02-11-2020, 03:02 PM
For her part, Andi Sullivan didn't play against Canada or Mexico in the matches that really mattered. In the group stage, she didn't play against Costa Rica or Haiti, but she did start and play the full 90 minutes against Panama.
I'd assumed the group of midfielders was pretty set, though. Hard to imagine you'd feel comfortable going to Tokyo with just Ertz, Lavelle, Horan, and Mewis. They're great, of course, but an injury means you're screwed. Sullivan makes a lot of sense as primarily a backup to Ertz who can also effectively back up anywhere else in the midfield. I still feel good about her inclusion, but staying on the bench for 4 out of 5 games isn't exactly ideal.
And thinking about Tierna Davidson, here's what we saw from the defenders' usage in this tournament. Against Mexico--again, the game that really mattered--the first-choice back line (Dunn, Sauerbrunn, Dahlkemper, O'Hara) played the full 90 minutes. Against Canada, Sauerbrunn and O'Hara (the starters who you'd be most concerned about from an injury/wear and tear perspective) were on the bench, while O'Hara came on when it was a 2-0 lead to help lock it down. Dunn and Dahlkemper still started and were joined by Krieger as a center back and Sonnett as an outside back.
Against Costa Rica, Sauerbrunn sat again, Sonnett, Dahlkemper, and Krieger played the full 90, while O'Hara came on for Dunn in the 55th. Against Panama, O'Hara sat the full 90, Sonnett, Krieger, and Sauerbrunn played the full 90, and Dahlkemper came on for Dunn in the 62nd. Against Haiti, Krieger sat the full 90, Dunn, Dahlkemper, and Sauerbrunn played the full 90, and Sonnett came on for O'Hara in the 81st.
In other words, the first-choice back line seems clear, but both Sonnett and Krieger got long looks at this qualifying tournament. Maybe a healthy Davidson is ahead of them, but I just don't know. Next year, she's absolutely ahead of Krieger, at least. But right now? Not so clear. I tend to think Krieger is the easiest defender to leave off, but we'll see.
I'd assumed the group of midfielders was pretty set, though. Hard to imagine you'd feel comfortable going to Tokyo with just Ertz, Lavelle, Horan, and Mewis. They're great, of course, but an injury means you're screwed. Sullivan makes a lot of sense as primarily a backup to Ertz who can also effectively back up anywhere else in the midfield. I still feel good about her inclusion, but staying on the bench for 4 out of 5 games isn't exactly ideal.
And thinking about Tierna Davidson, here's what we saw from the defenders' usage in this tournament. Against Mexico--again, the game that really mattered--the first-choice back line (Dunn, Sauerbrunn, Dahlkemper, O'Hara) played the full 90 minutes. Against Canada, Sauerbrunn and O'Hara (the starters who you'd be most concerned about from an injury/wear and tear perspective) were on the bench, while O'Hara came on when it was a 2-0 lead to help lock it down. Dunn and Dahlkemper still started and were joined by Krieger as a center back and Sonnett as an outside back.
Against Costa Rica, Sauerbrunn sat again, Sonnett, Dahlkemper, and Krieger played the full 90, while O'Hara came on for Dunn in the 55th. Against Panama, O'Hara sat the full 90, Sonnett, Krieger, and Sauerbrunn played the full 90, and Dahlkemper came on for Dunn in the 62nd. Against Haiti, Krieger sat the full 90, Dunn, Dahlkemper, and Sauerbrunn played the full 90, and Sonnett came on for O'Hara in the 81st.
In other words, the first-choice back line seems clear, but both Sonnett and Krieger got long looks at this qualifying tournament. Maybe a healthy Davidson is ahead of them, but I just don't know. Next year, she's absolutely ahead of Krieger, at least. But right now? Not so clear. I tend to think Krieger is the easiest defender to leave off, but we'll see.