USWNT: 3 changes Vlatko Andonovski has to make at World Cup

USWNT: What changes does Vlatko Andonovski have to make going forward?

USA's coach Vlatko Andonovski (C) looks on next to Portugal's coach Francisco Neto (R) during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group E football match between Portugal and the United States at Eden Park in Auckland on August 1, 2023. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP) (Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images) /

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AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – AUGUST 01: Lynn Williams #6 of the United States during the first half of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group E match between Portugal and USA at Eden Park on August 01, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Robin Alam/USSF/Getty Images) /

USWNT Change No. 2: Play Lynn Williams 90 minutes and deploy her at the No. 9

The pleas for starting Lynn Williams from the USWNT fans worked as the team’s No. 6 was deployed as the right winger within the front-three against Portugal.

Outside of possibly Girma, the NJ/NY Gotham FC attacker was most likely the best player on the pitch for the Red, White, and Blue in concluding Group E action. She put four of her six shots on net and completed two or her three take-on attempts. Getting the ball out into the feet of Sophia Smith and Williams more frequently could open up the floodgates for the USWNT attack.

The Gotham FC star is not just the “best 15-minute player in the world” as Andonovski once said, she is the second-best attacking threat on this United States team behind only Smith.

For a player that provides this much danger in the frontline, it is still preposterous why she was missing from the starting XI in the first 180 minutes of this tournament. When she has the ball at her feet, good things happen. NWSL, and Gotham FC fans can attest to that. She has nine goals in just 14 starts in the NWSL across all competitions.

Whether she moves into the No. 9 role, a spot she has played in more with her club team this year or not, she very well could be the answer to if this nation makes it past the knockout round.