The cliché says the best defense is a good offense. But for the US Women’s National Team, it’s the world’s best defense that has them in the World Cup final Sunday, beleaguered goalkeeper Hope Solo and her back four all but perfect throughout the entire tournament. The US goes into Sunday’s championship game rematch with Japan having gone 513 straight minutes without conceding a goal, the
second-best run in tournament history. Solo, under scrutiny over new details from last year’s domestic violence assault case, hasn’t been scored upon since the 27th minute of the opener.
“This team has embraced the accountability of defending in every line,’’ said US coach Jill Ellis, whose back four of centerbacks Julie Johnston and Becky Sauerbrunn flanked by fullbacks Meghan Klingenberg and Ali Krieger has been airtight. “We have gritty players at the back, and sophisticated players at the back and our defensive record is a credit to the team.
“It’s a spectacular stat, to be honest with you. I always tell the team, we just need one more than our opponent if we keep a clean sheet. And it’s not just our goalkeeper and our back four. I think this team has embraced the accountability and responsibility of defending on every line. It’s something we ask of them, but they deliver. They understand that it’s important.’’
They may understand it more than they ever have. This is a team that always has been built on its attack, playing six games in each of the last two World Cups and pouring in a total of 25 goals. The Americans have mustered just nine so far, but are undefeated thanks to meticulous organization and unbending discipline, defending in blocks all the way from the front line back to Solo.
Occasionally exposed by a lack of possession, they have each had their moments, good and bad. But it’s been far more of the former, and they’ve pulled together throughout the latter.
The 5-foot-2 Klingenberg was culpable on the only goal the US allowed in a 3-1 victory against Australia on June 8, but there she was elevating to head away Caroline Seger’s shot vs. No. 5 Sweden in the next game. She has shut down the flanks since with Krieger, who is bracing for Japan’s Aya Miyama and her tournament-high 22 chances created from the left wing.
“I’m excited. It’s a rematch from four years ago,’’ Krieger said. “You want to play the best teams and Japan proved themselves in the other side of the bracket. You always want a great game in the final, and that’s why we’re here.’’
The US is there despite Solo’s distractions before the World Cup started, from the charges resulting from an altercation with her half-sister and teenage nephew, to getting suspended for her husband’s DUI arrest in the team van. But Solo also has played like the best keeper in the world, with five straight shutouts.
“With each game we get better and better. You want to peak at the right time and I think that’s what we’re doing to a T,’’ Solo told US Soccer, avoiding the media since the opener. “We did the grunt work and the beauty work [against Germany]. It came together and I think we have an even better game in us for the finals.’’
The defense has come together perfectly, no part more unlikely than Johnston. A backup to the backup — with just three caps before being thrust into the starter’s role during the World Cup lead-in — the second-youngest player on the roster (23) also has been the most consistent, playing every second of the tourney.
Johnston made a huge gaffe in Tuesday’s semifinal, fouling Alexandra Popp in the box for a penalty and what easily could have been a red card. But Solo and then Sauerbrunn led a parade of seven different teammates consoling the teary-eyed Johnston and getting her head right.
“That really made me take a deep breath and know we’re still in this,’’ Johnston told USA Today. “It’s important for me to learn from it. I don’t want that to ever happen again. It was on my shoulders. That’s my fault, and I put that all on me. We have one more game, and I need to focus and do what I need to do for the team.’’
Abby Wambach said that moment perfectly captured the chemistry that has allowed the team to defend so well as a unit.
“It was really symbolic and so amazing to see her back line go to her right after the German player missed,’’ Wambach said.
“For her, she feels rectified in that they didn’t score that goal; it could have been her fault, she could have gotten a red card. There’s all the scenarios that could have happened. But it didn’t. That shows what this team is all about. That moment in time, if you were to stop it, is symbolic of the run we’ve been on, and hopefully the run we’ll continue to go on.’’
