USWNT: Preview and Predictions for the 2017 SheBelieves Cup

The SheBelieves Cup kicks off on March 1, 2017 in Chester, PA. Will the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team prevail over Germany, England, and France?

Below is the full round-robin schedule and team rosters for each of the participating nations from USsoccer.com. A look at the USWNT schedule and competition.

2017 SheBelieves Cup Schedule

U.S. Women’s National Team

• Goalkeepers: Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
• Defenders: Julie Johnston (Chicago Red Stars), Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride), Kelley O’Hara (Sky Blue FC), Becky Sauerbrunn (FC Kansas City), Casey Short (Chicago Red Stars), Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns FC)
• Midfielders: Morgan Brian (Houston Dash), Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (Boston Breakers), Carli Lloyd (Manchester City), Allie Long (Portland Thorns FC), Samantha Mewis (NC Courage), Brianna Pinto (CASL)
• Forwards: Crystal Dunn (Chelsea Ladies FC), Jessica McDonald (NC Courage), Alex Morgan (Olympique Lyonnais), Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars), Mallory Pugh (UCLA), Lynn Williams (NC Courage)

Germany Women’s National Team Roster by Position:

• Goalkeepers: 12-Laura Benkarth (SC Freiburg), 1-Almuth Schult (VfL Wolfsburg), 21-Lisa Weiß (SGS Essen)
• Defenders: 2-Josephine Henning (Olympique Lyonnais), 3-Kathrin Hendrich (1. FFC Frankfurt), 5-Babett Peter (VfL Wolfsburg), 7-Pauline Bremer (Olympique Lyonnais), 14-Anna Blässe (VfL Wolfsburg), 17-Isabel Kerschowski (VfL Wolfsburg), 23-Verena Faißt (Bayern München), 24-Kristin Demann (1899 Hoffenheim), 29-Felicitas Rauch (1. FFC Turbine Postdam)
• Midfielders: 4-Leonie Maier (Bayern München), 9-Alexandra Popp (VfL Wolfsburg), 10-Dzsenifer Marozsan (Olympique Lyonnais), 13-Sara Däbritz (Bayern München), 27-Sara Doorsoun (SGS Essen), 31-Linda Dallman (SGS Essen)
• Forwards: 11-Anja Mittag (VfL Wolfsburg), 15-Mandy Islacker (1. FFC Frankfurt), 18-Lena Petermann (SC Freiburg), 20-Lina Magull (SC Freiburg), 26-Hasret Kayikci (SC Freiburg)

Team England, head coach Mark Sampson

(from Excelle Sports)

• Goalkeepers: Karen Bardsley (Manchester City), Siobhan Chamberlain (Liverpool), Mary Earps (Reading)
• Defenders: Laura Bassett (Notts County), Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Manchester City), Rachel Daly (Houston Dash), Steph Houghton (Manchester City), Jo Potter (Notts County), Alex Scott (Arsenal), Casey Stoney (Liverpool), Demi Stokes (Manchester City)
• Midfielders: Isobel Christiansen (Manchester City), Jade Moore (Notts County), Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal), Jill Scott (Manchester City), Fara Williams (Arsenal)
• Forwards: Karen Carney (Chelsea), Toni Duggan (Manchester City), Nikita Parris (Manchester City), Jodie Taylor (Arsenal), Rachel Williams (Notts County), Ellen White (Birmingham City)

Team France, head coach Olivier Echouafni

(from Excelle Sports)

• Goalkeepers: Sarah Bouhaddi (Olympique Lyonnais), Méline Gerard (Olympique Lyonnais), Laëtitia Philippe (Montpellier HSC)
• Defenders: Laura Georges (Paris Saint-Germain), Jessica Houara D’Hommeaux (Olympique Lyonnais), Sakina Karchaoui (Montpellier HSC), Griedge MBock Bathy (Olympique Lyonnais), Eve Perisset (Paris Saint-Germain), Wendie Renard (Olympique Lyonnais), Aïssatou Tounkara (FCF Juvisy)
• Midfielders: Camille Abily (Paris Saint-Germain), Elise Bussaglia (VFL Wolfsburg), Grace Geyoro (Paris Saint-Germain), Amandine Henry (Paris Saint-Germain), Claire Lavogez (Olympique Lyonnais), Amel Majri (Olympique Lyonnais), Gaёtane Thiney (FCF Juvisy), Sandie Toletti (Montpellier HSC)
• Forwards: Camille Catala (FCF Juvisy), Marie-Laure Delie (Paris Saint-Germain), Kadidiatou Diani (FCF Juvisy), Eugénie Le Sommer (Olympique Lyonnais), Elodie Thomis (Olympique Lyonnais)

U.S. National Team Notes:

• From Twitter, John Halloran reported that it looks like the USA will continue with a three defensive back setup. Also, he provided updates on some of the other players below.

"“Looks like we’ll continue to see Allie Long at CB. Ellis: “My commitment is to look at Allie in the role we’ve been playing her in.”"

• Amy Rodriguez and Megan Klingenberg were not 100%  fit and sent home. They were part of the 25 player original roster. However, only 23 players are allowed to go to SheBelieves Cup.
• Alex Morgan is apparently dinged up and was replaced by Jess McDonald.

Key Questions:

1. How will new German coach Steffi Jones handle being the manager in her first real test? Will the Germans miss Silvia Neid as their coach? Can a new defensive backline hold up against the pressure?
2. Will the USA’s three back system “hold water”? Or will this defense allow too many easy goals, forcing every match to be a “high scoring shootout”?
3. Can the French find the back of the net?  Has coach Echouafni figured out how to improve their finishing and finally score critical goals in important games?
4. Can the English find the right mix of youth and experience to be competitive every game? Pace and stamina are starting to be an issue for some of England’s veterans.

Game Predictions:

1. England 1: France 1. France will dominate the possession, but as always will always fail to find the back of net enough.
2. USA 4: Germany 3. The three back system for USA has many issues and Germany will exploit those. However, since the game is in USA, slight edge to home team.
3. France 1: Germany 2. The Germans take out the anger on the French, in what will be a physical and almost “dirty” game.
4. USA 2: England 1. The score should be 5 : 0 in favor of USA, but many wasted shots hit the stands.
5. Germany 2: England 1. England plays their hearts out, but Marozsan puts in a last minute goal to break their hearts.
6. USA 1: France 1. France outplays the USA once again, but a lucky USA goal at the end ties the match.

Next: Home openers announced for the 2017 NWSL season

Those are my predictions. What are yours? Feel free to leave your comments!

Tune into Fox or Fox Sports 1 at the above times and watch the USA in the SheBelieves Cup!