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Julie Ertz USWNT 2023Getty Images
Ryan Tolmich

What should Vlatko Andonovski do with Julie Ertz? How the USWNT should line-up in Women's World Cup group stage finale with Portugal

The U.S. will likely need to make several changes as they look to avoid an unimaginable group-stage exit

Vlatko Andonovsk is in a tough spot when it comes to his U.S. women's national team lineup. It seems that addressing any problem the USWNT has would only create two more. There are many pieces that can, and maybe should, be moved around, but doing so would only lead to a whole new set of issues.

Still, it's clear that changes are coming. They have to, right? After starting the same XI for back to back games, there's no way Andonovski can roll things out unchanged for the third time at the World Cup.

The question is then: how many changes will he make, and how will the USWNT adjust to those changes when and if they do come?

The U.S. heads into their group stage finale against Portugal with several question marks, but there likely isn't one bigger than Julie Ertz. She's been solid at centerback but, given what we've seen from Andi Sullivan, there's a chance that the U.S. would be a better team with the veteran moved back into her old No. 6 role.

Doing so, though, would expose the defense a bit, leaving Alana Cook as the new defender. It doesn't appear Andonovski has the same level of trust in Cook that he does in Ertz but, given what we've seen, can he afford not to give her a go?

That is assuming, though, that Ertz herself is good to play a third consecutive game, having only just returned from an extended absence from the game after giving birth. Meanwhile, the attack and midfield likely need reshuffling, leaving the U.S. with plenty of problems heading into this third game.

So how does Andonovski line up the USWNT in this one? GOAL takes a look at how the USWNT should look against Portugal...

  • Alyssa Naeher USWNT 2022Getty Images

    GK: Alyssa Naeher

    She hasn't had to do much so far, with that Netherlands goal really the only time anyone has fired a shot toward her. Naeher will be called upon eventually, though, and she'll have to make a few big saves if the U.S. are to win this thing.

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  • Dunn USWNT 2023Getty

    LB: Crystal Dunn

    Was partially at fault for the Netherlands goal as her slip left the USWNT scrambling, but the rest of the game showed just how important Dunn can be.

    She brings so much energy and attacking danger down that left-hand side. If she's fit, she'll be there, even if Twitter would love to see her slide into the midfield.

  • Naomi Girma USWNT 2023Getty

    CB: Naomi Girma

    No chance Girma is going anywhere. The first reason is due to the obvious lack of depth at centerback. The second is that she's been just about perfect so far.

    Despite her relative inexperience, Girma is just so smooth and calm. Any World Cup jitters she may have had should be gone by now. She's here to stay.

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  • Cook USWNT 2023 Ireland

    CB: Alana Cook

    Andonovski's first two lineups make it seem that he doesn't trust Cook as much as he does Ertz, but he's going to have to at some point.

    Cook has a mistake or two in her game, for sure, but she is, generally, a reliable centerback. It's worth at least having a look at what the team looks like with Ertz as the No.6. Maybe a halftime sub shakes things up, but the U.S. may just be a better team with Cook in the lineup.

  • Emily Fox USWNT Ireland 2022-23Getty Images

    RB: Emily Fox

    The USWNT's Swiss Army Knife of a fullback could move to the bench if Andonovski looks to rotate, with both Sofia Huerta and Kelley O'Hara behind her in that left-back depth chart. It feels more likely that we'll see Fox again, though.

  • Ertz USWNT 2023 Vietnam World CupGetty

    CDM: Julie Ertz

    It's a bold call, but one worth making. Ertz has been super solid defensively, with her late block against the Netherlands saving the USWNT a point. However, the midfield's faults were on full display in the first half, and Ertz may just be the piece needed to prevent teams from playing straight through the middle.

    Are there risks to this? Sure. This would require more running from Ertz, who probably still isn't 100 percent back to her old self, while shuffling up a defense that has generally looked good is never ideal.

    Still, the U.S. may not be able to win a World Cup without Ertz in this spot. It's worth finding out.

  • Horan USWNT Netherlands 2023Getty

    CM: Lindsey Horan

    A tricky decision here for Andonovski. Does he move Horan back into a double pivot, either with Sullivan or Ertz? Or does he let her keep attacking in the way that has made her the team's co-leading goalscorer?

    Against a Portugal side that should be overmatched, the answer is probably the latter. Horan's fight and anger was crucial to the USWNT's performance against the Netherlands. Let's see how she carries it into this one.

  • Rose Lavelle USWNT 2023Getty

    CM: Rose Lavelle

    There was a limits restriction in place last time out, but it was clear to see how different this team is with Lavelle in the XI. Can she ramp it up in time for this one?

    The most important thing, of course, is having Lavelle ready for the knockouts. This team isn't winning a World Cup without a fit Lavelle, who completely altered the dynamic of the Netherlands game the moment she stepped on the field.

    So does Andonovski try and get by without her one more time, or does he give her a start and potentially take her off if the game allows it?

  • Sophia Smith USWNT 2023Getty Images

    LW: Sophia Smith

    She was unstoppable in the opener, but was very stoppable in that second match. Which version of Smith will we get in this one? There's still an argument to be made that she may be at her best centrally, which could happen later in the game if subs are made. For now, though, Smith is still a locked in starter.

  • Alex Morgan USWNTGetty

    ST: Alex Morgan

    Morgan has done the little things well, checking back deeper than she ever has before. Still, the USWNT are going to need her to do the big things soon, too. She was oh so close on the offside call against the Netherlands and was much better in the second half. Look for her to play a big role in this one as the veteran leader of this front line.

  • Rodman USWNT 2023Getty

    RW: Trinity Rodman

    Her last game was shaky, to say the least, which makes her a prime candidate to move to the bench. The question then becomes who replaces her.

    Probably not Megan Rapinoe, who isn't here to be a starter. Probably not Alyssa Thompson, who is a bit too young for that. Maybe Lynn Williams, who should have featured in the last game, but Andonovski has said he sees her as more of a game-changing supersub.

    That leaves Rodman with another chance to impress like she did against Vietnam and early on against the Netherlands.