USWNT 5 standouts from 2-1 win over France

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PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 28: Crystal Dunn of USA during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Quarter Final match between France and USA at Parc des Princes on June 28, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Molly Darlington – AMA/Getty Images) /

LB Crystal Dunn

It’s absolutely laughable and almost disgraceful how frequently Crystal Dunn is highlighted as a weakness on defense for the USWNT. Because regardless of what her “real” position is, Dunn has become a great left back in her own right with her toughness, resiliency, ability to make difficult tackles, speed, and improving tactical awareness. If she pinches inside too frequently, it’s only because that’s what Jill Ellis asks from her fullbacks in tightening up the interior of the defense.

Dunn was brilliant in this game. She should have had an assist that was unfairly called back, and she made a critical, goal-saving block to stop Kadidiatou Diani.

In her last game, Diani tore up Brazil’s defense and is on excellent form, so Dunn had a difficult matchup. It’s impossible for any fullback on this planet to shut down a player of Diani’s caliber for 90 minutes, so the key is to limit the damage. Dunn did this expertly, sacrificing her attacking duties (but still made an impact on offense) in order to make critical recoveries against Diani. Because Diani is so strong and technically brilliant on the ball, it’s difficult to steal it from her, but Dunn harried her at every turn.

Dunn is one of the most important players on a star-studded USWNT, and it’s about time she received her due. This is her second straight excellent performance in the knockout stages, as she’s held off two tough assignments at left back.

In all honesty, the critics should have been silenced a long time ago, instead of trying to nitpick her “positioning” while neglecting their own inability to adequately evaluate fullbacks.

CB Becky Sauerbrunn

Becky Sauerbrunn is one of the best defenders in USWNT history, but the veteran center back came into this game as a potential weakness. Many wondered if the United States would be better off leaving her on the bench for center midfielder Lindsey Horan, shifting Julie Ertz from center midfield to center back as they did in their 13-0 win over Thailand.

After a shaky performance against Sweden and Spain (though Alyssa Naeher was to blame for the critical mistake), Sauerbrunn was immense against France. One of the best players on the pitch, Sauerbrunn was key in the USWNT’s impressive display against the host nation’s vaunted attack. She made several awesome tackles and kept in-form attacker Valerie Gauvin under wraps after Gauvin’s strong performance against Brazil.

Sauerbrunn certainly didn’t look washed in this game, as she avoided making any mistakes and was excellent throughout. She is still a world-class defender, and this was a mighty performance against a talented French attack.