Update, Aug. 26, 2019: Since this article was published, Kristen Hamilton was called up to join the senior USWNT rather than the U23’s. You can read more about her call-up here.
Most soccer fans have a love-hate relationship with international breaks. While everyone loves to see their national team do well, there are two things that fans hate more than anything: Not getting to see their favorite club team play, and the dreaded club statement which says, “Player injured on international break,” the latter of which is a real concern for Courage fans going into next week’s break.
The Courage will likely be losing six or more players to the break, including the four USWNT players, as well as forward Kristen Hamilton, who is joining the USWNT U-23’s for the 2019 Nordic Tournament. Apart from the US players, Debinha (Brazil), Denise O’Sullivan (Ireland) and others could be joining their respective national teams for the break.
“We have a few more going than that [six],” NC Courage head coach Paul Riley said after the team’s 1-0 win over Reign FC. “We have a big one to announce soon. It is difficult again. We have them for practice tomorrow, and then they all leave for the next seven or eight days, we are on our own again without them. It is what it is.”
The biggest concern for the Courage going into the break will be the fitness of forward Jessica McDonald who has been relegated to a substitute role over the last few games due to the forward’s lack of fitness.
“I think it is important to understand that when we trained the other day [McDonald] trained for an hour, and she was in the red zone for 58 minutes,” Riley said. “When you are in the red zone for 58 minutes it means you are not there yet … She is not fully fit, and I cannot risk injury…”
Riley also stated in his post-match press conference that he had spoken with the USWNT staff, including head coach Jill Ellis, about McDonald.
“[McDonald] needs to be coddled a little bit,” Riley said. “We do not want to lose Jess at the point because of a hamstring pull or something like that because she’s not ready. It is our job, and Jill’s job and all of the staff on both staffs to make sure these players can come back fully healthy, ready to play and that we don’t overplay them.”
With just seven regular-season games left the season, the Courage will need all its firepower to push for a good position in the table come playoff time. Currently, the Courage sits second, five points back of Portland but with a game in hand.
While second place in the table to a solid position going towards the playoffs, the Courage’s spot in second is precarious. Just four points separate the Courage from Reign FC, who the Courage just beat on August 24. Reign FC currently sit in fifth just outside the playoff position so the Courage is well aware of the instability of its position in the table.
While an injury to a key player could spell disaster for the Courage down the stretch, the international break could also springboard the Courage back ahead of the Portland Thorns.
If all of the players return from the break uninjured and in decent fitness, there is no reason to doubt this team’s ability to top the table. Players like Sam Mewis, Crystal Dunn, Abby Dahlkemper, Jessica McDonald, Stephanie Labbé, Abby Erceg and Debinha have all made huge impacts since their return from the World Cup. If those players can keep firing on all cylinders, there could be another NWSL final coming for this team on Oct. 27.
