Abby Wambach Still Vital to US Women’s Soccer World Cup Chances

Abby Wambach is just as much of a US Soccer legend on the women’s side as Landon Donovan is on the men’s side of US Soccer.

Both legends were vital to their team’s success in their respective World Cup runs.

Donovan will forever be remembered for his vital goal against Algeria that sent the US through to the knockout stage.  Wambach will be remembered for among other huge goals, her last moment header against Brazil in extra time that kept the US alive in the 2011 Women’s World Cup semifinal – a match the US would win in PKs.

Heading into the 2014 men’s World Cup, Donovan was unceremoniously left off the roster; a decision that was quite unpopular among US Soccer supporters.

In a similar fashion, headed into the 2015 Women’s World Cup, the US women’s team seemed to be looking for Wambach’s replacememt.

Wambach spent a lot of time on the USA bench in this cycle.

Coach Jill Ellis featured Alex Morgan when fit in the forward role, and Christen Press as well.

Sydney Leroux also got a lot of action as a starter and a substitute early on in the cycle.

However, in direct contrast to the manner in which Jurgen Klinsmaan handled the Donovan decision, in April, Jill Ellis named Wambach to her final roster.

However, at the time, the decision seemed more sentimental than anything else.

In the US’s last major tournament, the Algarve Cup in March, Wambach featured sparingly in the matches and most glaringly as just an 85th minute substitute in the final and did not seem to figure into the United States’ attack.

However, as the US began its sendoff series with a Mother’s Day 3-0 win over Ireland, Wambach started and showed the talent that has made her an indispensable member of the US squad.

She made her presence known early in the match when she nearly scored on one of her patented headers.

She found the net calmly to put the US up 1-0 as she kicked home from inside the box after the US had several chances to score.

Wambach added her second with her head off a perfect corner kick to put the USA in command.

Wambach was constantly marked in the box and Ireland defenders had to be aware of her movements all game.

It was a reminder of what the squad looked like four years ago when it finished runner up in the World Cup, and three years ago when it won gold at the Olympics.  Hopefully, a sign that this team is ready to make another run with Wambach still featured in attack.