A week after announcing her intention to represent the United States rather than the Netherlands, 17-year-old midfielder Lily Johannes is leading the USWNT’s 24-player roster for road matches against England and the Netherlands.
The 2024 Olympic gold medal-winning team will close out the year against England at London’s Wembley Stadium on Nov. 30, before taking on the Netherlands in The Hague three days later.
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USWNT head coach Emma Hayes announced Monday that all three Olympic starting forwards Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson will be sidelined to rest lingering injuries after a long season. He said it would be.
Smith appeared to have re-aggravated the ankle injury that had plagued him since the Olympics and limped off the field in a recent NWSL playoff game, while Rodman will compete for the NWSL Championship with the Washington Spirit on Saturday. Become.
“None of these players want to miss a game to play for their country,” Hayes said. “I want to be clear about that. But the second thing is, we want to make sure these players are ready for a long time to come. And we’re at the end of the season and there’s a lot of When you’re playing and you’re physically and mentally tired, that can be dangerous at times.”
Coach Hayes called up goalkeeper Fallon Tallis-Joyce and forward Allie Sentner for the first time. Sentner was the captain of the U.S. team that recently finished third in the U20 World Cup and was a standout rookie in the NWSL with Utah Royals FC. Tallis-Joyce, who just turned 28, took up the role of starting goalkeeper at Manchester United this season following the departure of England international Mary Earps.
Hayes has given 11 players their first senior call-ups since officially starting the job in late May. All seven players who earned their first caps in October are back on the roster for this high-profile road friendly. With 14 players under 20 caps, Hayes’ search for depth and next generation talent continues ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
As of Monday’s ticket sales, she could field a somewhat inexperienced squad in front of at least 70,000 fans at Wembley Stadium on November 30.
“I like doing this kind of thing,” Hayes said. “I’ve spent a long time building the roster. Well, just having them on the roster doesn’t improve them. We have to give them that opportunity. There’s no fear in being able to put them out there. I don’t feel it.”If that’s what we chose to play against England, it would be a completely different team. Because I think the players, from Alyssa Thompson to Emma Sears to Eva Gaetino, if you look at last camp, have shown that they deserve a chance. Seen again. ”
Fifteen of the 22 members of the 2024 Olympic team were named to this roster. In addition to the forward’s absence, midfielder Croix Bethune and goalkeeper Jane Campbell are also injured. Full-back Crystal Dunn has been exempted from club and international duties for more than two months.
Casey Murphy, who served as the team’s backup goalie in the Olympics, is healthy but not on the roster. Tallis Joyce and Mandy Haught will back up No. 1 Alyssa Neher in this camp. Haught made his debut in October, replacing Campbell midway through training camp.
Johannes returns to the USWNT for his third training camp. She scored a goal in the 10th minute of her debut against South Korea in June. She grew up in Virginia and moved with her family to the Netherlands when her father accepted a job in Amsterdam when she was 10 years old. Johannes signed with Dutch powerhouse Ajax in 2023 at the age of 15. Later that year, at the age of 16, he became the youngest player in UEFA Champions League history to start a group stage match.
Dutch coach Andries Jonker publicly courted Johannes, who previously said he was considering obtaining Dutch citizenship.
However, Johannes decided to represent the USWNT, which he announced last week.
“It means a lot to us to have the commitment from Lily Johannes and we would like to thank everyone involved, from Lily to her father to the federation, and the importance of (how) we achieve our plans. I’m so grateful to everyone who has shown me this at a time when people like Lilly are faced with some very interesting choices,” Hayes said Monday.
“But she’s been really clear and we had a really fun conversation with her this week. The camp she went to in May was so fun for her that she’s been thinking about it ever since.” and she really wants to move forward with an international career, but I know she has to work hard because the competition pool is this strong, but I think she’s an extraordinary talent, and I think we’re going to grow a very young Lily Johannes. I’m happy to be able to do this. I’m going to spend the next few years preparing for my future with the national team.
When announcing the decision, Johannes thanked both federations for their patience in the process.
“The United States is my homeland, the place of my birth, and the place where my extended family lives,” Johannes said in a statement. “These strong connections have inspired me to honor my roots and take pride in U.S. Soccer. I want to earn my spot.”
Twenty-three of the 24 players will suit up for each game, making them the final two players before a mid-January “Futures Camp” in Los Angeles, aimed at identifying new players who have not yet been called up. .
It is rare for the USWNT to travel overseas for friendly matches. The last time the Americans played a non-competitive game outside the United States was in January 2023 in New Zealand as part of World Cup preparations.
In October 2022, the United States lost to England 2-1 at Wembley Stadium.
Mr Hayes said he hoped more tests like this would be carried out ahead of the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
“Yes, I’d love to do that, but it has to be strategically planned with the people who do it in the background. Whether it’s 25 or 26, if the opportunity arises, we want to do it. It may not always work out, but we will try to make it happen at least once a year.”
U.S. Women’s National Team Roster by Position (Clubs, Caps/Goals):
Goalkeepers (3): Mandy Haught (Utah Royals FC; 1), Fallon Tarris Joyce (Manchester United, England; 0), Alyssa Neher (Chicago Red Stars; 113)
Defenders (9): Tierna Davidson (New Jersey/New York Gotham FC; 64/3), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, England; 60/1), Eva Gaetino (Paris Saint-Germain, France; 1/0) , Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 42/2), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit; 59/0), Alyssa Maronson (Bay FC; 1/0), Jenna Neiswonger (New Jersey/New York Gotham FC; 17/2), Emily Sams (Orlando) Pride; 2/0), Emily Sonnett (New Jersey/New York Gotham FC; 101/2) )
Midfielders (6): Corbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, France; 20/1), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 26/1), Hal Hirschfeld (Washington Spirit; 2/0), Lindsay Horan (Olympique Lyon, France; 159/36), Rose LaBelle (New Jersey/New York Gotham FC; 108/24), Lily Johannes (Ajax, NED; 1/1)
Forwards (6): Yazmeen Ryan (New Jersey/New York Gotham FC; 2/0), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 2/1), Allie Sentner (Utah Royals FC; 0/0), Jadyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC; 19/8), Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC; 11/1), Lynn Williams (New Jersey/New York Gotham FC; 73/20)
