By OkayGoal
The USWNT are set to take on the defending World Champions, Spain, in two of the biggest friendlies all year. With the 2027 World Cup right around the corner, this is a tremendous litmus test for both teams to see where they stand. Let’s take a closer look at the matchups between the USWNT and Spain.
The most interesting development is that both managers have elected to give new players call-ups for these friendlies. Rather than try to figure out what the final lineup of their teams will be, even further experimentation is ongoing with the tournament just 8 months away.
Normally, teams would using this time solidify their chemistry as a group but with so many different players shuffling in and out, it can be a challenge to do so. Injuries to key players like Naomi Girma and Sam Coffey don’t help matters for the USWNT as Emma Hayes has some major decisions to make in the near future.
Here are the rosters:
USWNT
GOALKEEPERS (3): Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign FC; 11), Jordan Silkowitz (Bay FC; 0), Phallon Tullis-Joyce (Manchester United, ENG; 7)
DEFENDERS (9): Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC; 70/3), Kate Del Fava (Utah Royals FC; 0/0), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG; 78/1), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash; 14/1), Lilly Reale (Boston Legacy FC; 9/0), Tara Rudd (Washington Spirit; 12/0), Evelyn Shores (Angel City FC; 0/0), Gisele Thompson (Angel City FC; 11/0), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave FC; 7/1)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Lindsey Heaps (Denver Summit FC; 178/40), Jaelin Howell (Gotham FC; 6/1), Claire Hutton (Bay FC; 20/1), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC; 122/29), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Stars; 103/38), Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes, FRA; 20/1)
FORWARDS (8): Trinity Byars (San Diego Wave FC; 0/0), Michelle Cooper (Kansas City Current; 14/1), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 57/13), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville FC; 21/6), Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina Courage; 28/3), Pietra Tordin (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea FC, ENG; 32/4), Sophia Wilson (Portland Thorns FC; 63/25)
Spain
Goalkeepers
Cata Coll (FC Barcelona), Adriana Nanclares (Athletic Club), Misa Rodríguez (Arsenal)
Defenders
Lucía Corrales (London City Lionesses), Andrea Medina (Manchester United), Eva Navarro (Real Madrid), Oihane Hernández (Orlando Pride), Ona Batlle (Arsenal), Mapi León (London City Lionesses), Laia Codina (West Ham United), María Méndez (Real Madrid), Irene Paredes (FC Barcelona)
Midfielders
Alexia Putellas (London City Lionesses), Patri Guijarro (Spain), Fiamma Benítez (Atletico Madrid), Clara Serrajordi (Barcelona), Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal), Clara Pinedo (Atletic Bilbao)
Forwards
Salma Paralluelo (Lyon), Claudia Pina (Barcelona), Vicky López (Barcelona), Edna Imade (Bayern Munich), Athenea del Castillo (Real Madrid), Ainhoa Marín (Real Sociedad), Ornella Vignola (Everton)
The USWNT roster features a lot of newcomers but every single one of those players are having the best seasons of their career in the NWSL. Jordan Silkowitz, Kate Del Fava, Evelyn Shores, Trinity Byars and Pietra Tordin are all incredibly talented and could make life even harder for Emma Hayes in terms of who to add to the roster.
Jaelin Howell comes back into the team to replace Sam Coffey and Ashley Sanchez is finally back. Sanchez needed to score 20 league goals to do it but there’s no denying her in this team anymore.
Spain is missing Aitana Bonmati due to injury but La Roja is still stacked from top to bottom. Both teams have stars across the pitch and the matchup on paper looks even. The USWNT have a 3-1 record over Spain in four matchups played over the last seven years. However, Spain has a great chance to change that in these friendlies.
The biggest concern for the USWNT coming into this match is their defense and Spain are sure to put them to the test. Tierna Davidson and Emily Fox are the most experienced defenders with more than 70 caps each. The rest have 15 caps or less. This is probably the toughest two games they’ll play in their lives going up against a juggernaut like Spain.
The midfield battle is going to be appointment viewing with Lindsey Heaps, Rose Lavelle, Lily Yohannes and Mallory Swanson going against Alexia Putellas, Patri Guijarro and Mariona Caldentey. Both teams are loaded in attack with each side featuring superstars as well. Wilson, Rodman, Thompson and Sanchez are all playing at a high level. Yet, Claudia Pina just scored four first half goals in the El Classico against Real Madrid. Vicky Lopez and Salma Paralluelo are two of the best young stars in the world as well.
These friendlies will be anything but friendly when they square off against each other. This is the closest matchup we’re going to get that will have a World Cup feel to it when the games kick off. You’re not going to want to miss this.
USWNT vs. Spain, October 10th, 2:30pm EST/11:30am PST, TBS, Telemundo
USWNT vs. Spain, October 13th, 7:00pm EST/4:00pm PST, TNT, Universo
Featured image via @uswnt