Naomi Girma Makes Uswnt Return In Squad For Friendlies Against Italy

Naomi Girma was named to nan US women’s nationalist squad roster connected Wednesday for a brace of upcoming matches against Italy aft returning from a calf injury.

The defender had been sidelined since nan commencement of nan play pinch Chelsea but precocious returned to nan starting lineup, playing nan first-half of the Blues’ 6-0 triumph complete St Pölten successful nan Champions League and coming connected for nan 2nd half of their 1-1 tie pinch Liverpool complete nan weekend. She has not played for nan US since a 3-0 triumph complete Canada connected 2 July.

“I’m conscionable truthful happy she’s back,” USWNT caput coach Emma Hayes said successful a convention telephone pinch reporters. “I recognize much and much nan importance, not conscionable of her qualities connected nan field, but her quiet activity – not conscionable successful position of starring nan line, but disconnected nan section arsenic well.

“Before we had to put guardant nan provisional roster, she made judge she called and texted maine respective times to say, ‘I’m fit. I’m coming.’ Like, I don’t cognize why she’d deliberation we wouldn’t bring her anyhow if she’s fresh and healthy. But fto maine show you, Naomi will beryllium nan first personification successful camp.”

The US will play Italy for their last 2 matches of nan twelvemonth connected 28 November astatine Inter&Co Stadium successful Orlando and connected 1 December astatine Chase Stadium successful Fort Lauderdale.

Hayes named 26 players to nan campy roster and 23 players will beryllium disposable for each match.

Trinity Rodman was near disconnected nan roster arsenic she continues to retrieve from a knee injury. The guardant appeared arsenic a precocious substitute successful nan Washington Spirit’s 2-0 semi-final triumph complete nan Portland Thorns past play and astir scored successful nan sixth infinitesimal of stoppage clip but her changeable went conscionable wide.

The Spirit play Gotham FC connected Saturday successful nan NWSL title crippled successful San Jose, California.

“She was fortunate to get a fewer minutes nan different day, but she’s still moving her measurement back,” Hayes said. “And nan reality is, we felt together pinch an important campy and big-game minutes required, she’s not successful a position to do that. And I deliberation you cognize Trin, much than anyone, wants to beryllium playing pinch nan nationalist team, truthful we dream that tin hap successful nan caller year. But it has conscionable travel excessively soon to beryllium honest, and her wellbeing and use is of value to me.”

Goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce was besides near disconnected nan US roster while she recovers from a fractured oculus socket suffered during a crippled for Manchester United past week.

Midfielder Croix Bethune, who has not played for nan United States since July, was included connected nan roster. Like Rodman, Bethune plays for nan Spirit.

Two players person been called up to nan nationalist squad for nan first time: Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz and Chicago Stars guardant Jameese Joseph. Washington Spirit defender Kate Wiesner earned a 2nd call-up aft being named arsenic a training subordinate for a campy past year.

The roster pinch nine affiliation:

Goalkeepers

Claudia Dickey (Seattle Reign), Mandy McGlynn (Utah Royals), Jordan Silkowitz (Bay FC)

Defenders

Jordyn Bugg (Seattle Reign), Emily Fox (Arsenal), Girma (Chelsea), Avery Patterson (Houston Dash), Lilly Reale (Gotham), Izzy Rodriguez (Kansas City Current), Emily Sams (Orlando Pride), Emily Sonnett (Gotham), Kennedy Wesley (San Diego Wave), Wiesner (Washington Spirit)

Midfielders

Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns), Lindsey Heaps (Lyon), Jaelin Howell (Gotham), Claire Hutton (Kansas City Current), Rose Lavelle (Gotham), Lily Yohannes (Lyon)

Forwards

Jameese Joseph (Chicago Stars), Catarina Macario (Chelsea), Olivia Moultrie (Portland Thorns), Emma Sears (Racing Louisville), Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham FC), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea)