The United States players and coaching staff have fallen under criticism for their less than impressive play so far in the women’s World Cup, but they got the job done in the group stage. They finished top of the hardest group in the tournament, and their reward was a favorable draw. They’ll be big favorites to defeat Colombia in the Round of 16 on Monday.
USA vs. Colombia, 2015 Women’s World Cup: Time, TV schedule and team news
The United States women are facing easier opposition, but more important games early in the knockout stage.
But Colombia have proven that they can play with the best. They pulled off the biggest upset in Women’s World Cup history in their second group stage game, defeating France, who have gone on to score nine goals in their two games since then. Yoreli Rincón and Lady Andrade give them the firepower to beat anyone, even if their team is lacking in depth.
The U.S. has struggled to find their ideal forward pairing up top, but that might change in this game. Alex Morgan got an hour against Nigeria and might finally be ready to play a full match, while Sydney Leroux, Christen Press and Abby Wambach have been started in some games and rested in others. U.S. coach Jill Ellis can pick whoever she wants for this match.
Key player: Yoreli Rincón
Ellis said after the Nigeria game that she asked her two central midfielders -- Lauren Holiday and Carli Lloyd -- to play as two holding midfielders instead of as a holder and a box-to-box player. It didn’t work, and the USWNT didn’t look any more solid defensively in the center. There are going to be spaces through the middle for Colombia to counter attack into, and it’ll be up to Rincon to take advantage of them.
Key matchup: USWNT’s attacking set pieces
Even as their attempt to change to a possession-based style of play has failed, the United States have remained bigger and stronger than most opponents, and they have a few players who can serve in an excellent set piece. They scored on a Megan Rapinoe corner to Abby Wambach against Nigeria, and it wouldn't be surprising to see them score that way against Colombia, too.
Match Date/Time: Monday, 8 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. local
Venue: Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Canada
TV: Fox Sports 1 (U.S. -- English), NBC Universo (U.S. -- Spanish), RDS, TSN (Canada), BBC Two, British Eurosport 1 (U.K.), DirecTV Sports, RCN Television, Caracol TV (Colombia)
Online: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer 2 Go (U.S. - English), NBC deportes en vivo extra (U.S. - Spanish), TSN (Canada), BBC Sport Online, Eurosport Player (U.K.), DirecTV Play, Deportes RCN En Vivo (Colombia)
Listings via Live Soccer TV.
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