After that it’s a game against Sweden (which beat Thailand, 5-1, today) for first place in the group on Thursday in Le Havre, and then the knockouts, where there (probably) will be no more tinkering on this kind of scale.
Today’s starting lineups: Seven changes for the U.S.
United States lineup: Alyssa Naeher; Tierna Davidson, Becky Sauerbrunn, Abby Dahlkemper, Ali Krieger; Lindsey Horan, Julie Ertz, Morgan Brian; Christen Press, Carli Lloyd (c), Mallory Pugh.
Chile lineup: Christiane Endler; Javiera Toro, Camila Saez, Carla Guerrero, Su Helen Galaz; Francisca Lara, Karen Araya, Claudia Soto; Rosario Balmaceda, Maria Jose Urrutia, Daniela Zamora.
A reporter asked Lindsey Horan on Saturday if she considered the United States the best offense in the world.
“I like to think that,” Horan said. “I think what’s so special about this team is the depth in it.”
Well, Jill Ellis is sure showing off that trait today: she has made seven changes from the team that she sent out to demolish Thailand. Her second-string front line — Press, Lloyd and Pugh — replaces Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath. But that’s hardly it.
Morgan Brian, the last player to make the U.S. roster, starts in midfield, and Tierna Davidson (in her first World Cup game) and Ali Krieger (in her 14th) are in for outside backs Crystal Dunn and Kelley O’Hara. Davidson, 20, is the youngest player to start a World Cup match for the United States since Tiffany Roberts in 1995.
Becky Sauerbrunn returns at center back, too; she was held out of the Thailand game with what was described by team officials as a “quad” issue.
Source : NYtimes
