questions around its readiness for the World Cup. But this is also one of the few remaining chances for player evaluation and chemistry building. Balancing the short and long-term goals will be key for head coach Vlatko Andonovski.
This year’s SheBelieves Cup consists of three doubleheader game days at three different venues. First, teams head to Exploria Stadium in Orlando, home of the Pride. They move on to Nashville — where the USWNT makes its stadium debut at GEODIS Park — and then return, once again, to Frisco, Texas for the finale at Toyota Stadium.
Three meaningful games lie ahead, including some instructive looks at three U.S. opponents that all could advance to the knockout stages at the World Cup. In short: buckle in for what should be a very fun SheBelieves Cup. Here’s everything you need to know before the games kick off February 16.
Keeping Track
On The Athletic
Steph Yang and I will be earning frequent flier miles this month, heading to all three stadiums to bring you coverage from the entire SheBelieves Cup. Follow the USWNT here, and if you’d like to go above and beyond, you can also follow Steph’s work at her author page and my work here.
If you need to prepare and missed any of our recent stories, we’ve got a bunch for you to catch up on. The National Women’s Soccer League preseason might just be getting underway, but it’s been busy on the USWNT front since 2023 started.
- USWNT World Cup roster prediction 4.0: How SheBelieves Cup could impact selections by Meg Linehan and Steph Yang
- Lynn Williams’ whirlwind return to the pitch: A goal, an apology and a trade by Meg Linehan
- Sam Coffey finds ways to serve the USWNT in the absence of playing time by Meg Linehan
- USWNT’s New Zealand trip takeaways: Rose Lavelle, Mallory Swanson star in big wins by Meg Linehan
- What makes Naomi Girma key for USWNT and an NWSL standout with San Diego by Joseph Lowery
- USWNT thinking about the past, preparing for the future in New Zealand by Meg Linehan
Speaking of this summer, in The Journey to the Cup, The Athletic follows six players as they work towards a place in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Follow along as we check in with them each month in the build-up to the tournament, tracking their progress as they prepare both mentally and physically for a chance to shine on the game’s biggest stage.
You can subscribe to Full Time with Meg Linehan via The Athletic site and in the app (which carries the ad-free version of the show), or via Apple, Spotify or wherever else you listen to podcasts.
On TV and streams
It’s the second round of the USWNT on Warner Bros. Discovery Sports in 2023 — and this time, we’re getting two games on TV. Compared to previous years, the three matches that don’t feature the USWNT will stream on HBO Max instead of U.S. Soccer’s YouTube channel.
2023 SheBelieves Cup Schedule
| DATE | TIME (ET) | MATCH | STADIUM | CITY | HOW TO WATCH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 16 | 4 p.m. | Japan vs. Brazil | Exploria Stadium | Orlando | HBO Max |
| Feb. 16 | 7 p.m. | USA vs. Canada | Exploria Stadium | Orlando | HBO Max |
| Feb. 19 | 3:30 p.m. | USA vs. Japan | GEODIS Park | Nashville | TNT & HBO Max |
| Feb. 19 | 6:30 p.m. | Brazil vs. Canada | GEODIS Park | Nashville | HBO Max |
| Feb. 22 | 4 p.m. | Canada vs. Japan | Toyota Stadium | Frisco | HBO Max |
| Feb. 22 | 7 p.m. | USA vs. Brazil | Toyota Stadium | Frisco | TNT & HBO Max |
There will be pregame coverage starting 30 minutes before USWNT matches. The broadcast team for U.S. games includes Luke Wileman on play-by-play, Julie Foudy as analyst and Melissa Ortiz pitch side.
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USWNT matches will also be available in Spanish via Universo and Peacock.
Canadians can watch Canada’s matches via OneSoccer, but it seems you’ll be out of luck if you want to watch the entire tournament.
On social media
For our coverage, make sure you’re following @TheAthleticSCCR on Twitter, plus the main account at @TheAthletic. You can also follow @thrace and @itsmeglinehan, and I’ll be snapping photos the whole tournament — so you might see those on The Athletic handles or at my Instagram, or perhaps both!
Follow the four team/federation accounts: @USWNT, @CANWNT (the better handle to follow now, but @CanadaSoccerEn still has the general feed for Canada Soccer), @SelecaoFeminina for Brazil and @jfa_en is the spot for Japan.
There will be the usual gameday hashtags, but also expect content under the #SheBelievesCup, as well.
“An incredibly important tournament”
On USWNT
There’s no ignoring that the USWNT will be under pressure to produce three comprehensive performances during SheBelieves Cup, but Canada, Brazil and Japan will each provide their own interesting tests. As much as the national team got value out of traveling to Auckland and Wellington last month and experiencing a dry run of its World Cup group stage in New Zealand, the Ferns posed a very different opponent than what the USWNT will face in February.
After announcing the roster, Andonovski told reporters on his usual zoom that the team he has for SheBelieves Cup is not going to be the exact team that boards a plane in July.
“It will show us where the team is now, but I don’t think it will be a real parameter of where the team is going to be five-and-a-half months from now,” he said earlier this month. “I know we’re going to try different things and test different combinations of players. I’m sure that the same thing will happen with the teams that we’re going to face, so I don’t think it will show the exact level of where the teams are at.”
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On Wednesday, Alex Morgan said it was “really important” for the USWNT to win the tournament — which would make it the third consecutive SheBelieves Cup trophy.
“Especially going into the World Cup, this is an incredibly important tournament because it’s the last time that we’re going to get a chance to do three games in a short period of time that sort of replicate in a way, either a group stage or a knockout stage, something where you have consecutive games,” Morgan said.
It’s another chance — as Morgan pointed out, the last one of 2023 before the big show — for less experienced players to learn how to manage travel and the fatigue of a tournament setting.
On Canada
That importance extends to the three other teams participating, too. Canada will be under more scrutiny following their Olympic success in Tokyo, and they would get a massive mental boost from grabbing a result against the U.S. — especially after dropping the final at last summer’s W Championship.
Head coach Bev Priestman is navigating the FIFA window, announcing a camp roster ahead of the actual matches and knowing that some European players will head back for the games. As she told reporters this month, the training camp and the tournament will essentially be two parts.
“It’s a balancing act of assessment, getting players ready (at camp) who can afford that time away from either not having fixtures or not having been in season,” Priestman said. “Absolutely, (the roster) will be topped up with some of the usual players that this group has been accustomed to.”
One of Priestman’s major considerations heading into this summer is navigating the demand on players brought on by constant major tournaments since the Olympics.
“We’ve seen more injuries, more burnout than we’ve ever seen before,” she said on the Player’s Own Voice podcast.
For Canada, the goal is having the “freshest” team, not just when they arrive this summer, but by the time the final rolls around too.
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“In many ways that’s been the downside of Canada,” Priestman said. “We’ve been intense. We’re used to these sort of short, sharp, ‘let’s get it done,’ but when it comes to the tournament where you’ve got to be just as fresh on day 52 as you were on day one, I think that’s going to be the art.”
On Brazil
Major injuries have been a factor for many teams, including the USWNT, but Brazil might have one of the biggest projects reincorporating Marta ahead of the World Cup. She’s been dancing her way through Orlando Pride preseason, but it will be interesting to watch how Brazil manager Pia Sundhage works her back into the mix.
Overall, Sundhage’s larger project of adding defensive structure, and a little bit of a Swedish feel to Brazil, is still the main thing to keep tabs on, but the USA vs. Brazil match-up could turn into a heavyweight counter-for-counter match-up. Debinha, Kerolin, Geyse will be very, very interesting tests for a USWNT backline ahead of the World Cup.
On Japan
As for Japan, there might be no better team that understands the USWNT’s fall. They also faced off against England and Spain and ended up with two losses (though theirs came in November, not October).
Japan’s going to have to worry about Spain again in a few months, thanks to their group stage assignment, but in the meantime this is still a version of the Nadeshiko that is light on combined caps. Two veterans are still at the heart of this team: Saki Kumagai (Bayern Munich) and Mana Iwabuchi (Spurs). Both of those names should definitely be familiar to USWNT fans.
Almost half of the Japanese midfield has NWSL experience. Fuka Nagano just departed the North Carolina Courage for Liverpool and has made an immediate impact for the WSL side. Hina Sugita and Jun Endo had impressive seasons for the Portland Thorns and Angel City, respectively. Japan gets plenty of credit for being clean on the ball and clinical, but this midfield is also capable of some creativity that could cause every other team at SheBelieves Cup some problems. The Nadeshiko have the lowest FIFA ranking of the four teams, but that doesn’t mean much of anything only a few months before the World Cup.
If the USWNT doesn’t play well at the SheBelieves Cup, it’s time to worry about the World Cup
Feb 13, 2023 Jeff Kassouf
Five months remain until the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and if it was not clear before, it should be now: It’s crunch time.February is a busy month internationally given that it’s the penultimate FIFA window prior to the World Cup. For the U.S. women’s national team, that means all that remains before head coach Vlatko Andonovski names his World Cup roster are games against Canada, Brazil and Japan this week in the SheBelieves Cup and a pair of friendlies in April.Thus, the 2023 SheBelieves Cup packs an extra level of importance. It is the USWNT’s final opportunity to simulate three games in a week, similar to the demand of the World Cup, and it also marks the best remaining tests for the Americans to prove they are legitimate contenders after three straight losses recently against England, Spain and Germany.”Even though it’s a friendly tournament, it’s really important for us to want to win this tournament and continue to prove to ourselves why we belong at the top and why we do have the mentality that we have,” U.S. forward Alex Morgan said last week.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga & more (U.S.)
– Read on ESPN+: Mailbag: Next after Man City charges?
In the past, Morgan’s statement would feel more like a rebuttal against narratives that the rest of the world was catching up, but much has changed even since she and the U.S. won a second straight World Cup in 2019. In several ways, the world already caught up. Combine the shifting global landscape with a generational turnover within the U.S. program — one that will see the team aim for a third straight World Cup title without most of the group that won the previous two titles — and there are legitimate doubts heading into the summer.
Recent results exacerbate those concerns. The USWNT got played off the park by England in a 2-1 loss at Wembley on Oct. 7. In particular, the European champions exposed weaknesses in the USA’s preferred starting midfield of Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan and Andi Sullivan, playing around them and stifling most of the Americans’ creative opportunities going forward.
Four days later came the louder alarm for the Americans, as a second-choice Spain squad pounced on defensive errors both on set pieces and from the run of play to defeat the U.S. 2-0 in Pamplona. Then came a 2-1 loss to Germany in November in Florida, marking the USWNT’s first three-game losing streak in three decades. A 2-1 comeback victory over Germany three days later prevented the first four-game skid in program history.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- SheBelieves Cup 2023: When is it, how to watch USWNT, more1dESPN
- USWNT Big Board: Williams, Sanchez become locks, but still hope for Press?6dJeff Kassouf
- The USWNT needs Julie Ertz but she won’t be at the World Cup. What now?20dJeff Kassouf
Now comes another trio of top-11 world opponents, each with a distinct style that will uniquely challenge the Americans.
Canada is the USWNT’s most common opponent and one whose physicality, indelible athleticism and preferred 4-3-3 formation mostly mirror the style of the Americans. A 1-0 victory over Canada at July’s World Cup and Olympics qualifying tournament, the CONCACAF W Championship, remains one of the more convincing U.S. performances from this relatively new and inexperienced squad. That was the first meeting between the teams since Canada defeated the U.S. in the Olympic semifinal en route to a gold medal in 2021, when the U.S. settled for bronze.Canada’s participation in the SheBelieves Cup became a doubt when the players announced they were going on strike over budget cuts and pay inequities. But the protest was canceled the next day after Canada’s federation threatened legal action if the players didn’t compete. While USWNT members expressed support for the Canadian players, facing a top-ranked gritty, disruptive team will be a test the Americans couldn’t afford to miss out on in preparation for the World Cup.Japan will bring a customary, organized and disciplined tactical approach with a good amount of technical ability to complement it. Andonovski said earlier this month that he expects to face “a slightly more aggressive five in the back” from Japan.Why is the Canadian women’s soccer team striking ahead of the SheBelieves Cup?
Hannah Storm explains why the Canada women’s team are striking due to budget cuts and equal pay issues.Brazil offers a blend of both styles and the most intriguing challenge for the USWNT. Led now by an in-her-prime Debinha, Brazil still possesses all the classic jogo bonito individual flair, now with a level of defensive responsibility and tactical refinement (perhaps still in the form of a classic 4-4-2 variation) under head coach Pia Sundhage. That’s former USWNT head coach Pia Sundhage, to be clear. She is a tactician and motivator who is also acutely aware of U.S. styles and tactics even to this day, as a FIFA coaching mentor to U.S. U-20 head coach Tracey Kevins.”I love that we’re playing three very different teams,” Morgan said. “These are teams that we haven’t seen all that often, especially Japan and Brazil. It is important to get teams who play different styles.”Canada is super structured and organized. Brazil, you know they’re going to be great in transition. Japan, they’re just so clean on the ball and they’re gonna break you down if you have one lapse in judgment defensively. They all kind of bring different things, so it’s important to do the fine-tuning now, to do the small things right in the games.”The USWNT opened 2023 with a pair of comfortable road victories over New Zealand at Eden Park and Sky Stadium, two venues that will host USWNT group games at this summer’s World Cup. The value of those games — and that trip — was more about simulating the World Cup experience in the cities the U.S. team will play its group-stage matches off the field. On the field, given the lower level of quality of New Zealand as an opponent, it was about executing patterns of play.The Football Ferns did not offer any real defensive test, especially without several top players because the games fell outside of FIFA windows. New Zealand put one shot on goal in the 4-0 loss and did not register a shot in the 5-0 loss three days later. Call it a soft launch to a difficult year ahead for the United States.Now, the SheBelieves Cup offers what are likely the final challenges of significant difficulty to evaluate what will or won’t work at the World Cup. Results will be important, sure, but not as important as how well the U.S. adapts to each opponent and responds to potential adversity. These games are about mirroring potential World Cup opponents and refining play to be ready for the real thing this summer.At minimum during this SheBelieves Cup, the Americans need to look the part of a team that can contend at the World Cup.
“All three [opponents] are different in terms of style of play, or even philosophy,” Andonovski said. “That’s why they are in this tournament, because we needed something different — there were different things that we needed to face before we got to the World Cup. We wanted to create all kinds of challenges that we can, so we have enough time to solve it before the World Cup.”torm explains why the Canada women’s team are striking due to budget cuts and equal pay issues.Brazil offers a blend of both styles and the most intriguing challenge for the USWNT. Led now by an in-her-prime Debinha, Brazil still possesses all the classic jogo bonito individual flair, now with a level of defensive responsibility and tactical refinement (perhaps still in the form of a classic 4-4-2 variation) under head coach Pia Sundhage. That’s former USWNT head coach Pia Sundhage, to be clear. She is a tactician and motivator who is also acutely aware of U.S. styles and tactics even to this day, as a FIFA coaching mentor to U.S. U-20 head coach Tracey Kevins.”I love that we’re playing three very different teams,” Morgan said. “These are teams that we haven’t seen all that often, especially Japan and Brazil. It is important to get teams who play different styles.”Canada is super structured and organized. Brazil, you know they’re going to be great in transition. Japan, they’re just so clean on the ball and they’re gonna break you down if you have one lapse in judgment defensively. They all kind of bring different things, so it’s important to do the fine-tuning now, to do the small things right in the games.”The USWNT opened 2023 with a pair of comfortable road victories over New Zealand at Eden Park and Sky Stadium, two venues that will host USWNT group games at this summer’s World Cup. The value of those games — and that trip — was more about simulating the World Cup experience in the cities the U.S. team will play its group-stage matches off the field. On the field, given the lower level of quality of New Zealand as an opponent, it was about executing patterns of play.The Football Ferns did not offer any real defensive test, especially without several top players because the games fell outside of FIFA windows. New Zealand put one shot on goal in the 4-0 loss and did not register a shot in the 5-0 loss three days later. Call it a soft launch to a difficult year ahead for the United States.Now, the SheBelieves Cup offers what are likely the final challenges of significant difficulty to evaluate what will or won’t work at the World Cup. Results will be important, sure, but not as important as how well the U.S. adapts to each opponent and responds to potential adversity. These games are about mirroring potential World Cup opponents and refining play to be ready for the real thing this summer.At minimum during this SheBelieves Cup, the Americans need to look the part of a team that can contend at the World Cup.”All three [opponents] are different in terms of style of play, or even philosophy,” Andonovski said. “That’s why they are in this tournament, because we needed something different — there were different things that we needed to face before we got to the World Cup. We wanted to create all kinds of challenges that we can, so we have enough time to solve it before the World Cup.”
FOUR USWNT PLAYERS WHO DESERVE MORE TIME AT SHEBELIEVES CUP
The SheBelieves Cup has two different purposes for the U.S. women’s national team: Prepare the core group for a round-robin format against top competition and continue to hone the team’s depth.
With top women’s soccer nations Brazil, Japan and Canada taking part in this year’s tournament, the balance between building confidence and evaluating talent will be as delicate as ever. With a middling finish to 2022, the U.S. could use a few wins to go into the World Cup with the confidence that they can come out on top against the world’s best.
With a few key roster decisions looming at certain positions, there are at least four players head coach Vlatko Andonovski should consider giving more playing time this tournament.
ADRIANNA FRANCH, GOALKEEPER
To give them both tournament experience and to keep competition fresh, all three U.S. goalkeepers should see time during the SheBelieves Cup. Franch has been called into three consecutive camps off the strength of an excellent NWSL season with Kansas City, but she has yet to see the field for the USWNT for the first time since 2021.
Franch is an excellent shot-stopper at the club level and went to the Tokyo Olympics as the team’s No. 2 goalkeeper, closing out the tournament for the U.S. after Alyssa Naeher suffered a knee injury. North Carolina’s Casey Murphy has moved into a more consistent role with the team after the Olympics, and Andonovski has given very little game time to the goalkeepers pushing for the third spot. I believe Franch has the ability to compete for more than the third goalkeeping spot and should get a chance to prove what she can do against top competition in 2023.
TAYLOR KORNIECK, MIDFIELDER
Kornieck appears to have an inside lane to making the World Cup roster as defensive midfield depth and a set piece aerial specialist. The 24-year-old is getting up to speed quickly in a position she doesn’t regularly play. For her club team, the San Diego Wave, Kornieck usually plays in more of a connecting midfield role. If Andonovski is truly committed to having Kornieck prepared to step into an unfamiliar role in New Zealand, time against top competition will be crucial.
Kornieck seeing time as the No. 6 is also part of Andonovski’s plans to tweak the midfield structure since the U.S. lost three games in a row at the end of 2022 for the first time in almost 30 years. Kornieck as a defensive midfielder requires something closer to a double pivot 4-2-3-1 formation, where either Lindsey Horan or Rose Lavelle sits further back to provide defensive cover and help in distribution. Those roles are likely just as essential as whoever plays the No. 6 (Andi Sullivan is the preferred starter), and forging that midfield chemistry will be key during the SheBelieves Cup.
SOFIA HUERTA, DEFENDER
The USWNT defense hasn’t felt completely settled going into 2023, with outside backs coming in and out of camp due to injury and availability. Huerta played a lion’s share of the team’s right-back minutes in 2022, but her role could become even more nuanced as other players return.
Huerta is a converted winger who is one of the best crossers in the women’s game, with an attacker’s approach to her position on defense. When the U.S. midfield tries to draw their opponents in centrally by holding the ball, Huerta is there to receive passes out wide and send the ball in quickly to set up goal-scoring opportunities.
Huerta’s progression as a 1v1 defender has been a longer process, and with Crystal Dunn back in the mix at left back, Andonovski might choose to craft his starting XI with more tactical awareness in mind. He has opted for a defensive system with Dunn at left back and Emily Fox at right back while the team awaits the return of Kelley O’Hara from injury. Huerta has the ability to hurt any team on the counter-attack and can shine when tactical priorities are clear.
ALANA COOK, DEFENDER
It’s impossible to know exactly where Cook sits on the current U.S. center-back depth chart. She played the most minutes of anyone on the USWNT in 2022, but she has rotated more with Becky Sauerbrunn and Naomi Girma since the U.S. defense struggled against top attacking teams late last year. Cook’s counterparts appear to be locks for the World Cup roster, with Sauerbrunn as the veteran presence and Girma the young natural at the position.
Cook herself frequently looks like a natural, but she isn’t immune to being a step too slow in reacting to dangerous moments, leading to goals conceded. She’s joined on the SheBelieves roster by Emily Sonnett, who has been used as a hybrid center back/outside back in the past. Tierna Davidson is likely one camp away from returning to game minutes.
The U.S. can’t bring Cook, Davidson and Sonnett to the World Cup, and these games are as much about working out defensive communication as they are about looking for individual moments of brilliance. Cook has earned Andonovski’s trust as a steady contributor and deserves a chance to solidify her place with the team this week with an all-around performance.
Claire Watkins is a Staff Writer at Just Women’s Sports. Follow her on Twitter @ScoutRipley.
| CANADA VETERAN ALMOST RETIRES OVER FUNDING DISPUTE |
| CHRIS HYDE/GETTY IMAGESThe Canada women’s national team’s relationship with Canada Soccer is declining so rapidly over unequal treatment that we may see a stream of early retirements.Olympic gold medalist Sophie Schmidt told reporters on Tuesday that she almost retired on the spot after the federation broke the team’s SheBelieves boycott.“After a long chat with [Christine Sinclair] trying to debrief what has just transpired, she talked me off the ledge so to say, for lack of a better word,” Schmidt said.Schmidt will stay on through the 2023 World Cup, at which point she plans to retire from international soccer.While Canada’s players will participate in the SheBelieves Cup under protest, Sinclair said that a strike during the next international window is still on the table.”This could be our most important fight that we’ve ever had as national team players,” the longtime captain said. “And we are determined to win.”Janine Beckie summed it up: “It’s time, it’s 2023. We won the damn Olympic Games, and we’re about to go to the World Cup with a team who could win.” |
The Champions League is back! 7 things you probably already forgot happened this season
7:30 AM ET
Chris WrightToe Poke writer
The men’s Champions League returns this week after what feels like an extraordinarily long winter break, exacerbated by an entire World Cup taking place since the last time a ball was kicked in Europe’s top club competition.
With six rounds of matches completed in just nine weeks, all 96 group stage games were done and dusted by Nov. 2 last year as 32 teams were whittled down to 16 for the knockout phase.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)
The Champions League then took a back seat while the world watched Lionel Messi lead Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, before club football once again returned to the fore last month.
As the round of 16 gets underway, here’s a quick refresher of some notable events that unfolded in the Champions League prior to its 3½-month hiatus.
1. Messi broke yet another UCL record (Oct. 5)
🥇 Messi finishes a sweeping move in style to win Goal of the Week 🙌#UCLGOTW | @Heineken pic.twitter.com/IuPXhG9K6Z— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 6, 2022
Speaking of Messi, the Paris Saint-Germain forward warmed up for the World Cup by breaking yet more new ground in the Champions League.
Benfica were on the receiving end as Messi wrote his name into the history books once again by scoring a goal against his 40th different opposing team, becoming the first-ever player to do so in the competition.
The 35-year-old scored a delightful first-time effort in a 1-1 draw against the Portuguese side in early October, less than a month after Israeli outfit Maccabi Haifa had the misfortune of becoming his 39th victims.
2. Rudiger put his head where it hurt (Oct. 11)
Things didn’t go quite so smoothly for poor old Antonio Rudiger, who finished the group stage trip to play Shakhtar Donetsk with his head in bandages despite scoring the vital goal that saw Real Madrid qualify for the knockouts.
In the act of scoring a 95th-minute equaliser against Shakhtar to send Madrid through, the German centre-back was involved in a heavy head-on-head collision with young goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin and subsequently departed the pitch in a daze with large blood stains all over his ice-white shirt.
Thankfully, the weeping cut on his forehead was mostly superficial, and Rudiger posted on Instagram soon after the game to assure fans that he was okay — despite flying home with a substantial swaddling on his forehead and eye.
3. Salah scored quickest Champions League treble (Oct. 12)
Six minutes. 12 seconds.
Salah with the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history. 🇪🇬👑
🔁6⃣8⃣
⚽️7⃣6⃣
⚽️8⃣0⃣
⚽️8⃣1⃣@LFC || @MoSalah || #UCL pic.twitter.com/lQ9WMMntUo— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 14, 2022
While his team are struggling domestically, Mohamed Salah has been in fine fettle for Liverpool in the Champions League so far and sits joint-top of the scoring charts with Kylian Mbappe on seven goals.
Three of the Salah’s came in his side’s 7-1 obliteration of Rangers at Ibrox in which the Egyptian emerged from the bench in the 68th minute and proceeded to score the fastest hat trick in Champions League history to finish the Scots off.
Six minutes and 12 seconds, in case you were wondering. Almost a full two minutes faster than the previous record.
Højbjerg clinches qualification & top spot in Group D! @SpursOfficial || #UCL pic.twitter.com/8icmCyknMP— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 4, 2022
Tottenham have been muddling through a topsy turvy season, and the climax of their Champions League group campaign is the perfect encapsulation of their wildly oscillating fortunes in 2022-23.
Indeed, Group D came to a frenetic climax on its final matchday as all four teams — Spurs, Marseille, Sporting CP and Eintracht Frankfurt — found themselves both through to the knockouts and out of the competition entirely at different stages of the night.
Spurs found themselves in first, second and third place in the “as it stands” table as the group remained in flux all evening, right up until a dramatic 95th-minute winner from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg sent the Premier League side through as group winners at Marseille’s expense.
5. Lewis beats Benzema’s goal record (Nov. 2)
⚽️ 52′ Rico Lewis
⚽️ 73′ Julian Alvarez
⚽️ 83′ Riyad Mahrez
Highlights of our #UCL win over Sevilla! 👇 pic.twitter.com/VHOthHNAH9— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 3, 2022
Rico Lewis became the unlikely successor to Karim Benzema when the Manchester City full-back became the youngest player ever to score on his first Champions League start, thus breaking a record held by the French striker since 2005.
Lewis was just 17 years and 346 days old when he found the net for City in a 3-1 win over Sevilla at the Etihad in early November, beating Benzema’s previous mark by just six days.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- Centurions! Real Madrid won their 100th trophy with FIFA Club World Cup triumph1dChris Wright
- PSG’s season could hinge on victory or defeat vs. Bayern Munich in the Champions League10hJulien Laurens
- From Man City to Club Brugge, why each Champions League team will, won’t win it all10hBill Connelly
6. Rangers record worst-ever finish
Thanks in large part to the 7-1 drubbing they received from Liverpool on their own turf, Rangers suffered the ignominy of finishing their Champions League campaign with the worst-ever group-stage record in the competition.
Rangers limped home with six defeats from six games, 22 goals conceded and a goal difference of -20, with their “best” result being the 2-0 loss they suffered at Anfield.
The Scottish side therefore became the new recipients of the wholly undesirable “worst team in the group stage” tag, seizing the moniker from Dinamo Zagreb, who registered zero points and a -19 goal difference in 2011-12 after coming unstuck in group that contained Real Madrid, Lyon and Ajax.
7. Celtic’s amazing tifo
Once again, the Champions League was blessed with an array of brilliant tifo and choreo displays as fans across Europe went to great lengths to transform their home stadiums into works of living, breathing art.
Of the many pre-match performances, the most visually impactful of them all was arguably the giant “fighting leprechaun” wielding a grenade behind the goal displayed by Celtic supporters in the terraces ahead of their match against Real Madrid.
However, we’ve also witnessed pyro madness at PSG, nostalgic banners at Anfield, loving tributes to the late Diego Maradona at Napoli and a simple yet stunningly effective club crest that took up an entire end of Tottenham’s stadium.
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