[ad_1]
A new-looking U.S. women’s team has put an end to a long season with its first appearance in Australia in 21 years. He has been in one of the fewest outside friendly matches for the American team in the last 18 months.
Coach Vlatko Andonovski said on Thursday that it is no coincidence that the Americans are playing in Australia in two matches in the country, which will host the 2023 Women’s World Cup, a tournament that the U.S. has won four times.
Americans have yet to technically qualify for the 2023 fiscal year, but that is a projected conclusion that should be confirmed early next year.
“We wanted to test the players against one of the best teams in the world,” Andonovsky said in a conference call from the Sydney team’s training camp. “But after a long year of misery, a long journey, even jet lag try them. I think we will know very quickly who is in the game and who is not ”.
The English-backed football regulator is backed by the government
An American women’s soccer team last played in Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, winning the silver medal in the final after losing 3-2 to Norway.
The US will play Matildas on Saturday at the Sydney Olympic Stadium, where a crowd of between 35,000 and 40,000 people is expected, and again next Tuesday in Newcastle, a city about two hours from Sydney.
Andonovsky will make it to a very different lineup that beat Australia 4-3 in the bronze medal match at the Tokyo Olympics in August. The Americans have lost just two games this year, but they were important — 3-0 to Sweden in the round of the Olympic tournament and 1-0 to eventually winning the gold medal in the semi-finals of Canada.
For Australian matches, there are only 10 players on the list of 22 national team players at the Tokyo Games. There are 12 members with 10 international caps or less, including five players.
Rounding up Europe: Tottenham beat Mura Slovenia, West Ham advance
Lindsey Horan, a 27-year-old midfielder, has become one of the veterans of the U.S. national team, having played 106 games and scored 24 goals since 2013.
“I would like to be a role model for them,” Horan said in a conference call. “It’s exciting to see new young players come in and start a new cycle, a new era.”
Matilda coach Tony Gustavsson, a former assistant coach at USWNT, said the American will be the first 10 teams to face Australia in 1121 in 2021.
“With each game we continue to improve as a team one day, and at the same time provide invaluable experience for young players,” he said when the games were announced. “The U.S. Women’s National Team is a quality team throughout the park and will mark another big challenge for the player team.”
Canada will host the next World Cup qualifier in Hamilton
Veteran striker Sam Kerr is expected to lead Australia in matches. The 28-year-old Kerr has scored 49 goals in 102 games with Australia. He plays football for Chelsea in England.
She is mentioned as one of the best players ever in the women’s game.
“That’s up to other people to decide,” Kerr told the Australian Associated Press this week. “I do everything I can to be in that conversation and win the most trophies and talk to people in the years to come.”
Andonovsky has no doubt that Kerr is part of that conversation.
“He’s one of the best strikers in the world,” Andonovsky said. “I would say we’re going to stop a player like Sam Kerr. . . but we want to play against the best, especially with a young team, to measure where we are. ”
For those youngsters, U.S. defender Abby Dahlkemper was asked if there was a team bonding session for new players on Thursday. He gave an Australian-centered response.
“Koala, we saw kangaroos and did a cruise to (Sydney) harbor,” Dahlkemper said. “Living culture is important. “
[ad_2]
Source link
