Lavelle Highlights the Importance of Team Play for the United States against Italy
Midfielder Rose Lavelle emphasized the need for the United States national team to play as a unified team in the upcoming friendlies against Italy. Lavelle cited the 2-1 defeat to Portugal in October as a key lesson for the team. The United States will face Italy in Orlando, Florida, on November 28 and again on December 1 in Fort Lauderdale.Lavelle also added:In the first match against Portugal, it was about getting back on the same page and playing as a team. Obviously, it wasn’t for lack of effort. We worked very hard during the match, but I think it was about doing it collectively. I think, for the rest of the camp, it was like going back to our roots, going back to our principles.
Rose Lavelle
The United States lost 2-1 against Portugal in the first friendly of October, but then won 3-1 against the same opponent three days later. Despite finishing the last match period positively, coach Emma Hayes emphasized the importance of the players approaching this match with the right mentality to avoid repeating the first match against Portugal.I think that arriving at this first match against Italy, we know that the match against Portugal was not the standard or the expectation we have for ourselves. We left disappointed, but also knowing that we have another opportunity to learn, grow, and play against the same opponent two days later. So, I think that arriving here, it’s about learning quickly, getting on the same page quickly, and making sure we don’t have another match like that.
Rose Lavelle
Hayes also confirmed that all Gotham FC players will be available for selection on Friday, after winning the NWSL championship 1-0 over the Washington Spirit on November 22.Our players watch the big tournaments. They know who Italy is. We have players who also play in the Champions League and face Juventus and Roma. So they are fully aware of the quality of their players. I think it’s a team that has been building this level of performance for a while. They are very much into the way they do things. I don’t think it will be a surprise for us, but I will take into account the players, this is a team that I think is at the top level of world football, so we can’t start our match as we did in the first match of the last camp in terms of how it developed over 90 minutes. I want to make sure we deliver the performance needed against a top team.
Emma Hayes
It was an exciting match, an exciting end to the match, a lot of adrenaline involved. I had to manage the correct workloads, but they are available for Friday and I will not hesitate to select them. With a match last Saturday and Friday is completely feasible for these players. And let me tell you, every player wants to represent our country. So I’m going to have a difficult decision to make.
Emma Hayes
