Mexico game good first step
Americans work on strengthening defense against known opponent
It’s a tad ironic. The beginning of the end of the U.S. men’s team’s 2018 World Cup hopes started with a 2-1 loss to Mexico in Ohio in late 2016.
It came during a time the American women — World Cup winners in 1991, 1999 and 2015 — were fighting for better pay and treatment.
On Saturday, the U.S. women took the field for practice at BBVA Compass Stadium under overcast skies as they train for the second match in a twogame set against Mexico in preparation for 2019 World Cup qualifying. Look ahead to 2019
The United States, FIFA’s top-ranked team in the world, looks to avoid the men’s fate as the 1 p.m. Sunday exhibition match offers a chance to improve defensively and to get a look at an opponent the women will face again on their path to World Cup qualification ahead of next year’s competition in France.
“I think we’re probably right in the middle of that,” U.S. coach Jill Ellis said when asked to grade the team on a scale of one to five. “I’m anticipating that some of the players who aren’t here will be in the hunt for that qualifying roster.”
Jane Campbell is plenty familiar with BBVA Compass Stadium as a goalkeeper for the Dash. She sees her preparation as no different than a match in the National Women's Soccer League.
“I think the approach is the same,” she said. “You have to prepare like any game and make sure you know your role and everyone else’s job.
“We know Mexico is a rivalry and it’s going to be an intense game. From last game we’re just going to focus on tweaking those sloppy spots and hopefully having a clean game and getting the W.”
The team defeated Mexico 4-1 in Jacksonville, Fla., on Thursday.
Although Ellis expects her team to peak closer to qualification this year, she would like to see the team play more organized and maintain its composure.
“I think now the structure is in place and now I think it’s about getting better at what we do,” Ellis said. “Right now the focus is on qualifying, but, yeah, this will be a team we have to get through in qualifying so it’s important how we approach the game.”
That approach varies for some players. Position change
Crystal Dunn played forward for English club Chelsea before joining the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL this year. But Ellis slotted Dunn as a defender in Thursday’s win.
“I think I’m one of the few that don’t play the same position on national team as I do club,” Dunn said. “I think there’s definitely a difference being in the back line versus being in the front line, but I think it comes down to knowing that if you haven’t gotten a lot of practice there you need to make it as simple as possible.”
Dunn said she’s focused on developing her discipline in the role, something she expects to come with time.
“I try to just read the game and know that at the end of the day I’m still playing the same sport,” she said.