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At 10 A.M. ET on Monday morning, the 21-player squad for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be announced live on ESPN. It will mark the culmination of four years worth of semifinals meltdowns, candid outbursts, Olympic glory, retirements of legends, star-making debuts, and imperious victories followed by a spate of lackluster results.

The following is the prospective 21-player squad. It’s changed since I first published my predictions back on April 11. Jeff Kassouf reports that the players were informed on Friday, and naturally, everyone is keeping hushed on Twitter. Here’s the squad with explanations:

On the plane:

Hope Solo – The firebrand is nothing but a cold stone lock to go to Germany. The magicJack goalkeeper opted to have extensive shoulder surgery that included a recovery period in time to be fully fit for her second World Cup. Solo is set to turn 30 during the World Cup, and will undoubtedly be looking forward to having several reasons to celebrate.

Nicole Barnhart – Barnhart is a dependable back-up, and a mostly trustworthy no. 1. What Barnhart lacks in explosive dynamism she makes up for in calmness and cerebral decision-making. You never really have to worry with Barnie in goal, and she won’t have to worry about making the final squad.

Ashlyn Harris – Last year Harris’ end-of-season brilliance paved the way for the Washington Freedom’s to make the playoffs and helped land herself back on the national team map. At one point, Harris was a rising star but her career got sidetracked by two ACL injuries. It’s a long time coming for a player who has been in the USWNT’s set-up since 2001, and is still looking to earn a senior cap. She may not earn one until after the World Cup, but her involvement should be critical to the program moving forward.

On the outs:

Jillian Loyden - Loyden’s World Cup chances were severely damaged by Harris’ late fireworks. The 25 year-old had a competent debut performance in net in the team’s first friendly against China in October. The match capped off what was a thoroughly competent season with the Chicago Red Stars. Jillian Loyden is a competent goalkeeper, but probably doesn’t have enough to put her a cut above the rest. Besides, magicJack would sure love to keep her in South Florida throughout the season.

On the plane:

Rachel Buehler – The incredibly tenacious central defender is now a USWNT staple, and deservedly so. She can do a job at left-back, but is most useful at center-back. Buehler is capable of winning aerial challenges (despite being 5’5), and is most likely to come out of ground challenges with the ball. She’s been quietly consistent for the past 14 months, despite being involved in some dire matches.

Stephanie Cox – Cox can be spotty at times, which is perhaps why she has yet to really nail down the left-back position. However, her performances with the Breakers this season prove she can still perform up to task. At 21, the outside back was the youngest person included in the 2007 Women’s World Cup squad. Prior World Cup experience will certainly work in her favor, even if she’s not automatically first choice.

Ali Krieger – The 26 year-old’s unconventional journey back into the senior squad has been pretty remarkable. Three years of playing club soccer in Germany hasn’t put the right-back at risk of flying off the radar. Quite the contrary, in fact. Krieger has had her share of unconvincing moments in a United States shirt, but her pace and attack mindedness should ease her passage into the squad. That and her familiarity with the German language, culture, and surroundings. That can’t hurt, honestly.

Amy LePeilbet - Something’s been up with Amy LePeilbet as of late. She skipped the duration of the Algarve Cup because of an injury concern, and got trampled at left-back against England in April. Neither of those things are really her fault, and when she’s on her day, LePeilbet can be unbeatable. She will most definitely be in Germany, and will hopefully be in form, too.

Heather Mitts – The veteran right-back may have lost her legs a bit, but she’s been having a quietly solid season with the Atlanta Beat this year. Although injuries have been a concern this calendar year, Mitts still has something to offer and will likely be picked if healthy.

Christie Rampone - Rampone is the only World Cup winner within the USWNT’s midst. The veteran is poised to be a rock in central defense. She played her way back into the squad in October 2010 after returning from maternity leave, and will be the squad’s natural leader in Germany.

Becky Sauerbrunn – And here’s the conundrum. If tradition is anything to go by, head coach Pia Sundhage could select three goalkeepers, six defenders, eight midfielders, and four forwards. That allocation was used in both the Greg Ryan-helmed 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad and Sundhage’s 2008 Summer Olympics roster. On the other hand, she could also elect to go down the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup route and pick seven defenders and seven midfielders. The USWNT no longer has the services of Lori Chalupny or Kate Markgraf, and depth at outside back continues to be a serious concern. The seven defenders/seven midfielders combination very well come to fruition, given the USWNT’s dearth of defensive choices. The constant chopping and changing of the back line since May 2010 suggests that Sundhage isn’t wedded to any one set of four defenders. Therefore having three reliable options grants Sundhage more breathing room. And going off of the USWNT’s woeful defensive performance against England, many options can only be a good thing.

With that in mind, Becky Sauerbrunn should be the poster child for players whose national careers immensely benefitted from WPS. The 25 year-old is something of a late-bloomer, but she certainly merits a place in the squad thanks to her adaptability and tireless work rate. Sauerbrunn’s inclusion in the CONCACAF WWCQ surprised some people, but she earned it thanks to her body of work with the Freedom. The one negative to Sauerbrunn’s selection is that she’ll no longer be the Cal Ripken of WPS.

On the outs:

Whitney Engen – The center-back/utility outside back was one of the most unheralded rookies in WPS last season. Engen’s acute sense of positioning and ball-winning skills should make her a shoo-in for the 2015 WWC cycle, but simply has too many experienced players ahead of her this time around.

On the plane:

Shannon Boxx - Just because the USWNT’s formation is set up in a peculiar way doesn’t necessarily mean it’s Shannon Boxx’s fault. The steely midfielder would excel as the team’s lone defensive midfielder, but perhaps Coach Sundhage feels her passing skills would be sacrificed by playing in a deeper role. Either way, Boxx’s experience and poise are enough to send her to Germany. Alongside Rampone and Abby Wambach, Boxx could be one of just three USWNT players set to play in their third consecutive World Cups.

Tobin Heath – Heath has been on the precipice of international and club stardom since 2008, but injury has gotten in the way. The flashy winger had several strong showings at the Algarve Cup and should get the chance to live up to the hype on the world’s stage this summer.

Lori Lindsey – Lindsey blows hot and cold often, but the accuracy of her passing and physical presence guarantees her a spot in the squad, even if it’s on the bench.

Carli Lloyd – Everything that needs to be said about Carli Lloyd has been said. With Lloyd you get a hard hitting, vivacious midfielder capable of scoring a few long-distance blinders and Gold Medal-winning goals. You always get a player who is capable of committing silly fouls, losing the ball, and not being either creative or defensive enough to win the battle in midfield. Sometimes you even get both of these things in a single match.

Heather O’Reilly – The right outside midfielder’s industry is legendary. O’Reilly is the ultimate team player. She shines most when the teammates around her are connecting and scoring the chances she’s carved out for them. She’s always a sure thing.

Megan Rapinoe - Rapinoe’s solo effort against England should have dispelled any doubts over her ability to score at the international level. Inconsistency has been a big bug-a-boo of the left-sided midfielder’s, but she’s done enough to merit a spot on the squad. And plus she’s got style and panache to boot.

Lindsay Tarpley – Lindsay Tarpley’s re-birth in Boston proved to be no fluke. It also helped catapult Tarpley back into the squad, just when it seemed a litany of injuries had taken its toll. The experienced midfielder/forward tallied three goals in four total games for the USWNT this year. If that goal record and Tarpley’s hundred-plus caps aren’t enough to land her a spot in the squad as a super sub, nothing will.

On the outs:

Yael Averbuch - The 24 year-old took a calculated risk by choosing to remain in West Palm Beach with the USWNT instead of playing for her Western New York Flash club team for the beginning of the season. Averbuch’s dedication to the national team is certainly admirable, but it’s quite the chuck of the dice. WPS’s fragile state at the moment makes her decision even bolder. Her total non-involvement in the Algarve Cup didn’t bode well for her World Cup chances, which could have partially motivated her to skip out on club duty “until the end of the World Cup”. Still, the question that must be asked is what Averbuch can offer that Tarpley, Heath etc. can not. The midfielder has a fine first touch and is a steady defensive midfielder, but her sophomore year in WPS with Sky Blue didn’t rival her rookie season. When it comes down to it, Averbuch simply doesn’t have the national team experience of Tarpley or the guile of Heath. The “defense is much more pressing than midfield, thus Sundhage needs to have more defensive options” argument also comes to play here. If the roster limit could be raised to 23 (like it presumably will in 2015), she would not have difficulty making the squad. As it currently stands, however, her inclusion would be quite surprising.

Kelley O’Hara – Here’s the flipside of the Sauerbrunn conundrum. O’Hara has yet to really light the USWNT world on fire, but she’s still in the early stages of her international career. The outside midfielder/winger would be capable of being a creative force out wide whilst mixing it up with opponents. With that being said, the USWNT has numerous options in midfield and few at defender. For that reason and that reason alone, O’Hara misses the cut.

Christine Nairn – The new D.C. United Women midfielder’s call-up suggests youth development more than anything else. It also means that Nairn is still very much in the senior USWNT picture, but is currently out of frame.

Meghan Klingenberg - Again, chalk this one up to youth development. The WPS rookie has a work ethic that is very much in the mold of fellow Tar Heel HAO, but Klingenberg can also defend. She’s undoubtedly one for the future.

Kristie Mewis - Mewis still has to play herself into contention, but the 20 year-old Boston College midfielder could be one of the USWNT’s best options in central midfield moving forward. She won’t be making her World Cup debut this year, but the day is sure to come.

On the plane:

Lauren Cheney – Lauren Cheney may not bang in a goal every game but her constant work off the ball must be highlighted. The 24 year-old striker is fearsome with her back to goal, and can move into a deeper role to help create space for her fellow forwards. Cheney is part of the USWNT’s Plan B, and is thus indispensable.

Alex Morgan – You’ll never hear it from her, but Alex Morgan is a star, and could be the USWNT’s brightest hope this World Cup in every way imaginable.

Amy Rodriguez – A-Rod seems to excel most as a lone striker. The 24 year-old has plenty of speed to burn that can carve up defenses and fool goalkeepers. She’s also less multi-dimensional than some of the fellow forwards. She’s a lock to go to Germany, but won’t play to her highest capabilities if she continues to be handcuffed by the current formation.

Abby Wambach - The towering forward can be one of the deadliest female strikers in the world. She’s also used her physical assets to take up a more playmaking role, perhaps to specifically suit the characteristics of frequent strike partner Amy Rodriguez. That particular formation hasn’t really worked in the past 10 months or so, but Wambach’s superiority should shine through the tactics.

On the outs:

Sydney Leroux - The UCLA Bruin had a stellar 2010 U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup despite sometimes misfiring at the collegiate level so far. She could be primed for integration into the senior side if she continues to be more hit and less miss.

Full disclosure, I still haven’t entirely convinced myself of my own “Sauerbrunn over O’Hara” argument. Sundhage might also decide to throw a complete curve ball and drop, say, Heather Mitts in favor of Yael Averbuch or something similar. With this USWNT team, you really never know what you’re going to get.

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