Bench Alex Morgan? Soccer legend Carli Lloyd calls for big changes ahead of USA’s clash against Portugal

Former USWNT captain Carli Lloyd has not held back when voicing her opinions on the USA’s current state of fairs at the Women’s World Cup. The two-time world champion, who played a staggering 316 games over a sixteen yearlong international career, has pleaded with head coach Vlatko Andonovskito make some big changes as the United States go into their crucial clash against Portugal in the final game of Group E.

Having criticized Andonovski last week for his team’s ‘concerning’ lack of attacking output and ruthlessness in front of goal, the former soccer sensation has suggested that he makes some big changes in attack- one of which involves her former teammate and this roster’s top goal scorer, Alex Morgan.

“To spice things up a little bit, to change it up, I am going with the line-up that is behind me. I am taking Alex Morgan out. She’s done well, she’s occupied the centre-backs, she’s dragged and pulled players out and whatnot,” said Lloyd live on Fox Sports.

“But I just feel like the three up top have been very narrow, so we need to create some width. So, we can put Sophia Smith up in the 9, on the left Trinity Rodman, on the right Lynn Williams.”

Lloyd’s comments come after questions have been raised as to whether a front three composed of Morgan, Rodman and Smith is the team’s best option. Despite individually being outstanding players, the trio have failed to show their quality as a unit.

They started the first two games together, and aside from the first match in which Rodman came off for Alyssa Thompson, the three have not been rotated.

There are plenty of other attacking options on the bench. Lynn Williams, as Carli Lloyd suggested, is an outstanding backup and could come into the starting eleven against Portugal. Alyssa Thompson is also an option but given her very limited experience at this level, she’ll likely be called upon to make an impact from the bench.