Unpredictability meets consistency when U.S. take on Germany

MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- There’s a huge wild card in this Women’s World Cup semifinal between the U.S. and Germany on Tuesday. They wear the Stars and Stripes.

The Americans are the big X-factor in this showdown at Olympic Stadium against the Germans, who won’t be worried about the U.S. after squeaking by a sensational French team.

For the United States women’s national team, the consequences of this semifinal are pretty significant -- and not just completing the elusive 16-year quest for a third World Cup title. The future of women’s soccer in America is tied to this performance, too.

As soon as this World Cup run ends for the Americans, the women’s national team development program needs to groom a new generation of more technically skilled players. Can U.S. Soccer do it while spending big money to support a few top players as professionals? Meanwhile, a third attempt at establishing a women’s professional soccer league is desperately clinging to life.

History has shown that it is the success of this U.S. women’s national team that has been the catalyst and the engine for women’s soccer back home and make no mistake, these players know it. The stakes are enormous in order for momentum to be carried forward into the 2016 Olympics and into rebuilding for the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France. That’s why every detail of this match deserves scrutiny.

Who’s going to show up in the U.S. lineup against Germany? Will Alex Morgan be paired again with Abby Wambach, the all-time leading goal scorer in all of international soccer who, at 35 years old, doesn’t have the legs or footwork to sustain 90 minutes against Germany’s machine-like execution the whole length of the field?

Amy Rodriguez could not finish her chances in her start against China, but then again, Rodriguez’s runs and pace gave the U.S. options and space. Which way to go now: Aerial presence and a finisher’s mentality on the German goal with Wambach? Or speed and pace to make sure Germany has to work end to end?

In the midfield, could Kelley O’Hara again start wide, this time opposite playmaker Megan Rapinoe? Will Morgan Brian get the nod again at holding mid to give attacking midfielder Carli Lloyd a chance to reinvigorate the mojo the U.S. had against China? It’s tempting, but it may be unrealistic to tempt fate.

It’s a tough call when the team wants to play with energy and expand the use of the roster, but mustn’t coach Jill Ellis revert to a defense-minded set-up against the powerful German offense and send veteran Lauren Holiday back out? Can the U.S. afford to start anything but their most experienced, strongest players?

A huge series of questions has been raised since the U.S. won their quarterfinal performance against China. The U.S. players have talked all throughout this World Cup about peaking at the right time, about playing with freedom and energy and finally, they’ve tasted that first sip. Now they want more and the prospect of them finding that next level seems to have given them hope.

But when it comes to hope, the best chance for any shot at defeating Germany rests with Hope Solo. After a World Cup in which the U.S. goalkeeper has been barely tested, Solo is guaranteed to face the offensive wrath of German stars Celia Sasic and Anja Mittag. Sasic has the tournament-high of six goals, with Mittag riht behind with five, leading a German team who has notched 20 goals total.

At 33, Solo continues to rack up career milestones. She’s tied with Germany’s Nadine Angerer with 9 clean sheets in World Cup games, and both are one shutout behind record holder Briana Scurry. But it seems implausible to think Germany won’t find the back of the net -- and if they don’t, the embattled Solo will have every right to thumb her nose at her critics.

Still, Solo knows there is no mystery to what Germany will do. In their run through group stage play and the knockout rounds, Germany have been the most consistently dominant team in the World Cup. They may have squeaked past France with a 1-1 draw (5-4 on penalties) but in large part, the Germans have created their own luck by having a balanced and dynamic side.

Nine different German players have scored at Canada 2015: Celia Sasic, Anja Mittag, Simone Laudehr, Sara Daebritz, Melanie Behringer, Alexandra Popp, Melanie Leupolz, Lena Petermann and Dzsenifer Marozsan. That is one short of the WWC record for number of goal scorers on a single team, currently held by U.S. set back in 1999 -- the last time the U.S. team was so dominant.

Even for a defense that has featured 423 scoreless minutes dating back to the lone goal given up by the U.S. against Australia, this is a stern test. The onslaught will likely necessitate Julie Johnston to stay home more and at times deprive the U.S. attack of one of their best contributors.

“It’s not what Germany can bring, because they’re going to bring it. They’re great in all aspects of the game. They’re organized. They’re hard to break down. And they know how to attack and possess the ball," Solo said.

"I could talk all day about the strengths that they bring but ultimately it’s about how we play and I think we learned that in our last game versus China. If we play our game, it doesn’t matter who we play in the end we will come out on top. Our team is in a great place and it’s not about any other opponent," she said.

Meanwhile, while the U.S. give lip service to Solo being the best goalkeeper, Germany have another narrative they want to book this World Cup: This is the last time Nadine Angerer will play in a World Cup. The former FIFA World Player of the Year will retire after the Portland Thorns NWSL season, but at this moment, the 36-year-old Angerer is the backbone of the German defense.

"She's consistent. She's confident. She does her job really well," U.S. defender Ali Krieger said about her former Frankfurt teammate. "They really look for her for making those MVP plays. She's a leader and that's what leaders do."

There isn’t a facet of this game or a portion of the field where the Germans won’t test the United States. The No. 1-ranked team has as many reasons to think this is their World Cup as the No. 2-ranked Americans think it’s their turn. The difference is that Germany have proven they have all the right stuff. If the U.S. prove it in this match, it will surely be something exceptional -- and amazing to watch.