USWNT vs. Jamaica: 3 things to know for the semifinals

With a World Cup berth on the line, the USWNT will take on Jamaica on Sunday night. Here are three things to look out for in the match.

When the USWNT take on Jamaica on Sunday night, it will be the most important game they’ve played in two years. The defending World Cup champions have an opportunity to clinch a berth to France next summer. After dismantling their opponents in group play, the USWNT will face off against Jamaica for the first time since 2008, and just the third time in program history.

Which starting XI will Jill Ellis turn to?

Head coach Jill Ellis has played two different starting XIs in this tournament. Her “A” team started against Mexico in the first game and against Trinidad and Tobago in the third game, while the “B” team started game two against Panama. In all three games, the U.S. scored at least five goals. So while the offense isn’t lacking, it will still be interesting to see which group Ellis turns to.

With so much to play for in this game, expect to see the first team out there to start on Sunday The USWNT shouldn’t mess around in this game and should put the best XI out there. If the U.S. can build a solid lead by the half, however, don’t be surprised if Ellis starts making subs early in the second half. If they win on Sunday, they’ll want to win the whole tournament on Wednesday.

Will Abby Dahlkemper get some rest?

The U.S. have played all 20 players so far in this tournament, with no player playing every single minute. This speaks to the depth of the team and their ability to play with anyone around them. Abby Dahlkemper leads the team in minutes played with 257. She’s played an important role on the back line, especially with Tierna Davidson unable to participate in the tournament due to an injury. Dahlkemper is coming off an NWSL Championship season in which she played 1,710 minutes for her club team, the North Carolina Courage. She’ll most likely play a full 90 again on Sunday night, but if they make it to the final of the tournament, it will be interesting to see if head coach Jill Ellis gives her a break.

What should be expected from Jamaica?

Jamaica have never qualified for a Women’s World Cup. Their first opportunity to book a spot will come against the defending champs on Sunday night. If they fail to pull off the upset, they’l face the loser of the other semifinal game between Canada and Panama in a third-place game.

In group play, Jamaica won two of their three games. Their only loss came at the hands of Group B winners Canada, a 2-0 defeat. Those were the only two goals allowed by Jamaica in group play. They’ve scored 10 goals total in the tournament, including nine in their final game against Cuba. Expect a fast-paced game with a lot of goals. It will be interesting to see how Jamaica’s defense holds up as they play a team ranked in FIFA’s top five for the second time in a week.