Morgan Brian Should Retain Her Starting Spot for USWNT vs. Germany

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: June 29, 2015

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As the United States prepares to play Germany on Tuesday in the FIFA Women's World Cup semifinals, coach Jill Ellis has plenty to ponder. Perhaps her most difficult decision involves which two players to select in central midfield, and if Ellis wants to pick the strongest possible team, Morgan Brian deserves to retain her place.

Last time out, the U.S. turned in its best performance of the tournament, beating China 1-0 in the quarterfinals in Ottawa. The scoreline was not especially impressive, but the Americans played their best football of the tournament, with strong passing, movement and link-up play across the pitch. Despite winning by just one goal, the U.S. thoroughly dominated China and fully deserved to move on.

It was the first time Ellis' team had fully convinced in five games in Canada, and although the defense was once again impenetrable, the coherence of the Americans' overall performance began in midfield. With Lauren Holiday suspended due to yellow-card accumulation, Ellis had to choose a new partner for central midfielder Carli Lloyd. Brian stepped in for her first start of the tournament and instantly made the U.S. better.

Filling a more defensive, holding role, Brian sat deeper down the pitch and helped give cover to the back four. Her presence there gave Lloyd more freedom to move forward, and Lloyd—who had been forced to take on more defensive duties in previous games—responded with her best game of the tournament, including the winning goal.



Brian and Lloyd are teammates with the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League, and the combination quickly produced results against China. In the second minute, Lloyd created a scoring chance with a clever pass to Amy Rodriguez that sliced open China's defense. Rodriguez fluffed the chance with an almost comical touch, but the pattern was set.

When Holiday and Lloyd play together in central midfield, the U.S. doe...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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