By OkayGoal 
The 2019 USWNT did the impossible by winning an unprecedented 4th FIFA World Cup championship. With another World Cup in just a couple of years, we’ve been wondering who would fill whose shoes on today’s roster.
Defense
Abby Dahlkemper – Emily Sams
Abby Dahlkemper had so much power and was able to clear the ball out of sticky situations. Emily Sams brings considerable power to that position as well. Both of these players have always been reliable in cleaning up messes before they get too dangerous on the scoring third.
Midfield
Julie Ertz – Hal Hershfelt
There’s never been a defensive midfielder quite like Julie Ertz. Whenever she was on the pitch, there was just a sense of security radiating from her position. Hershfelt has that same energy. Hershfelt not only holds down the back line, but she can get in the mix on the front end, too.
Sam Mewis – Sam Coffey
We’ve definitely been feeling the absence of Sam Mewis since she retired. Mewis had the drive and was such a great leader on the pitch. Sam Coffey, though she’s been around for a while, has started to come into her own as a leader and driving force. Watching Coffey lead from the midfield and hold the rest of the squad together feels so much like when Mewis played.
Forwards
Tobin Heath – Michelle Cooper
With Heath’s official retirement coming down, there are big shoes to fill. And those shoes would look great on Michelle Cooper. The thing about Heath is that she was relentless; she didn’t have any quit in her on the pitch. Cooper is built just the same, with possibly even a little more power than Heath had. Cooper will run down a ball or a defender with all the power she needs to get the job done, just like Heath.
Carli Lloyd – Alyssa Thompson
Carli Lloyd is a tough spot to recast because, for some, it felt like she was always there. That speaks to how long she played and the tone she sent when on the pitch. Even though Thompson is still at the beginning of her career, it feels like she’s always been here, too. Thompson brings the same level of finesse and power, determination, and smarts that Lloyd did. Lloyd was a huge leader for the USWNT, and Thompson is shaping up to be one too.
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