USWNT Forward Alex Morgan: It’s Definitely the Group of Death
Former USWNT Defender Heather Mitts: To Be the Best, You Have To Beat the Best
U.S. Soccer star Alex Morgan joined as a guest analyst and shared her reaction to the draw:
“It’s pretty unbelievable. We knew this was going to happen. That’s why when you saw the reaction from the rest of the team in Brazil, they were laughing, because we knew it. We got the toughest countries in all of the pots, the strongest seeds. It’s definitely the group of death. We can’t count out any team.”
Former U.S. Soccer defender and three-time Olympic Gold medalist Heather Mitts added her thoughts on the group:
“To be the best, you have to beat the best. This group of death is very fitting for us. We always struggle against Sweden and Australia. I do think we will beat them, but Sweden is going to be a very tough match. Pia Sundhage (head coach of Sweden and former head coach of USWNT) knows how our team plays and she will be prepared.”
USWNT head coach Jill Ellis joined the show from Ottawa post-draw:
“Overall it’s going to be a physically demanding group and I think that serves us well because we are deep. We are going to have to play very well to get out of there. I feel confident in the next six months to get this team primed and ready.”
Legendary 1999 USWNT head coach Tony DiCicco also weighed in on-site from Ottawa:
“This is the worst case scenario for the USA because they are playing the best team from every pot.”
Two-time World Cup winner with Germany, Ariane Hingst, thinks Germany will
“No disrespect to the other teams, but you can easily say this is a really easy group for Germany to play. Ivory Coast and Netherlands are new names on the pitch. Norway is always hard to play, but Germany definitely has to come out as position one in this group. No doubt about that.”
Retired Mexican defender Monica Gonzalez said the Mexican Women’s National Team has to win next summer:
“What Mexico is looking to do at the very minimum is get a win in this group. Mexico has never gotten a win in a major tournament neither in the World Cup or the Olympics.”
England Women’s National Team all-time leading goal scorer Kelly Smith offered her thoughts on her former team’s match-ups:
“I think coach Mark Sampson will be quite happy with this group. He has brought in a lot of youth, vibrant players that want to do well. The team is in a good place, but we have a lot of work to do. Obviously you don’t want to lose the opening game against France, that will be tough.”
All 52 matches of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 are carried live on FOX and FOX Sports 1. Coverage kicks off on June 6 at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium with hosts Canada, while the USWNT begin its campaign on June 8. The final takes place on July 5 in Vancouver. For more information and analysis, please visit FOXSoccer.com.
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