US Squad Missing Two

Given all the hype of the 2015 Women’s World Cup, one would think that FIFA would turn its back on a small, but damaging comment from a player that spoke out on two yellow cards – albeit regarding a fellow team-mate.

Megan Rapinoe’s overall performance has been stellar to date and this has been duly noted by several opposition players.

Australia dropped a recent match to the US and Head Coach Alen Stajcic mentioned that Australia deserved better, but regardless it was Rapinoe who spoke up.

The United States will play Friday’s quarterfinal match without the services of Rapinoe, who undoubtedly has been the team’s best offensive player.

The suspension follows her picking up her second yellow card of the tournament in a game against Colombia earlier in the week.

The remaining part of the midfield seems to be struggling in the tournament, and China is extremely disciplined (defensively) teams in the tournament.

Head Coach of the US squad Jill Ellis says “she has full confidence in the rest of the team and we’ve invested in players over the last six months, we’ve dealt with injuries and I feel very confident in the players we have to be able to come on and contribute.”

Without the play of Rapinoe the US have their work cut out for them against an organized and disciplined team from China.

So the next question for the US also broadcast on TSN is who will step up and take control of the reins, hopefully (for their sake) advancing them to the next round of play.

The US are also missing the services of Lauren Holiday is also suspended for the quarterfinal, also after picking up her second yellow card of the tournament in the match against Colombia.

Morgan Brian (22) is a possible replacement for Lauren (Holiday) in the middle alongside Carli Lloyd and let’s not forget Brian played in three matches to date.

Following the match against Columbia Brian told the media “I’ve had the experience in the past and obviously I played in the U-20 World Cup and in this tournament, so hopefully I just go in there and it will be seamless.”

Holiday said she wasn’t even thinking about receiving her second yellow card of the tournament when it happened in the 17^th minute, but she’s confident the team – which will be missing half of its starting midfield from the past two games – can carry on just fine without her.

Holiday continued to tell the media “This team is one of the deepest teams that I’ve ever seen or played on and I think that we have so many players on the bench that can fill in and do an excellent job.”

No word on Wambach yet about her abusive comments regarding the officiating, but did you really expect FIFA to sit out three US players.

If they did that – there would be a riot worse than the one in Vancouver following the Canucks Stanley Cup loss.

And we all know what losers attended that event!!Also let’s not forget the United States is the only nation to have earned a medal at every single Women’s World Cup tournament.

The nation grabbed Gold in 1991 and 1999 but has not won a title in the 21^st Century – YET!!

The U.S. was beaten in penalties by Japan in the 2011 Final Match and would like a “kick at the championship again”!!