Analyzing Megan Rapinoe’s Impact on the USWNT Attack

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: June 5, 2015

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When the United States women's national team takes to the field for its 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup opener against Australia on Monday, it will look to drive its attack through one vital player.

Megan Rapinoe will be tasked with breaking down the back line of the Matildas in Winnipeg on Monday, as well as searching for openings against Sweden and Nigeria in the following Group D matches. 



The Yanks were without Rapinoe for their final sendoff friendly at Red Bull Arena on Saturday, and her absence allowed a few players to show how the USWNT will operate through the wings if the dangerous left winger is either shut down by a defender or unable to go 90 minutes. 

Both of those situations are the worst-case ones for the Yanks, as they start their quest to win the World Cup for the first time since 1999. 

Rapinoe was held out of the South Korea clash as a precaution, and with the player expected to be fit for the World Cup opener, she should start out on the left wing in manager Jill Ellis' 4-4-2 formation. 

While the formation Rapinoe plays in may seem a bit bland, her play on the pitch is anything but that. Whether she is making darting runs, cutting inside or attracting attention to open up space for her teammates, Rapinoe is always making an impact in some facet of the game. 



The scorer of 29 international goals—who recently made her 100th appearance in red, white and blue—commands a ton of respect from her opponents, which is why the Yanks need her dearly over the next month.

This was apparent in the 75th minute of the USWNT's April 2 match with New Zealand. Instead of committing a defender to the incoming Lori Chalupny on the left side of the box, New Zealand surrounded Rapinoe with a pair of players.



The decision turned out to be the wrong one, as Rapinoe fed Chalupny with an assist on the Yank...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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