Why USWNT believes Rose Lavelle is ready for World Cup encore

Auckland, New Zealand – The world Cup Good platform for introduction.

like Brandi Chastain in 1999, Carli Lloyd in 2015 or megan rapino In 2019, here is a once in a lifetime chance for a footballer to take his career forward with the right performance.

Rose Laval Know that

Four years ago, a 24-year-old central midfielder came United States Women’s National Team But largely unknown to the average fan, Lavelle had a breakout moment in winning the World Cup final.

USA had a slight 1-0 lead Netherlands — Ironically, it will face the same team in the second game of the 2023 group stage in Wellington, New Zealand on Wednesday (coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET, Begins at 9 p.m. on Fox and the Fox Sports App) – when Lavelle was alone on the ball near midfield with space in the 69th minute.

He dribbled fast and took on the Dutch defender Stephanie Van Der Gragt, and as she reached the top of the box, Lavelle took a powerful shot with her left foot, which beat goalkeeper Sir Van Vendendaal. The force of the shot took Lavelle down after hitting the ball, but when she saw the ball go into the net, she jumped to her teammate. from alex morgan arms and shouted.

The goal secured two consecutive World Cup titles for the Americans. Lavelle earned the Bronze Ball as the third best player of the tournament and was named to the FIFA FIFPro World XI, officially establishing herself as one of the USWNT’s most exciting players.

However, the thing about a breakaway moment in the World Cup is that it naturally begs the question of what you’re going to do next. For Lavelle, expectations have never been the same. Can she carry that momentum into 2019 and become an everyday star to help the USWNT win their fifth and third consecutive World Cup?

That scene from four years ago became the hype for this summer’s tournament, where Lavelle once again takes the lead. This time, of course, she’s older (28) and a more familiar face. His jersey has been seen among fans roaming around New Zealand. But his teammates think he is ready to take on a starring role.

The American captain said, “I think he just owned it.” Lindsey Horan told Fox Sports earlier this year. [The 2019 tournament] It was a huge moment for him and the team, and shows how hard one has worked to reach and achieve that moment.

“Now it looks like you can do that every game and be the go-to player for our team?”

It seemed like his 2023 tournament got off to a slow start.

Lavelle suffered a “knock” on his knee during a friendly match against Ireland in early April, which coach Vlatko Andonovski described as a “knock” and later suffered a concussion. She didn’t play at all before the World Cup – not for her club, rule olAnd not for the USWNT in two other tune-up games.

“It’s been a tough few months,” Lavelle said.

he started on the bench USWNT first game In return for Vietnam on Friday. It was not a complete shock as Andonovski stated that he would need to build up his minutes during the tournament. But when Lavelle took the field in the 63rd minute, she made an immediate impact, injecting energy and flair into a somewhat disjointed USWNT performance.

He tried signature moves such as the “cruft”, which elicited half-gasps/half-cheers from the crowd. He sent a rocket towards the goal which hit the crossbar. The latter narrowly missed a header over the post. He had his opportunities and looked like the highlight player that fans have grown to love.

After the 3–0 win, Lavelle said she was “very happy” and “feeling really good”.

“Every time you go away for a while I think you realize how much you love and are missing something,” he said. “That was it.”

Will she reclaim her original spot in the USA’s second game against the Netherlands? A decisive final rematch from 2019 will effectively determine who wins Group E, which the US will look to avoid tougher opponents in the knockout rounds.

The USWNT can use Lavelle’s finesse and sliding ability to get out of difficult situations on the field and create chances, especially against the Dutch who are a greater tactical and physical threat than Vietnam.

“I’m up for anything,” said Lavelle, often described by teammates as the “spark plug” that is the game-changer. “I got fit again very quickly, which is a good thing. but i told you [Vlatko] Whatever he wants from me, I am ready for that.

Lavelle is an asset to the Americans because she brings something on the field that many players around the world can’t. Technical ability comes naturally. He is super creative. She changes dynamics while still on the pitch and brings cohesion to the attack.

A non-football fan could watch him and enjoy the show. just look up clip of his backheel assist Morgan in a friendly against New Zealand from Jan.

“That’s rare,” Rapinoe told Fox Sports. “I have never played with someone like Rose in my entire career, club or country. She just glides by. There are certain things that she can do that no one else can. He has the ability to run 65 meters – it’s madness. She just plays with a certain style. She is left footed. She plays with a certain swag which is very different from everyone else.

“She’s very small, but she’s like the strongest player,” Rapinoe continued. “He’s sarcastic, he’s daring, and he just has this elusive, sly way that makes you think, ‘How is that possible?’ She was gone in a second.”

Despite his recent injury, LaVale has improved his game over the past four years.

“I think being more productive in the final third has definitely been a bit of a push for me,” Lavelle said. “I think if you want to be a playmaking player you have to be productive and help draft players, and I think I’ve gotten better at that.”

She has emerged as a leader off the field, which she says is absurd considering she was one of the young players in the team during the last World Cup. And yet she finds herself offering advice to World Cup newcomers Ashley Sanchez And savannah de melloJoe plays him in the same position.

His star has also shone. In 2019, Lavelle didn’t even have an agent, but is now in commercials for Nike and Chipotle. Maybe he can get a job with a music label after going viral Sing Karaoke at the USWNT Players Ball last December. (Her favorite song? Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now.”)

Another great achievement in this World Cup, and who knows how big Laval’s name could be?

“She’s really a player you can tell she wants to be great,” Rapinoe said. “He has a very serious professionalism about the game and his craft.

“I feel like that’s where I see the biggest growth because off the field she’s more company and lets her personality come through. It is directly related to what she is doing on the field, taking more responsibility and is ready to take it. [this] The World Cup should be his World Cup.”

Lecon Littman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for Fox Sports. He previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of Strong Like a Woman, to be published in Spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow him on Twitter @LakenLitman.

---

---