USWNT Gold Cup Group Stage Matches: What to Expect
The CONCACAF Women’s Championship is undergoing a bit of a rebrand and change in logistics. It’s being called the first-ever Gold Cup, but previous versions of this competition have been ongoing since 1992. What’s different about this tournament is there will be teams entering from the CONMEBOL region. Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Paraguay will make up one-third of the teams in the tournament, turning this competition into who is the best in the Western Hemisphere. Without further ado, here’s a preview of the USWNT in the Gold Cup Group Stage.
Here’s a look at the roster heading into the tournament:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS (8): Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns), Abby Dahlkemper (San Diego Wave FC), Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (NY/NJ Gotham FC)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
FORWARDS (6): Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
Alana Cook and Mia Fishel initially received the call up, but Becky Sauerbrunn and Alex Morgan replaced them. During team training, Cook suffered a minor knee injury, while Fishel sustained an ACL tear. Fans looked at the roster and wanted to make a fuss about Alex Morgan not being in the initial roster. This competition is more about getting the younger stars high-level international experience with something real on the line and preparing for the Olympics next summer. Twila Kilgore and the staff still need to figure out the best possible combination of players.
USWNT vs. Dominican Republic: Tuesday, February 20 at 10:15 PM ET/7:15 PM PT, ESPN+ or Paramount+
The first matchup against the Dominican Republic will be the true definition of a tune-up match for the United States. Most players on the DR’s roster will be from America and currently play Division I soccer.
Expect to see a few USWNT players who don’t normally play get an opportunity to start or come off the bench. Olivia Moultrie, Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey, and Jaedyn Shaw should get ample time in this game. It’s about building team chemistry and making sure this team can gel well together, and this first game won’t be much of a problem for them.
USWNT vs. Argentina: Friday, February 23 at 10:15 PM ET/7:15 PM PT, ESPN+ or Paramount+
The USA’s second match against Argentina should prove to be a lot more difficult. Argentina made the World Cup last summer and completed a heroic comeback against South Africa in the group stage. They’ve proven to be a tough and resilient group that won’t disappear in the face of a challenge. Marianna Laroquette, one of Argentina’s better strikers, also plays for the Orlando Pride and has spent a lot of time in the NWSL. Laroquette’s familiarity with American players could help Argentina.
This game will be a lot closer than the Dominican Republic match. The USWNT should dominate the possession as they normally do against inferior opponents, but it will come down to their finishing. If the attack is on point, they’ll win this game by 4 or 5 goals, but if they struggle to take chances, Argentina will make this game ugly and keep it at 1 or 2-0 with a chance to salvage a draw.
USWNT vs. Mexico: Monday, February 26 at 10:15 PM ET/7:15 PM PT, ESPN+ or Paramount+
The USA versus Mexico rivalry will be renewed as the marquee matchup of the group stages. While Mexico hasn’t won enough to make this a true rivalry, the proximity in location still provides plenty of cultural and emotional significance for fans. Plus, this is the best team that Mexico has ever had. They’ve got four NWSL stars: Reyna Reyes (Portland Thorns), María Sanchez (Houston Dash), Diana Ordoñez (Houston Dash), and Scarlett Camberos (Bay FC). Add in Kiana Palacios up front, and this Mexico squad might be able to cause some real problems for the USWNT. Casey Krueger, Tierna Davidson, and Abby Dalhkemper all have a tremendous opportunity to solidify their spots within the USWNT.
Due to prior results, Twila Kilgore and her staff could also decide who to start and who to sit. If the USWNT wins both games by a big margin, they might already be in the knockout round and choose to rest certain players. That would certainly impact how the USWNT would do against a quality Mexico team.
If the USWNT isn’t careful, this might be the game that Mexico pulls off, which would be a historic upset. The game is being played in LA, where there is a heavy influence from the Mexican population and culture. It will be an emotionally charged game. I’d predict a draw because Mexico will make the USWNT’s life miserable in this last group-stage game.
Featured image via Getty Images
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