Ask any fan of U.S. Soccer and they can tell you where they were on August 12, 2016, when the walls of Mane Garrincha Stadium came crumbling down around the USWNT, burying dreams of Rio and medals under the rubble. The penalty shootout that killed dreams, careers, and confidence was one of the biggest letdowns of sports this year, but what was even more disappointing was the lineup that head coach Jill Ellis formulated that lacked chemistry and eventually broke down, leading to a tie against Colombia and the dreadful Sweden game.
The Lineup
The backline for the United States in 2015 had exceptional communication and worked together very well together, which was a huge part of the United States’ success. Affectionately nicknamed “The Department of Defense”, it was rare that an opposing offense could break through them, and their ability to distribute and combine with the midfield was huge. That connection was noticeably lacking this year, not only within the backline but within the midfield. Each line operated independently from the others most of the time, which allowed for opponents to exploit them and get shots on goal. One of the best parts of watching past USWNTs was their fluidity and coherence, but with the 2016 squad being played in the positions they were, their play looked more choppy, even in pre-Olympic friendlies against weak teams.
This is not for a lack of talent, but instead the talent being utilized in the wrong way. Ellis made the decision to put Tobin Heath at outside back to accommodate for Megan Rapinoe, who was not yet fit enough to play more than 30 minutes (which posed a problem as the game went into overtime), and it stifled her creative dribbling that draws the attention of fans from all over the world. One of the most important tasks of a head coach is formulating an effective lineup, and the one that started at the Rio Olympics was just not as effective as in years past, and it showed on the field and in results.
Heather O'Reilly absence
Another disappointment came a month before the first game even kicked off. The decision was made to leave veteran Heather O’Reilly off of the Olympic 18 and was instead named an alternate. O’Reilly has continuously exceeded expectations on fitness tests and had been healthy for months, but Megan Rapinoe, a player who has been recovering from an ACL tear and had not played in a match since October, was named in her place.
The decision baffled and frustrated many, but even more so when Rapinoe was unable to produce during the games. In the final match against Sweden, two subs were used on putting Rapinoe in and later taking her out, subs that could have been used to bring extra pace to the backline or change around the offense. The variety of questionable roster decisions in Rio has left fans disappointed in this summer’s performance, and given the coaching staff a lot to think about for the next three years.