The absence of Becky Sauerbrunn in the U.S. squad for the Women’s World Cup puts added responsibility on the shoulders of the veterans in the team, experienced defender Kelley O’Hara said.
The USWNT, which has won four world titles, suffered a huge blow when captain Sauerbrunn said last month she would not be able to play at the World Cup because of a foot injury she suffered in April.
The 38-year-old was part of the U.S. team during its World Cup success in 2015 and 2019 and established herself as a key part of their backline.
In Sauerbrunn’s absence, head coach Vlatko Andonovski named O’Hara in his 23-player World Cup roster, ensuring the team has an experienced player in its defense.
O’Hara will make her fourth appearance at the World Cup, along with fellow veterans Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, who will retire at the end of the NWSL season.
The roster also includes goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and midfielder Julie Ertz, who will play at their third World Cup, while defenders Crystal Dunn and Emily Sonnett and midfielders Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle will make their second appearance at global soccer’s showpiece event.
“Losing Becky is one of the biggest blows that the team could have taken, and it is something we now have to deal with,” O’Hara told Forbes in an interview. “I’m devastated for her. For me and the team, she’s just irreplaceable.
“You know, a lot of people are going to try to fill the hole that not having her is going to leave, but there’s no other way to put it. She is irreplaceable.
“In her absence, there’s added responsibility on all of us veterans and leaders to step up and contribute to guiding the team because that’s what she was so good at.”
In Sauerbrunn’s absence, Lindsey Horan and Morgan will co-captain the team at the World Cup. U.S. Soccer has said that when Horan and Morgan are on the field at the same time, Horan will wear the armband.
‘Three-Peat’
After winning at the 2015 edition in Canada and in 2019 in France, the U.S. is bidding for a record third title or a “three-peat” at this year’s World Cup, which will be held from July 20 to August 20 in Australia and New Zealand.
Does that pile extra pressure on the team?
“To me, it won’t,” O’Hara answered. “You know, it (this World Cup campaign) doesn’t feel any different than it has in the past. In 2019, we had that pressure of trying to repeat (the success), and that was the big focus.
“I think that each tournament and each roster that goes to a World Cup is unique. Now, it’s a different roster than 2019. Some new players, some of them are the same, and there’s also a new coach.”
With 14 players on the squad set to play at the World Cup for the first time, some fans have concerns the squad is relatively inexperienced. But O’Hara disagrees.
“I think people just want to give their input or have something to talk about. But no, I think that it’s like, I don’t even know how all the other teams in the past have looked in terms of the first World Cup or not, so no, I don’t really spend a lot of time thinking about that,” she said.
Expanded Pool
This year’s World Cup will be the first to feature 32 teams, up from 24 teams in the previous two editions.
O’Hara said that it would be a unique experience but does not expect the expanded pool to be a challenge for the U.S.
“It obviously makes it more difficult to get through to the round of 16. Just because in the past, I think that you had a couple of third-place teams finishing or being able to move through. So now I think it’s just the top two of every group make it through. So I think the pressure is the same being the defending world champions, whether it’s the same number of teams as last time. But yeah, maybe a little bit,” she said.
The U.S. is in World Cup Group E with the Netherlands, Portugal and Vietnam. The team last week defeated Wales 2-0 in San Jose, California, its final warm-up match before the squad left for New Zealand for its group games.
Ahead of the World Cup, O’Hara featured in a hero film alongside England’s Alex Greenwood for Under Armour
UAA
“This campaign that we have put together for the World Cup is really cool. I’m really excited about it. It’s very unique, and I think that a lot of young girls and boys are gonna watch it, and I think they’re gonna get excited. So it’s cool to work with a brand that invests in women and that pushes women forward,” she said about her work with the athleticwear brand.
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