USWNT vs. Australia: Five Things To Watch in the World Cup Opener Tonight

The United States Women’s National Team begins its road toward winning its first World Cup since 1999 tonight in Winnipeg vs. Australia (7:30, FS1). Here are five quick notes ahead of the match.

Forward depth: Alex Morgan might be the most well-known player on the USWNT to casual fans, but odds are the striker won’t play tonight. Morgan, who’s scored 54 goals in 81 games for the U.S., injured her left knee in April and missed the final three tuneup matches. The U.S. should be able to work around it. Sydney LeRoux, Amy Rodriguez and Christen Press are all viable options in attack, although Press is likely to feature in the midfield.

Oh right, the U.S. also still has its all-time leading scorer Abby Wambach, although the 182-goal scorer might not be able to log 90 minutes every match of the tournament.

Abby Wambach enters today's match 1 goal behind #BRA's Marta and #GER's Birgit Prinz for most ever at the #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/OlYVcmj7YN
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 8, 2015

Hope Solo drama: ESPN’s Outside the Lines report that provided new details into Hope Solo’s domestic violence arrest last year dropped barely 24 hours before the tournament begins for the Americans. It will be the story going into the game, even if all parties within U.S. Soccer played mum during Sunday’s press conference. How Fox covers the story on its broadcast bears watching. Odds are, despite the eye-catching headlines, the story won’t end up affecting the U.S. players all that much, as they’re long accustomed to dealing with Solo’s off-field baggage.

Tactics: There is some quiet rumbling that the U.S. hasn’t evolved tactically under coach Jill Ellis, relying too much on direct play and long balls to Wambach and the other forwards, whereas other squads have embraced a possession-based, passing system. This story from The Guardian details some of that sentiment. That said, captain Megan Rapinoe remains dangerous on the right flank and especially on set piece delivery. The central midfield partnership of Lauren Holiday and Carli Lloyd figures to be scrutinized win or lose. Of note, 1o players on the U.S. roster have at least 100 or more caps.

The road ahead: The U.S. finds itself in the toughest group of the tournament, as all four teams have previously qualified for the World Cup prior to 2015. Much of the talk due to the expanded field is which favorites will end up with the best path to the final, since four of the six third-place finishers in group play advance. Should the U.S. win Group D, as expected, it draws a third-place finisher in the Round of 16 and a runner-up from either Group A or C in quarterfinals. Winning Group D, however, keeps the U.S. on Germany’s side of the brackets, meaning the two pre-tournament favorites would meet in the semifinals. Slipping up and finishing second in Group D means either Brazil or South Korea, which held the U.S. 0-0 in the final pre-tournament tune-up, in the Round of 16.

On Australia: The Matildas, ranked No. 10 in the world, have a roster that is in stark contrast to the U.S. Captain Lisa De Vanna and backup keeper Melissa Barbieri are the only two players in the squad close to 100 career caps. Katrina Gorry is the reigning Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year. 20-year-old Caitlin Foord earned Best Young Player honors four years ago in Germany. Australia’s best asset is team speed. Even so, the United States has never lost to Australia in 24 matches going into Monday night’s opener, posting an 22-0-2 mark.

[Photo via USAT]