The US Women’s National Soccer Team has suffered a major blow to their 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup hopes, as team captain Becky Sauerbrunn has been ruled out of the tournament due to a foot injury. According to an Associated Press source, the veteran defender has been dealing with the injury for some time and it has now become too severe to allow her to compete in the tournament.
Sauerbrunn has been a mainstay in the USWNT lineup since 2008, appearing in over 150 matches and captaining the team since 2015. She was an integral part of the team’s 2015 World Cup victory and was expected to be a key contributor in this year’s tournament. Her absence will be a major loss for the USWNT, as she is one of the most experienced and reliable players on the team.
The USWNT will now have to find a way to replace Sauerbrunn’s leadership and experience in the lineup. While there are some talented young players on the roster, they lack the experience that Sauerbrunn brings. The team will now have to rely on veterans like Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Julie Ertz to lead the way.
It is unclear at this time who will replace Sauerbrunn in the lineup, but it is likely that head coach Jill Ellis will look to some of the younger players on the roster. Players like Tierna Davidson, Emily Sonnett, and Abby Dahlkemper are all talented defenders who could be called upon to fill the void left by Sauerbrunn.
The USWNT will now have to move forward without their captain and leader. While it is a major setback for the team, they still have a talented roster and are capable of making a deep run in the tournament. They will have to find a way to replace Sauerbrunn’s presence in the lineup, but with strong leadership and determination, they can still make a run at the title.
