Game On! U.S. women’s soccer team to play Germany in Fort Lauderdale Thursday as planned
Stormy weather did not get in the way of training for the women’s national soccer teams of the United States and Germany, which are in town for a Thursday night friendly match at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
The world’s top-ranked Americans and third-ranked Germans have won six World Cup titles between them, are used to all kinds of weather, so they squeezed in soggy practices to prepare for the nationally televised game (7 p.m., FS1).
Team officials are monitoring Tropical Storm Nicole, consulting local authorities, and expect the game to go on as planned unless the storm takes a southern turn as it reaches the Florida coast.
Although it is just an exhibition game, the four-time World Cup champion USWNT is under pressure to win. The Americans enter the match on a 71-game home unbeaten streak and are eager to get back to winning after back-to-back losses to England and Spain during their October European swing. It was the first time since 2017 that the U.S. team lost two games in a row.
“We are very hungry for a win coming off two losses — that hasn’t happened in a very long time and it’s not the best feeling,” winger Sophia Smith said. “We also know there’s things we need to work on we didn’t do well enough the last few games, so we’re not putting all the focus on the outcome, but if we do the little things right, we will get the outcome we want.”
Smith has emerged as the latest U.S. star, a young leader, and is expected to be an integral part of the team’s attack heading into the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The 22-year-old Colorado native scored 14 goals in 18 regular-season games for the Portland Thorns this season and became the youngest Most Valuable Player in NWSL history. The only player who scored more was her U.S. teammate Alex Morgan, who scored 15 for San Diego.
Smith grew up admiring Brazilian star Marta and U.S. standout Mia Hamm. She said she also was inspired by tennis legend Serena Williams. She dabbled in basketball, volleyball, track and field and gymnastics, but soccer was her true calling.
Her first U.S. national team call up was at age 16. She played two seasons at Stanford, helped win the 2019 NCAA title and was the top pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft. Over two seasons with Portland she has scored 21 goals in 21 games, including the go-ahead goal in the recent league championship game against Kansas City.
“I try not to put pressure on myself; I just try to be myself,” Smith said. “I want to just be Sophie Smith. I don’t want to be exactly like anyone else. That’s what’s cool about this team. Everyone can be their own unique player and person, and we take pride in that.”
Coach Vlatko Andonovski said what makes Smith stand out is not only her goal production, but her ability to create her own shot.
“She’s special in many different ways,” he said. “Obviously, her ability to score goals is something that she’s very good at. But one thing she’s real special at, if you analyze her goals, is that with the exception of one, all the other ones she created herself, a one-woman show.”
Midfielder Taylor Kornieck said of Smith: “She’s incredible. Every time we play Portland, she’s number one on the list to watch. Her quickness, her speed, her finishing is some of the best I’ve ever seen. She’s very dangerous, and we’re very fortunate to have her on our team.”
Morgan and Mallory Pugh are back on the squad after missing the two games in Europe. Other U.S. players to watch include Megan Rapinoe, Crystal Dunn, Lindsey Horan, Rose LaVelle, Trinity Rodman (daughter of Dennis) and Becky Sauerbrunn.
The German team features Alexandra Popp, Svenja Huth and Lena Oberdorf and is coached by Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, who played for Germany in three World Cups. Germany made an impressive run to the title game of the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro, but fell in overtime to host England, 2-1, in front of a record crowd of 87,192 at Wembley Stadium.
Approximately 2,200 tickets remain for Thursday’s game. They are available through ussoccer.com