All members of the USA women’s national team will be available for the Women’s World Cup opener against Vietnam, including Julie Ertz, Rose Lavelle and Megan Rapinoe after struggling with injuries leading up to the tournament. However, USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski plans not to rush Lavelle and Rapinoe into World Championship play.
“They are ready to play – everyone is available from a medical point of view,” Andonovski said in his comments ahead of Friday’s game in Auckland, according to ESPN. While sharing that “Julie is 100%,” he admitted he wanted to be patient with Lavelle and Rapinoe.
“Rose has actually been really good – she’s been training with the team for a little over three weeks now and before that she’s trained with us occasionally,” said Andonovski. “She’s ready to play and we’re not going to force too many minutes from the start. We will loosen everything up as the game progresses.”
“Megan is in the same boat as Rose. Your minutes will likely increase as the tournament progresses.”
All three missed the USWNT World Championships warm-up against Wales on July 9 due to fitness issues. Andonovski said at the time that Ertz, who returned to the game in April after nearly two years off the field with a knee injury and subsequent maternity leave, would have started at a World Cup game. Rapinoe, meanwhile, has not played since June 10 after suffering a calf injury during a NWSL match and Lavelle has been out since April after injuring her knee in a friendly against Ireland.
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USWNT starting lineup against Vietnam
Starting grid: Alyssa Naher; Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Julie Ertz, Crystal Dunn; Andi Sullivan, Lindsey Horan, Savannah DeMelo; Sophia Smith, Alex Morgan, Trinity Rodman
Ertz starts against Vietnam despite an extended absence from the field and is likely to reposition herself as a USWNT mainstay during the World Cup. But in a surprise move, she is likely to start at central defense with Andi Sullivan and Lindsey Horan, along with the surprise decision to bring midfielder Savannah DeMelo into the starting XI.
As for Rapinoe, many assumed that even at full fitness she would be an option for the key games of this tournament as a substitute. Strikers Alex Morgan and Sophia Smith could keep their places in the line-up after starting XI against Wales, while Trinity Rodman could be rewarded for her brace against Wales as a substitute with a starting XI against Vietnam.
Ashley Sanchez moved into midfield in Lavelle’s absence against Wales, and did it again. Ertz and USWNT captain Lindsey Horan are expected to join her in midfield.
show information
- Date: Friday 21 July | Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Eden Park – Auckland, New Zealand
- TV: Fox | Live broadcast: Fox Sports App and fuboTV (try for free)
- Opportunities: US -75000; Draw +2800; Vietnam +5000 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
Featured Game | United States vs Vietnam