Fresh off winning NWSL MVP and helping lead the Portland Thorns to the league championship, Sophia Smith is turning her focus back to the U.S. women’s national team’s attack. And this time, she’ll have some additional reinforcements beside her.
Alex Morgan and Mal Pugh, who were among those who missed the U.S.’s defeats to England and Spain earlier this month, have returned for a pair of friendlies on home soil against Germany in November. U.S. manager Vlatko Andonovski revealed his 24-player squad on Monday, and with the U.S. seeking to bounce back from the first set of consecutive defeats for the USWNT in over five years, the third-ranked Germans, who finished as runner up at the Women’s Euros this past summer, represent a difficult challenge.
With Germany due to be on the opposite end of the Women’s World Cup bracket, should both sides get out of their group next summer, these games also carry with them the potential of being World Cup final previews. But first things first for the USWNT: Get back on track after a substandard October window.
