Sydney Leroux? Abby Wambach? Christen Press? Nobody knows. Ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup final match between Japan and the United States on Sunday, the question on everyone's mind is: who will United States Women's National Team manager Jill Ellis put in the starting lineup? This is a squad with a new coach, and new faces with dynamic and explosive talent. Ellis has juggled a number of various lineups and formations this tournament, and no one knows which one she will roll out on Sunday night.
Now, this isn't just two teams competing for the title of being the best team in the world. It's much more than that. These two teams met back in 2011 during the tournament when it was held in Germany. Both teams were different then. Names like Shannon Boxx and Amy LePeilbert were some names that made it to the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Final against Japan.
Let's refresh the memory of all American fans, and remember who started the match in 2011 under former head coach, Pia Sundhage.
Solo
Krieger--Buehler--Rampone--LePeilbert
O'Reilly--Lloyd--Boxx--Rapinoe
Cheney--Wambach
Eventually, Tobin Heath entered the match for Megan Rapinoe, and Alex Morgan came on to replace Lauren Cheney. Only five members of the 2011 squad are playing in this year's tournament, and are possible selections for the tournament final.
Fast forward to the present year, and the USWNT has developed immensely. With players such Julie Johnston, Christen Press, and Sydney Leroux, they are now more dynamic in ball movement, and more aggressive. Now it's just a question of: who will get the nod?
Well first, you have your ideal starting eleven that comes to everyones mind, which is lined up as so:
Solo
Krieger--Johnston--Sauerbrunn--Klingenberg
Rapinoe--Lloyd--Brian--Heath
Wambach--Morgan.
But, what if that weren't the case? Mix it up a little to get the fans more excited and more passionate. It gets kind of tiring seeing the same lineup, game after game. Ellis really has some consideration to do here with who to start, and what formation. Throughout the tournament, the USWNT have played the basic, 4-4-2. Maybe switch to a 4-3-3? 4-2-3-1? It all depends on what the team needs to do in order to secure a well-needed win against the team that defeated them four years ago on penalty kicks.
It's hard to tell what could be going through the minds of all coaching staff tomorrow as they prepare, but whatever they will be thinking about, it must work. So, here it goes.
Tomorrow, during the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Final, head coach Jill Ellis will reveal this lineup (REMINDER: This is one writer's prediction.)
Projected Lineup (4-4-2)
Solo
Krieger--Johnston--Sauerbrunn--Klingenberg
Rapinoe--Press--Lloyd--Heath
Leroux--Wambach
Yes it may look the same, but this writer thinks that if he were in the shoes of Ellis, the head coach of a tremendous team like this, he would want to take a risk (not too big) and give it a little spice.
This eleven should start because:
1.) The backline has shut down powerhouses China, and world number one ranked Germany, and has not conceded a goal for 513 minutes.
2.) The midfield has dyamic players who bring their own pace and enthusiasm to the game. They can connect well on through balls down the flanks, and outside on the wings, and can serve quality balls into the box regularly.
3.) The toughness of Leroux and the agility of Wambach, they can certainly agitate the backline of Japan, and get them tired easily most likely.
Now, if Ellis were to have more attacking power, let's look at possible subs she could make:
Morgan - In ; Press - Out (switch formation to an attacking 4-3-3, with Lloyd playing a central attacking midfielder role.)
Combine all these strengths that this projected starting eleven has, and you have yourself a 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Final championship team.