USWNT open up 2019 campaign with trip to France

The USWNT play their first match of the year against France on Saturday. Here are three things to look out for.

The World Cup is almost here. The USWNT are just six months away from the tournament in France, where they’ll attempt to defend their title. They start their preparation this Saturday, in Le Havre, France, where they’ll take on the World Cup hosts at 2:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1. Here are three questions heading into the match.

What does it mean to play in Europe?

Canada hosted the 2015 World Cup. This made preparations for the tournament fairly easy for the U.S. They didn’t need to travel much because the conditions, atmosphere and time zones would all be similar to those in the United States. But with the World Cup in France this year, that requires a bit more preparation in terms of the environment. So it’s no surprise the U.S. will start their 2019 in Europe.

These two games (they face Spain on Tuesday) will be important for the U.S. It will give them experience of playing in a different time zone, while also playing in some smaller stadiums. This will be something to keep an eye on during their January trip to see how they react to the changes. One thing that will help is the fact that they’ve been in the Algarve so far for January camp.

Can Andi Sullivan leave her mark?

Andi Sullivan has been in and out of camp with the U.S. roster for the past year. After being touted as the next big thing for the national team, a less-than-stellar 2018 has put her in a tough spot. While she has the talent to compete at the highest level, her play hasn’t been up to its usual standards. She wasn’t even supposed to be on the roster for this camp, but head coach Jill Ellis brought her in as a late addition to the squad. That means it’s now or never for the Washington Spirit midfielder.

How do McCall Zerboni and Tierna Davidson respond after injury?

McCall Zerboni and Tierna Davidson are both back in camp with the U.S. after serious injuries. Zerboni will be making her return after breaking her elbow against Chile in September. Davidson broke her ankle while playing for Stanford against the University of North Carolina in September as well. Both will most likely be playing limited minutes in their first camp back, but we should be able to see where they ‘e at to start the year in these first couple of games. It’s a long way before June, but each game matters when you’re competing for a spot on a World Cup roster.