The World Cup Golden Ball shortlist is out, and it features three very deserving American candidates. Winger Megan Rapinoe, midfielder Carli Lloyd and defender Julie Johnston all made the list, and one will win if the United States turns in a great performance against Japan in the Women's World Cup final on Sunday (7 p.m. ET, FOX). But noticeably absent is someone who might actually be the USWNT's best player at this tournament -- center back Becky Sauerbrunn.
Becky Sauerbrunn and Julie Johnston should split the FIFA Golden Ball award
Why pick one USWNT central defender over the other?
Michael Chow-USA TODAY Sports
In the history of the Golden Ball award at the men's and women's World Cups, a non-attacking player has won the award only once. That honor belongs to Germany men's goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, who was named the best player of the 2002 World Cup. The top player at every other competition -- since FIFA started giving out the award in 1978 -- has been an attacking midfielder or striker.
But in a tournament devoid of truly dominant attackers, the United States' defense has been the big story. Celia Sasic and Anja Mittag might have big scoring numbers, but they racked them up against Thailand and Ivory Coast, two of the worst teams at this competition. The U.S. defenders kept them mostly silent, like they did to world-class striker Lotta Schelin, along with the Nigeria and Colombia attackers that gave Sweden and France so much trouble in previous games. They've been so good that Hope Solo -- probably the best goalkeeper in the world -- hasn't really had anything to do.
Johnston’s gotten more recognition than Sauerbrunn for this, but that’s not necessarily fair. While Sauerbrunn doesn’t make the flashy plays that Johnston does, she’s also been a bit more consistent. Plus, if you’re not noticing a defender at all, isn’t that a really good thing? Doesn’t that mean that they’re never under threat?
And it’s not just an eye test that Sauerbrunn passes. The things that we can measure -- with the noted caveat that individual defensive statistics have a long way to go before they’re an excellent indication of a player’s value -- make Sauerbrunn look really good too.
Sauerbrunn should be on the Golden Ball list. Measurable items + intangibles (leadership, setting the line) #USA pic.twitter.com/nc6AAdQzhE
— Kate Markgraf (@katemarkgraf) July 3, 2015 Johnston gets noticed because she’s the one closing down aggressively, winning headers upfield, and carrying the ball out from the back. She’s more aggressive than Sauerbrunn, a better passer, and more of a threat on set pieces. But when things get really dicey at the back, Sauerbrunn is the last line of defense, and she hasn’t been beaten yet.
The American defense has been so good because Sauerbrunn and Johnston are different players, filling different roles. Johnston is better at being the aggressor and Sauerbrunn is better at covering. Because Johnston has been so great at winning the ball high up the pitch, Sauerbrunn doesn’t have a lot to do. But because Johnston is so aggressive, some things are bound to get past her, and Sauerbrunn has always been there to clean up. They need each other, and it’s unfair to say that one has been significantly better than the other.
Even though the Golden Ball is an individual award, it deserves to be split. FIFA have never done it -- and this won’t be the first time -- but Sauerbrunn and Johnston should be co-Golden Ball winners. The United States have gone nine consecutive halves without allowing a goal, and that’s not down to one player. They’re the best two players at this tournament and forcing voters to declare one better than the other is ridiculous. They should share the honor.
