All of the familiar names are on the list for the United States Women’s National Team for the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France in June. The team announced by head coach Jill Ellis includes 23 players:
● Goalkeepers (3):
Adrianna Franch (1st World Cup)
Ashlyn Harris (2nd)
Alyssa Naeher (2nd: 43)
● Defenders (7):
Abby Dahlkemper (1st)
Tierna Davidson (1st)
Crystal Dunn (1st)
Ali Krieger (3rd)
Kelley O’Hara (3rd)
Becky Sauerbrunn (3rd)
Emily Sonnett (1st)
● Midfielders (6):
Morgan Brian (2nd)
Julie Ertz (2nd)
Lindsey Horan (1st)
Rose Lavelle (1st)
Allie Long (1st)
Samantha Mewis (1st)
● Forwards (7):
Tobin Heath (3rd)
Carli Lloyd (4th)
Jessica McDonald (1st)
Alex Morgan (3rd)
Christen Press (2nd)
Mallory Pugh (1st)
Megan Rapinoe (3rd)
Twelve of the 23 players were members of the winning 2015 squad. Most have been a continuous part of the Women’s National Team, but Krieger, at 31, was only recently recalled to help shore up a porous right side of the American defense.
The U.S. has three more pre-World Cup matches, all in the U.S., vs. South Africa, New Zealand (both World Cup teams) and Mexico on 12-16-26 May. Its first World Cup match will be in 11 June vs. Thailand in Reims (FRA).
In the FIFA World Rankings, the U.S. remains at no. 1, just a few points ahead of Germany, followed by England, France, Canada, Australia and Japan. But France – playing at home – is odds-on to win, at 7-2, with the U.S. following at 4-1, with Germany and England at 6-1. No one else is better than 16-1.
