USA v Wales: Captaincy, team selection, and American legends
Angharad James of Wales in action. Wales v Kazakhstan in FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifier at Parc y Scarlets on the 17th September 2021. Credit: Lewis Mitchell
Wales midfielder Angharad James has spoken of her delight at having the captain’s armband ahead of their game against the USA.
With regular captain Sophie Ingle suspended after receiving a red card in the last friendly against Portugal, the responsibility falls on James.
The Spurs player spoke of her joy about being able to lead her team out against the best in the world.
“It’s an honour to put the Welsh jersey on, but to lead the girls out is a privilege. It’ll be a proud moment for me but also for my family. It’s something I dreamed of as a little girl, to lead my country out.
“I’d do anything to have Sophie on the field and I’d give the armband back in a heartbeat if it meant she could play. But it is a privilege to wear it tomorrow.”
For manager Gemma Grainger, James was the obvious choice as captain.
“Angharad is an excellent leader on and off the pitch and for her to have this opportunity, to be honest, I don’t think I’ll see any change in her behaviour.
“The captain’s armband will make sure that she’s herself, I have no doubts about that.”
Team selection
The biggest question lingering over the team is the fitness of Jess Fishlock.
Fishlock came off in the 23rd minute of OL Reign’s game on Friday night against Orlando Pride, and it was known heading into it that she had a hamstring problem.
While not ruling her out of the game entirely, Grainger says the former NWSL MVP will be monitored closely.
“Jess flew in yesterday and I spoke to her after the game. We’ve had a plan with Jess for the last couple of weeks in terms of taking it day by day, and we’re still at that stage.
“We’re pretty comfortable with that as well, and we’ll assess the situation when she arrives with the team.”
With no Ingle and the possibility of no Fishlock, the midfield could look very different tonight. James, the constant presence in the midfield, has every confidence in the players who could fill the shoes of two experienced individuals.
“I’m confident that, as a group, we get players in the right place, we make them feel confident. It’ll be strange without two leaders on the field in Jess and Sophie.
“It’ll be a different test but it’s time for to step up and to show their leadership skills in a different way.”
Along with the midfield conundrum, Wales will be without Rachel Rowe, who has been playing further up the field in recent matches.
There will also be question marks at the goalkeeper position, with all three of the keepers in the squad having had minutes in a Welsh shirt lately.
The manager says that whoever comes into the eleven tonight will fit seamlessly into the system Wales are so used to playing.
“For us it’s about preparations for the Nations League. We’re keeping an eye on what will work for the team in September, October, and December.
“If you’ve seen the way we play you know our tactical strengths, and we’ll be looking to deliver those strengths tonight, and we’ve got a lot of players who are able to do that.”
American legends
On Saturday evening, Megan Rapinoe announced that she will retire at the end of the 2023 NWSL season.
Rapinoe has had a stellar career on the pitch and an immeasurable impact off it, and James is full of admiration for the American.
“The announcement did come as a little bit of a shock, but the career that Megan Rapinoe has had speaks volumes about her as both a player and a person.
“She’s a leader on and off the field, she’s been an inspiration to many people across the world, and I wish her all the success in what she decides to do next.”
While Rapinoe is a current American hero, a former one came to speak to the Welsh players in the runup to the fixture, Brandi Chastain.
Chastain is seen as one of the most influential players in women’s football history, and Grainger said it was an honour to have her speak to the Welsh camp.
“To hear from a winner, to hear from someone who’s done it at the highest level is something that was an honour.
“We thank Brandi for being able to talk to us and as a team, we’re taking steps towards the side we want to be in terms of our beliefs and our mentality, so it was great to spend time with her yesterday.”
On the pitch and looking at this current American team, while they may have 14 players heading to their first World Cup, it is still a team with a wealth of talent.
The task in front of Wales won’t be easy, but we’ve seen against the big teams that Wales do perform, and James says her team can certainly spoil the American party.
“That’s what we’re here to do! To test ourselves against the World Champions is going to let us see where we’re at as a group.
“We’ve prepared the best that we can in the situation we’re in, with the majority of the girls being out of season, but hopefully we can spoil the party.”
