Ertz to be remembered as a force like no other
Returning to action Thursday night for the first time since a disappointing exit from the World Cup, the United States women’s national team’s match against South Africa was important for a different reason.
The result didn’t matter as much as the occasion, Julie Ertz earning her last cap for the USWNT after she announced her retirement earlier this summer.
A two-time World Cup
Champion, Ertz rose to prominence as Julie Johnston, standing out in my mind as a player who always held the USWNT together at the base of the midfield or as a center back.
No matter who she had in front of her, Carli Lloyd, Sam Mewis, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle or whoever put on the red, white and blue, they could be sure Ertz would clean up anything that came her way.
When it comes to national teams in the soccer world, squads tend to be looked at in cycles between tournaments. In nations with a large talent pool, there’s always a tough decision to be made when it comes to selection.
The USWNT always evolves between World Cups, but it seems this latest cycle has been one of immense change for the team, and that change will continue through the next major tournaments.
Legends like Ertz and Megan Rapinoe are on their way out, and aside from some very well known older names like Alex Morgan, the USWNT is filled with new, young talent.
Ertz took part in a cloudy World Cup campaign that seems scarred by bad coaching and tactics, while also taking into account the rest of the world has caught up in women’s soccer.
Before this summer’s tournament, Ertz had been out of the game for almost two years after the birth of her son, and it was unclear whether she’d come back for the tournament.
She rushed to sign a contract with NWSL club Angel City FC early on in 2023, played a handful of matches with the club to get match fit and took the field in New Zealand and Australia.
Ertz and fellow center back Naomi Girma controlled the backline, and the center back partnership wasn’t the problem for the USWNT during the World Cup. In fact, it was one of the bright spots.
When watching Ertz throughout her career, it was hard to imagine a harder player to play against with the ferocity that she went into every challenge and the cover she was able to provide. Her intensity was unmatched.
I was lucky enough to see Ertz come on as a substitute while she was on her mad rush to get back to game shape and form when the USWNT played in St. Louis in May. Even in her brief cameo, it was clear to see as soon as she came on how quickly she made things happen and how decisive she was in running down attackers. It will be hard for the USWNT to find another like her.
In the world of the men’s game, outstanding defensive midfielders go for well over $100 million on the transfer market. A good holding midfielder in the women’s game is just as important.
Although Ertz played as a center back in the 2023 World Cup, my fondest memories of her come from when she dominated the 2019 tournament during a masterful, perfect run from the USWNT to the title.
Former head coach Vlatko Andonovski learned it’s not easy to build a competitive midfield on the world stage during the 2023 World Cup.
It wasn’t until the surprise start of Emily Sonnett in the round of 16 game against Sweden that the USWNT looked to find a true defensive midfielder that could keep things ticking along. Previous combinations of Andi Sullivan with another midfielder or just Sullivan at the base didn’t go as well.
While the USWNT looks set on attacking talent for years to come and have more than a few outstanding defenders to choose from, it will be interesting to see how the midfield shapes up.
With Sam Mewis having never-ending knee problems and Horan not always looking like her best self, Lavelle will have to keep driving the attacking part of the midfield forward.
As for the base of that midfield? Ertz’ retirement might just be felt for a while.