The USWNT lifted the SheBelieves Cup on Tuesday, but questions over team selection and chemistry once again plagued the Americans.
The USWNT defeated Canada in a shootout on Tuesday for the second time in 34 days, again after Canada equalized late in a match for atitle in nine editions of the tournament for the USWNT. While a trophy is nice, the most important aspect of the night was what did and did not work tactically as the Americans continue through this transition phase three months ahead of thethree days earlier.
Horan tended to drift toward the right side alongside Smith in the first half, presumably to allow Shaw the freedom to tuck inside. The net result, however, was that the US was left without a central passing option in the space a No. 10 would traditionally occupy. At one point late in the first half, Shaw drifted all the way to the right touchline alongside Smith to find the ball., which shifted Horan deeper into midfield and Shaw inside to formally take over the No. 10 role.
And with Swanson and Rodman most comfortable in the winger roles, and Morgan continues to reassert her claim as the team's central target, what happens to the uber talented Smith, recent NWSL MVP and Golden Boot winner? Smith is dominant in thefor the Portland Thorns but has struggled to grasp hold of an exact role at the international level, in part because of this positional dilemma.
None of these issues are new, but a different coach will now be tasked with solving them. Hayes must figure out how to optimize a talented squad.showing from the USWNT was a product of individualistic play and a team that lacked chemistry, in part because it couldn't figure out its identity. Smith shoehorned into a wide role with Morgan as the striker, and the U.S. rotated its midfield in search of answers for a recovering and then injured Lavelle.
Tuesday's match reiterated that how the USWNT lines up is as important as who is on the field. There is not and never was, even through the struggles of recent years, a shortage of talent in the American player pool; there was a shortage of ideas and viable solutions -- from coaches and players alike.-- because U.S. Soccer feels like she is the best coach to solve those issues.
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