Expectation: Mention critical moments that stand out to me. Touch on key takeaways at the end of the post. I will only post game notes from the most recent 11/13 game. However, I will draw on observations made from the 11/10 game as well. Enjoy!

Note: My minute markers coincide with the in game clock of the match. Here’s a link to the 11/13 match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOoR6eOUj94&t=3s

1:09′ – 1:13′ Naeher. Good grab.

2:39′ – 2:43′ Huerta’s pass not wide enough to avoid German interception. Good look though.

2:52 – 2:58′ Girma. Great defense and coverage.

3:07′ – 3:12′ Pugh’s weak pass to Smith gets picked. Need a stronger one touch pass here.

4:30′ – 4:35′ Smith’s pass is too far in front of Morgan. Morgan wasn’t expecting that much pace. Miscommunication.

8:26′ – 8:30′ Fox. Unnecessary turnover.

9:45′ – 9:52′ Fox. Good drive. I love to see defenders bringing the ball forward into space.

11:27′ – 11:33′ Girma’s pass to Huerta is behind her. Unnecessary turnover.

11:54′ – 11:58′ Girma. Good read on run and good defense.

12:27′ – 12:36′ Becky S. – Good effort and follow through.

13:35′ – 13:42′ Lavelle’s one touch pass back to Huerta is sloppy and leads to a turnover. Need a cleaner one touch pass.

14:16′ – 14:24′ Need cleaner one touch passes from Pugh at 14:19′ and Huerta at 14:22.’ Unnecessary turnover.

17:37′ – 17:40′ Huerta. Great defense.

17:40′ – 18:30′ German Goal (See Video)

Girma in wrong position to block the 2nd shot on goal. From a defender’s perspective, Girma should have covered the left shot angle of the German goal scorer, teammates Lavelle and Sullivan had the right shot angle covered. Naeher had both the middle and right shot angles covered. Girma needed to cover the left shot angle.

Girma needs to read what the most likely shot the German player’s going to take here. She has to be able to read the situation and know. Just by reviewing the tape we see that the U.S. defense, from the defender’s perspective, is heavy on the right but very light on the left. So, it is likely that the German goal scorer would try and shoot towards the left half of goal to score. This is exactly what happened. You have to be able to read your opponents and the situational defense to anticipate what your opponents are most likely to do. The reason I’m harping on Girma for this is because she was not actively engaged in defending the first shot, which means she had time to steady herself, analyze the situation and respond appropriately to the second. She didn’t do this well enough, I feel.

Girma has to realize that she is part of a defensive unit. It’s not her job alone to defend. Girma has to trust in her teammates and be able to defer to a team defense and team mentality when necessary. The ‘team wavelength,’ so to speak. Just because the ball is in the box, doesn’t mean you lose your cool and abandon this team mentality and team defense. Girma has to remember that she has great support, specifically from one of the best goalies in the world. She needs to calm down, focus and think about where she needs to be and be there. The rest is up to Naeher and her teammates. Girma’s life will be easier when she realizes this and her depth and capacity as a defender will improve drastically.

Lastly, Girma was not the last line of defense in this situation, Naeher was. Girma either didn’t realize this or panicked and forgot. There was no need for her to attack the German goal scorer the way she did. She had backup.

What I think the U.S. team and coaching staff should realize is that its okay for the opponent’s team to have a shot on goal. It’s going to happen. It’s part of the game. One of the primary objectives for U.S. defensive strategy should be forcing and/or allowing shots on goal that are easier to defend against, predict and control than those that aren’t. In this instance, for example, I’d rather allow a shot on goal that Naeher has clear vision of and a good chance of stopping than one Naeher doesn’t have vision of and won’t be able to help defend against.

Additionally, it looks like Naeher’s vision is occluded from both shots on goal during this exchange, which throws her off. For both shot attempts, her reactions to the shots are delayed. After the first attempt, she slips and can’t recover to save the second. As a team and as a defense we have to consider how our goalies best defend. For example, Naeher is an amazing goalie and will block most of what she knows is coming. As a team you have to play to that and trust in that, otherwise, your most powerful defender might lose value in important defensive situations.

20:10′ – 20:20′ (Video)

Terrible clearance attempts by Pugh, the 2nd of which leads to Sullivan being injured. These failed clearances allowed Germany a chance in the American box so Sullivan put her body on the line to defend. Two errors in one for Pugh – the clearances and the chance for Germany.

I’ve noticed that American clearance from the box needs improvement. Many times an American clearance falls at the feet of an anticipating German player which allows for another German chance and/or shot on goal. While I understand the urgency of clearing the ball from the box, a degree of level headedness should be involved when possible or the end result might be the same, a German goal.

24:20′ – 24:25′

Smith gets overtaken and dispossessed. Need more fight here from Smith to hang on to the ball AND block the German surround.

25:30′ – 25:40′ (Video)

Pugh missed shot on goal. I feel like Pugh would have had a better chance at scoring if she doesn’t shoot in this moment. For example, Pugh is driven to the outside of the German goal by a German defender where a second defender and goalie are waiting. The likelihood of scoring in this situation is slim. I think the best course of action would have been to hold onto the ball, turn around quickly and look for a different scoring opportunity. This type of 1v3 situation is ideal for defenders and easy to counter.

The same situation occurred in the 11/10 game as well, except Sophia Smith was attacking with the ball. It was the same 1v3 attacking/defending situation with the same result: A coordinated German defense zoned Smith to one side of the goal and then shut the attack down.

U.S. forwards have to be able to consider whether holding onto the ball is an appropriate option in this moment versus shooting. Taking a shot here is a waste in my opinion. Our forwards need to know that its okay not to shoot.

Perhaps the U.S. can practice a new strategy designed for break away drives like this, in which the forward holds onto the ball at the end of the drive (instead of shooting) and looks to pass to supporting attackers or simply create a different chance.

2nd Half

46:36′ – 46:40′ (Video)

Girma’s hesitancy to drive the ball forward into open space, ruins U.S. momentum. She, along with the rest of the American team, especially defenders, need to be able to bring the ball forward when its the best or only option.

At the end of the day flexibility as a player within any position, especially a defending one, is key. Roles, positions and formations have a purpose but shouldn’t limit players from doing what’s best for the team.

48:55′ – 49:00′

Lavelle could have steadied the ball and taken it to the right for a cleaner shot.

49:00′ – 49:05′ (Video)

Smith. Incomplete effort + poor pass decision.

Smith, after having passed to Morgan at 48:48,’ needed to continue running at speed for Alex Morgan’s pass at 49:00.’ This would have allowed Smith’s cross at 49:02′ to be ‘on time’ for Pugh.

After receiving the ball at 49:00/02,’ Smith immediately crossed it. This cross was too late for Pugh. Smith should have held onto the ball and driven into open space to create a better chance for herself or the team. If your initial plan or expectations don’t work out (crossing), adjust and reset, don’t force something that won’t work.

Smith needs to fight more here. She had a good run from 48:50′ – 48:58,’ but needs to stay with it and see the play through. She should have anticipated the pass back from Alex and should have held off on the late pass to Pugh.

49:45′ – 49:50′ (Video)

Pugh. Missed shot on goal. Should have dribbled and held on a little longer and/or passed to Horan who was open at the top of the box.

I want to see the rookie forwards, i.e., Pugh and Smith, have more ‘staying power.’ They need to be able to hold off on a shot and/or hold onto the ball for a bit more and then release it.

Additionally, they need to become better at setting the ball and/or creating a better chance for the team overall. Their role isn’t just to score, but to help the team score. They need to work on this aspect of their game.

Often, Pugh and Smith suffer severe tunnel vision and miss better scoring chances and opportunities in the attacking third. They need to be able to look for better options when they’re in the thick of it.

52.35′ – 52.40′ (Video)

Horan misses pass to Pugh, who had a decent look on goal. Horan has ‘on and off’ moments where she misses subtle opportunities like this. She needs to work on her game awareness and situational awareness, much like Pugh and Smith. Same issue of tunnel vision for Horan.

53:03′ – 53:10′ (Video)

German mistake leads to American goal.

Follow up questions: How can we create more hesitancy on the German team? How can we force Germany to collapse, like we saw with this goal? How can we break the German team’s defensive cohesiveness? How can we isolate opportunities within the German defensive line?

55:00′ – 55:05′

Smith gets juked. She needed to stick to the open German player behind her, instead of double covering the player with the ball in front of her. Better game and situational awareness needed.

60:15′

Naeher. Good.

61:30′ – 61:43′ (Video)

61:30′ – 61:37′ Pugh. Misses pass back from Horan. She should’ve been expecting it because Horan was surrounded. Pugh needs better situational awareness here and better team play. Overall Pugh’s passing game needs an ‘upgrade.’

61:37′ – 61:43′ Girma. Missed passing chance to Huerta on the right. I would have liked to see more decisiveness and confidence here from Girma. It was a good look and would have been a good decision to pass to Huerta. The ball just needed pace.

Overall, need more confidence from Girma in bringing the ball forward and contributing more closely to the attack. As a rule, defenders have to be able to do this.

66:00′ – 66:10′ (Video)

Pugh. Should have shot. Pugh had the best opportunity to score here (between her and Alex Morgan). Pugh’s poor planning and poor ball control led her to run out of room and stumble over her shot window at 66:05’/66:06′. So, she dumped the ball to Morgan, who had three defenders in front of her (goalie included). Pugh needs to be more deliberate with her ball control and shot planning. Additionally, Pugh needs to learn to better manage her transitions from full speed to dribbling to shooting.

What we need to see in Pugh’s game are moments of more conscientious planning and game awareness. Running quickly and decent dribbling are not enough to score goals at this level of play. You have to be deliberate and intentioned with your movements and attacks. You have to have vision and plan out your attack or else you’ll fumble and/or miss your chance.

76:15/16′

Alex Morgan picks a German player’s pass which allows for Pugh’s chance on goal. Great tenacity from Alex.

This is what the American’s do well. Forcing errors and knowing when to press. We need to keep doing this and do it better. We need to develop strategies around this so it is not some ‘lucky’ or ‘random’ occurrence and can be combined with a goal scoring chance or some other chance. Needs to be tactic we can ‘turn on’ and deliberately do at a moments notice.

76:17′ – 76:28′ (Video)

Pugh’s missed chance on goal. I think she was too ‘gentle’ here. I would have liked to see more aggressive cuts + drives to throw the German goalie off and open up better shot windows.

What I’ve noticed is Pugh’s preference for a softer attacking style versus a more aggressive one. This preference, at times, makes her predictable and easy to defend against.

For example, after cutting right at 76:21,’ Pugh’s tendency to hold and dribble the ball was countered by aggressive play from the German goalie. Pugh was more reactive than aggressive and let the goalie dictate the exchange. Pugh ended up hanging onto the ball and waiting to shoot at the last second, but this decision, or lack of one, allowed the German goalie and defenders to severely narrow Pugh’s potential shot window and ultimately shut her down.

Attack suggestion: At 76:22/76:23 the German goalie came out to meet Pugh. Perhaps Pugh, anticipating this, could have cut hard and set up a shot.

Vision from Pugh. Once again, I would have liked to see Pugh more deliberate and intentioned here. Plan out an attack. Seems like Pugh didn’t have much of a plan and ran out of room to shoot.

Recommendations on Pugh’s attacking + driving style:

• More variation.
• Be able to use aggressive and soft play interchangeably and deliberately. Pugh was too easy to track and contain with her soft dribbling.
• What I think I’ve noticed from watching Pugh these last two games is that she favors driving with her right side over driving with her left. If other teams notice this preferences they could more easily counter her play. We need to see Pugh be able to drive on the left and on the right and be able to do so interchangeably and within a single drive. She has to be able to mix it up.
• Pugh has a bunch of opportunities to juke her defenders and cause them to trip over themselves. Pugh could use her speed and agility, combined with cutting and dribbling, to ‘break some serious ankles’ and put space between her and her defenders. She should try and work on this aspect of her drive, especially in 1v1 situations. Dig into these opportunities a little better and make her opponents fall over themselves. Her speed and dribbling are great skillsets that can be taken to the next level. Overall, these skillsets can be used to create better scoring opportunities for her and the team. If she can upgrade them, she will become much more lethal.

76:25′ – 76:28′ (See previous video)

Pugh’s poor pass to Lavelle hurts Lavelle’s one touch shot on goal. Pugh should have set that ball better for Lavelle, Pugh had the time to. Pugh needs to focus and give 100% effort even to minor stuff like this. These minutia matter. The play isn’t over until its over. Keep fighting for that goal.

Once again, I would like to see more conscientious and deliberate passing from Pugh.

78:41 – 78:52′

Naeher comes out of goal to make a risky, incomplete save. I wonder if the previous German goal, and failure of the American defense, influences Naeher’s decision to come out here. It appears that Naeher doesn’t trust her defensive unit. This lack of trust may cause Naeher to take an action that a goalie who does trust her defensive line wouldn’t take here. Girma had the attacking player covered.

Another possibility is that Naeher lost confidence in herself, or just the team’s defensive capability in general, to make a save, which is why she tried to clear the ball before it came closer to the box. Anticipating the worse she made a risky move.

79:25′- 79:40′ (Video)

Smith and Pugh could have passed left to Horan but I don’t think they noticed her. Horan had fewer defenders and more space to work with on the left of that drive.

I think Pugh’s tendency when dribbling + driving is to look down at the ball. While this is useful, it limits vision of other teammates and chances. Need Pugh to look up for other opportunities while she is dribbling and driving every now and then.

82:50′ – 83:10′

Becky good pass, Korniack great header/pass. Pugh good run. Great play overall.

84:20′ – 84:30′ (Video)

Girma. Poor pass. While I appreciate the decision Girma made here, I feel like it was a waste of a corner kick recovery chance. Girma had teammates on her wings who could have helped reset the scoring chance. The long ball is a nice thought, but without the needed precision or pace isn’t very practical or appropriate in this moment (everyone’s congested and there isn’t much space to run). I do applaud the effort and ingenuity behind the pass though and implore Girma to work on her passing precision.

Overall, I think Girma needs more confidence and assertiveness holding the ball and making decisions with it. I feel like Girma is a bit skittish when she has the ball at her feet and has an affinity for ‘getting rid of it’ instead of consciously looking for the best option for it. In this moment I’d like to see Girma hold the ball and recognize her teammates on her wings. It kind of feels like Girma just got rid of the ball prematurely.

Note, a similar situation occurred during the 46th minute of the second half, in which Girma chose to pass the ball over bringing it forward into open space.

Recommended improvements:

• Girma needs practice and comfort holding onto the ball and bringing it forward, as well as the vision to see when passing versus bringing the ball forward is appropriate in creating the best chance.

• As a whole, I’d like to see Girma being more confident and assertive with her ball handling and passing and more flexible with how she decides to play the ball.

Side note. If Girma was worried about being dispossessed by a German defender, she still has a good chance of recovering. Girma is fast, a fighter, and a great defender.

84.40′ – 84.48′

U.S. forwards/team. Great pressing to secure the turnover.

86.20′ – 86:28′

Pugh, poor pass. Ball was behind Smith so it killed U.S. momentum. Korniack was open on the left.

86.28′ – 86.33′

Lavelle notices Fox’s run on the left side of the field too late.

87.32′ – 87.40′

Pugh, missed a pass to Smith at 87.34′. Smith missed a cross from Pugh at 87.37.’

Would have like to see Smith look for that cross and be there for it and I don’t think Pugh noticed Smith on the inside (.34).

Game awareness from the youngsters needs improvement as does the effort they put in.

88:13′ – 88:18′ (Video)

Pugh. Took too long to shoot her shot (88:16/17′). She needs to be quicker, more decisive and deliberate, as I’ve mentioned. When Pugh is dribbling she has to be more conscientious overall.

Additionally, Korniack had a good chance on Pugh’s right. Overall a wasted chance.

91:30′ – 91:34′

Horan could have driven forward for an open pass from Lavelle.

93:30′

Vltako. Looking to make a substitution (Rodman) in the final seconds of additional time is unsportsmanlike. Wastes time and is pathetic. Don’t do that again.

Note: This assumes Vlatko’s objective was to bleed time and also assumes the Referee wouldn’t account for the time lost from the substitution.

Core Takeaways.

1) The U.S., from these two games, did not score a single goal from an attacking initiation. The goal in the first game (11/10) was the result of good U.S. defensive pressure and sloppy German play. The first goal of the second game (11/13) was the result of sloppy German defense and the second goal of the second game was the result of good U.S. defense and pressure.

This is alarming and troubling. There were dozens and dozens of chances to score in both games, but we could not convert one. If we cannot score off a U.S. initiated attack, we may struggle to win games.

Why this difficulty in scoring? Our attacking third lacks cohesion, coordination and direction. Many young players, i.e., Pugh and Smith, limit U.S. scoring potential in various ways.

2) The Attacking Third

Forwards – Pugh and Smith

Overall, their involvement in scoring chances reduces the overall likelihood of a goal. Missed passes, poor and/or non-existent decision making, missing vision or planning. Their skillsets are useful, but rather useless without integration into a conscientious attacking front; any coordinated defense will shut them down.

Why do they fail?

• Lack situational and team awareness
• Don’t actively look for the best chance for goal
• Lack vision + Don’t plan out attacking drives – they just drive at goal and see what happens
• Robotically shoot at the goal instead of creating or looking for better chances
• Aren’t patient with the ball. Prefer to shoot versus holding onto the ball, passing, drawing defenders, etc…
• Aren’t connected to the team, i.e., the ‘team wavelength.’ Overall objective is for the team to score, not you. Be there for the team when appropriate. A goal counts regardless of who scores it.

Recommended improvements + desired skillsets (not limited to Pugh and Smith):

• Improve situational and team awareness
• Don’t commit to bad passes and bad scoring chances
• Actively look for the best chance for goal
• Know when to shoot vs pass vs hold
• Pass more often and freely in the attacking third
• Look to pass when dribbling (avoid tunnel vision)
• Set the ball better for teammates
• Vision – more intentional, thoughtful and strategic attacks + movements
• Variability of attacking + driving styles
• Give 100% until the play is done

Benched Players

What about many of the other forwards/midfielders that were benched for the majority of these two games, i.e., Rapinoe, Korniack, Rodman, Sanchez, Sullivan, Hatch, etc…

How do these players perform those necessary listed skills/ skillsets? What could be improved upon? What skillsets do these ‘benched’ players have that could be useful to the team? How do these skillsets compare to our current starting line up? Would a substitution or rearrangement be useful?

Overall recommendation: Coaching staff should study how players perform in the attacking third, specifically with regard to those listed skills and skillsets.

Direction + Takeaways

We need a more conscientious attacking front. As it stands, the American attacking third is disjointed.

We need strategies to incorporate all forwards’ and midfielders’ attacking styles into a more conscientious, coordinated attacking strategy. This means using players and specific skillsets more purposefully and to different ends. For example, Pugh and Smith’s speed and dribbling can be used to draw defenders out of position while creating opportunities for Morgan, Horan and Lavelle to either pass or shoot. I’d like to see a transition away from this idea that Pugh and Smith must score on their own. It is too simplistic, and any coordinated defense will shut them down (which we saw in these two games).

Guiding questions:

• How can we more consciously integrate Pugh, Smith, and other forwards’ + midfielders’ skillsets into the rest of the attacking third to better create chances and score more goals?

• How can their skillsets be used in more unique and non-direct ways to create better scoring chances? Traditional tactics and attacking patterns, at least those performed by Pugh and Smith during these games, did not work.

Player Redistribution

I’d like to see Lavelle and Horan more involved in the attacking third. They are experienced strikers and dribblers and currently have better game awareness than Pugh and Smith (my impression).

Exploratory Question: What if Pugh and Smith were reassigned to midfield while Horan and Lavelle joined Morgan as strikers?

My thought process behind this is that Pugh and Smith are fast and have decent dribbling skills but come up short in the box. What if we give Pugh and Smith room to use these strengths over greater distance, the midfield, while shifting the more experienced, conscientious players, both of which are good strikers and dribblers, forward? My current impression is that Lavelle and Horan have much better situational and team awareness than Pugh and Smith, so, theoretically, their goal chance creation and completion would be higher.

Additionally, I feel like Pugh and Smith might be able to learn something by playing in midfield as would the team and coaching staff. I think it’s worth consideration.

Formation + Strategy Change

Perhaps the U.S. could run a new formation that uses Pugh, Smith, Horan and Lavelle more interchangeably and/or cooperatively. Right now, I feel like there’s a disconnect between the U.S. midfield and U.S. attacking third that could be remedied.

Perhaps the U.S. could run a more forward/midfield fusion strategy that allows for more crossover between the attacking third and midfield.

Guiding Questions:

• What would a U.S. fusion strategy look like?

• What unique plays, strategies and formations could the U.S. run through a fusion system?

• Where else can a fusion strategy be used? Perhaps between the midfield and defensive third? Perhaps throughout the whole field? Get creative with it!

• How would those ‘benched’ players serve in a fusion position? What skill sets would they bring?

Regardless of how it plays out, having Lavelle and Horan as strikers in the attacking third, or at least more closely integrated with it, should help improve goal completion versus just having Morgan, Pugh and Smith there.

3) Defensive pressure and scoring.

The goals we made off of defensive pressure and tactics is promising.

Guiding questions: How can we expand this skillset and improve upon it? How can we more deliberately force errors and turnovers from our opponents and capitalize on their mistakes?

• How can a quick press cause this?
• How can a quick change in formation cause this?
• How can a quick change in attacking/defending strategy cause this?
• How can American defense, midfield and offense invite mistakes and/or overextensions by opponents to create counter offensive and scoring opportunities?

4) American Defense.

Defensive Cohesion

The U.S. has to shore up their defense line. Our ‘defensive unit’ has to be able to confide in one another. Trust is key. For example, Girma’s job isn’t to shoulder all of the defense work and neither is Naeher’s. You have to put faith in your teammates, especially when you are defending against a goal scoring opportunity, or else you’ll just be picked apart. This means that each defender does their job well.

Naeher, Girma and the whole of the American defensive unit have to become more comfortable with each other. This lack of coordination and team work cost the U.S. the first German goal and caused Naeher to make an unnecessary out of box extension at the 78th minute.

Corner kick defense, recovery and clearance.

Needs work. We are way too sloppy in the box, i.e., Pugh’s poor clearance at the 20th minute.

Note: The German team had good positional set up to catch mishandled clearances. Seems like they had a specific formation they used for corner kicks.

Defensive flexibility.

I liked how most American defenders were able to confidently bring the ball forward into space. We saw this from Sauerbraun, Fox, Huerta and even Girma at times, although I would have liked to see it more often from Girma in specific moments.

I’d like to see Girma more confident as a play setter/ play initiator. Girma’s hesitancy to bring the ball forward and create chances is problematic. Girma is disconnected from what’s best for team in this respect. She needs more confidence, assertiveness and team trust to fill this role better.

Additionally, I feel that all U.S. defenders should feel confident as play setters/ initiators and the rest of the U.S. team should know how to respond to this defensive led initiation. For example, U.S. forwards and midfielders should not be dumbstruck when a defender brings the ball forward into space. They should anticipate it and have a corresponding strategy / plan for it.

The U.S. needs to be able to play from the back more cohesively and intentionally. When a U.S. defender initiates with the ball I should be getting the feeling that the U.S. is threatening a goal. I didn’t really get that from these games. It kind of just felt like the team was winging it. Additionally, no real support play came from midfielders or forwards. There was no real strategy centered around defenders who drive into space or look to initiate an attack.

5) Poor passing and unnecessary turnovers.

We need cleaner passes and on target one touch passing. We have way too many unnecessary, unforced turnovers due to passing errors.

New Ideas + General Discussion

1) Player Initiated Strategy: Real Time Team Adaptability

Ability for players to adapt formations, attacking/defending strategies and shape during play.

This flexibility can be used to change shape or formation to better counter the opponent’s strategy and/or to initiate a more advantageous position or play for the U.S., e.g., a surprise change in formation and/or attacking/defensive shape to throw off the opponent and create a goal scoring chance. The skies the limit!

Overall, I’d like to see more autonomy from players once they’re on the field and less overall reliance on coaching staff. This means the team isn’t waiting for a substitution or half time to change their strategy, formation or shape. If a change is desired it can be made on the fly and/or in that moment.

This allows players to have a more personal relationship with the game as they are more directly influencing what they themselves do and the direction the team takes.

If you think about it most players should have an understanding and knowledge of different shapes, attacking/defending styles, formations, etc. By asking them to be more directly involved, I feel it would help create a deeper understanding of the game and make them better players and much better teammates, overall.

Regarding in game adjustment, hypothetically, it could be directed by either group consensus, the team captain and/or through agreement among forward, defensive and/or midfield ‘captains’/groups. Yes, I am proposing a new concept of defensive, midfield and forward captains. A kind of mini-captain in charge of their third of the field. These are some possibilities.

2) Rapinoe (notes from the previous game (11/10)):

Rapinoe has great situational and game awareness. Her level-headedness and control allows her a calming and assertive influence over the game. She can set great plays in motion and reset play to reorient the team.

I’d like to see these skillsets more integrated into the overall US team and play design and more on display as whole. I’d like to see attacking/defending formations designed around these skillsets. Overall, I’d like to see Rapinoe as more of a play setter/ initiator.

Referencing the new adaptability strategy just mentioned, Rapinoe’s skillsets could make her a good fit for an ‘on field shot caller.’ She could be the one to make in game adjustments, i.e., change in shape, formation and/or strategy.