By the time the USWNT and Ireland wrap-up their two-match friendly series next Tuesday at CityPark, there'll be less than 100 days before the start of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
So although the U.S. holds a 13-0-0 advantage all-time against the Girls in Green (outscoring them 48 to one in the process), there'll be plenty of internal battles to focus on at Q2 Stadium in Austin on Saturday before the second game in St. Louis three days later.
After that rare three-game losing streak last year, the U.S. rebounded to win February's SheBelieves Cup — although it wasn't always pretty, particularly against Japan. Those results have influenced manager Vlatko Andonovski's latest side with veterans Kelley O'Hara, Casey Krueger and Julie Ertz getting an opportunity to reassert themselves.
In all honesty it adds a bit of spice to a lineup that'd grown pretty predictable of late, and I'd like to see something different with Ireland ready to sit deep and absorb pressure.
USWNT vs. Ireland starting lineup (that I want to see)
Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher
Backup: Casey Murphy
Reasoning: Naeher is clearly the team's No. 1, so she'll probably start one match while Murphy gets some valuable minutes in the other. Both played well at the SheBelieves Cup.
LB: Emily Fox
Backup: Crystal Dunn
Reasoning: It'll probably be Dunn here, but I'd like to see her in midfield (more on that later) with Fox playing on the left-hand side of defense. Emily Sonnett and Sofia Huerta have also gotten minutes here in the past, but Fox, now with the NC Courage, has become a first-team regular over the last year.
CB: Becky Sauerbrunn
Backup: Alana Cook
CB: Naomi Girma
Backup: Tierna Davidson
Reasoning: I don't think you can go wrong partnering 37-year-old captain Becky Sauerbrunn with either Cook or Girma. I've gone with Girma because she was so impressive at the SheBelieves Cup, and the return of Davidson from her ACL injury is also big news.
RB: Sofia Huerta
Backup: Kelley O'Hara
Reasoning: Huerta didn't look great against Japan, and although Andonovski will likely start Fox over here and Dunn on the left, I'd be intrigued by a Huerta vs. O'Hara duel where each starts one match this window. The two recently went toe-to-toe in NWSL play with Huerta's OL Reign beating O'Hara's Gotham FC.
CDM: Lindsey Horan
Backup: Julie Ertz
CM: Crystal Dunn
Backup: Kristie Mewis
CM: Rose Lavelle
Backup: Ashley Sanchez
Reasoning: So the main talking point of camp has obviously been the inclusion of Ertz. The 30-year-old still doesn't have a club team but her presence was requested because things just haven't been the same without her — Andi Sullivan, Sam Coffey, Taylor Kornieck and Mewis have all attempted to play the holding role in her absence but Andonovski (and viewers at home) haven't been left convinced.
I'd love to see Ertz start one game (giving us the old Ertz-Horan-Lavelle axis), but I also 100% agree with Dunn's recent comments about playing in midfield (where she does with the Portland Thorns). At worst, I think the U.S. doesn't miss a beat with Dunn in midfield; at best, the U.S. finds the balance between defense and attack it's been sorely missing.
Also, the U.S. isn't really going to need a traditional CDM at home against Ireland.
LW: Mallory Swanson
Backup: Lynn Williams
ST: Alex Morgan
Backup: Ashley Hatch
RW: Sophia Smith
Backup: Trinity Rodman
Reasoning: Swanson was the toast of the SheBelieves Cup with four goals, continuing a run of form that's seen her score 14 goals and create seven more in her last 20 caps. Williams is a versatile forward with the sort of game-changing pace that makes her a great option off the bench. On the right, Smith is back from injury and just scored a hat-trick for Portland, while Rodman looks incredibly sharp for the Washington Spirit.
Up top, Morgan is a complete No. 9 at this stage of her career — scoring goals for fun and making everyone around her better — and Hatch is also off to a strong start in the NWSL.
