This preview will be conducted in listy question form because a.) lists are just easier and b.) there are simply a ton of questions to ask of the USWNT right now. This United States’ squad list will likely look very similar to the squad list of players who will be heading to Germany next summer. So how will the team fare in its first truly meaningful tournament since the Olympics in 2008? Questions have arisen over the year, most notably at defense and center midfield.

This will be a relatively new defense with new faces (Ali Krieger, Becky Sauerbrunn) and a new center-back pairing (either LePeilbet/Buehler or LePeilbet/Rampone). Only two defenders who were on the 2007 WWC squad have made the trip to Germany (a 21 year-old Stephanie Cox and Rampone).

The midfield has been a source of debate for the past several months. Lori Lindsey occupied the spot in central midfield alongside Shannon Boxx but was fairly inconsistent. Carli Lloyd has recovered from injury and returned to the USWNT fray despite not playing for her club team Sky Blue FC. Lloyd may pry her old position back from Lindsey or perhaps Coach Sundhage will flip the script and play a true holding player behind the midfield three. The United States will certainly qualify for the 2011 Women’s World Cup. The team will certainly plough through the group stage. The question is which USWNT team will be on display? (One that can hopefully beat Germany…again)

10.) The USWNT will face Haiti, Guatemala, and Costa Rica in the group stage. Anyone have an over/under?

Please excuse the lack of black-and-white statistics to back this up but historically when the United States plays a CONCACAF team not name Canada, the USWNT score a ton of goals. CONCACAF staged an expedited Gold Cup back in ’06 thereby allowing the U.S. to enter into the semi-finals. Now that things have been reverted back to the group stage/knockout tournament things could get ugly. In 2002 the USWNT faced Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago and Panama. The score lines read 3-0, 3-0, and 9-0. Haiti and Costa Rica might not allow such bombastic score lines but really, who are we kidding.

9.) Will Becky Sauerbrunn provide the answer at full back?

The 25 year-old Washington Freedom defender hasn’t suited up for the USWNT since January of 2008 (thanks for the tidbit, faithful WNT tweeter). In fairness, her sudden call-up speaks volumes to the absolute dearth of quality full backs in the USWNT system (and Jo Lohman’s nagging injury). Regardless, Sauerbrunn has easily been one of the most underrated WPS players in both 2010 and 2009. Her composure, work rate and doggedness will be welcome additions to the USWNT set-up. Even if Sauerbrunn isn’t an automatic starter, she will provide the USWNT with something it is in desperate need of: depth.

8.) Speaking of the dearth of full backs, will the USWNT defense finally be sorted out?

China ran the back four ragged in the Chester, PA friendly a few weeks ago. The defense lacked both pace and a collective understanding of positioning. It will be interesting to see who Coach Sundhage pairs Amy LePeilbet up with. Will she reunite the blessed LePeilbet/Buehler partnership or roll the dice with the more recent LePeilbet/Rampone pairing? If Sundhage does indeed go for the latter, it could indicate two things:

a.) the week and a half of training has given LePeilbet and Rampone plenty of time to gel. And frankly, the three group games may only be three slightly more rigorous training sessions. It might also mean that two 99ers (the other being Lilly, duh) will be on that Lufthansa flight next summer.

b.) the full back situation is really that dire. Sauerbrunn, Mitts, Cox and Krieger probably wouldn’t make a World XI but they should do enough to keep Rachel Buehler from moon-lighting at left-back again. Right?

7.) Which Rapinoe flew to Cancun?

Certainly it’s Megan Rapinoe and not her Zwellingschwester twin sister Rachael Rapinoe, who’s apparently off in Iceland somewhere. So it’s Megan Rapinoe but is it CRS Megan Rapinoe or USWNT Megan Rapinoe? Because the USWNT Megan Rapinoe has been pretty awesome as of late. The USWNT Megan Rapinoe sometimes catches flak because of the CRS Megan Rapinoe. You know, the one who has scored a grand total of three goals in 38 professional matches. In contrast, the USWNT Megan Rapinoe has tallied an outstanding games-to-goals ratio of 2.8. Only Abby Wambach and Kristine Lilly have better numbers. As 2010 has proven, the USWNT will eke its inspiration and productivity either from headers from Abby or from slashing runs from the outside midfielders, namely the newly-engaged Heather O’Reilly. Rapinoe will play a huge part in this, particularly if it’s the USWNT Megan Rapinoe with the exuberant goal celebrations.

6.) Is A-Rod’s starting spot at striker secure?

The 23 year-old should win her 50th USWNT cap tonight but according to her games-per-goals ratio of 6.125, she’s not due for a USWNT goal for another three matches. Obviously that statistic means very little, particularly when you consider the fact that this is the group stage of CONCACAF WWCQ and everybody is capable of scoring. Coach Sundage could use her striking substitutions quite liberally, leaving both Lauren Cheney and Alex Morgan with golden opportunities to win the starting job alongside Abby. And hey, if there’s one player who is going into this game in USWNT goal-scoring form it’s Alex Morgan.

5.) Who will partner up with Shannon Boxx in central midfield?

Hopefully the answer will be no one, as Yael Averbuch will be used as a holding midfielder behind Boxx. Averbuch will be used as Leslie Osborne’s proxy, of course. In reality, the day Carli Lloyd and/or Lori Lindsey get dropped from the starting line-up will be the day that Tiffeny Milbrett makes her triumphant return to the USWNT. Look for Lloyd and Lindsey to be rotated at center midfield. Will the midfield be better off for it? We’ll see.

Q’s 4-1 and wild predictions after the jump.

4.) Will Kristine Lilly provide yet another blast from the past?

The 39 year-old has had some fantastic moments with the USWNT this year, including her lovely goal against Germany in May and her lively turn in that otherwise dire China friendly. Never mind the fitness tests, Lilly continues to defy things like time and logic. She’s always had productive Gold Cups (including the 120’ goal that won the U.S. the 2006 Gold Cup). Expect nothing less this time.

3.) Can Canada or Mexico possibly pull off the upset?

New Zealand might argue with this point but there is no easier route of qualification into the Women’s World Cup than that of the USWNT’s. A variation of the U.S., Mexico and Canada has finished in the top three since the inception of the tournament. There is no reason to believe things will be any different this time around. The question is not if the USWNT will qualify but how they will qualify. As was previously highlighted, Mexico has had a pretty disappointing 2010 although the team could be buoyed by several promising U-20 players. Canada, on the other hand, will undoubtedly pose the biggest threat to the USWNT’s stranglehold on the competition. Teams have found Canada’s defensive formation difficult to break down and with a clinical Christine Sinclair up against a questionable U.S. defense, this could be Canada’s best chance yet. (Psstt if this scenario does happen, the USWNT needs to break Canada down on the wings, first and foremost. Germany did just that in the September friendly and absolutely devastated Canada’s defense with the likes of wingers Martina Muller, Kerstin Garefrekes and Celia da Mbabi Okoyino).

2.) Will Coach Sundhage play a true holding midfielder?

That will be the day. Aside from at outside back, the most gaping hole in the USWNT set-up is in central midfield. Without a true DM, Both Shannon Boxx and (insert Shannon Boxx’s partner here) are asked to fulfill both attacking and defensive roles, rather than just committing to one. Such a thing can create confusion and disorganization in midfield. When this happens, there is neither a defensive buffer nor a creative central outlet. This has been a frequent problem this year and hopefully it gets sorted out.

1.) Will Coach Sundhage toy with the formation?

If we know anything about Pia Sundhage it’s that she absolutely loves the 4-4-2. That’s a flat back four, a flat four across midfield, Abby Wambach in a free-ish role behind the center forward and said center forward (presumably A-Rod) up top. After the 4-4-2 formation failed miserably against China recently, a myriad of readers sent in their own preferred formations and boy, did they vary. Sundhage will have the luxury to slot in different players and experiment with new systems in the group stage, particularly if things are looking good at half time. Tactical versatility is a good thing, particularly when going into a World Cup year. How about a 4-3-3 with O’Reilly, Boxx and Rapinoe in the middle with Wambach, Rodriguez and Cheney up top or a 4-1-3-2 with Averbuch in the holding role, O’Reilly, Boxx and Rapinoe in the middle and Wambach and Rodriguez at the tip of the triangle? The possibilities are endless and hopefully explored.

The time when Jenna proves how little she knows about women’s soccer.

So this little guy may have passed away recently but that doesn’t mean we can invoke his spirit and try out of own silly predictions.

That over/under from Question #10? Let’s put it at 13 goals.

I’ll take the over.

Becky Sauerbrunn will appear in a maximum of two games.

That glum look she had after the USWNT’s draw against China had less to do with the fact that her team was totally awful and more to do with the injustice that kept her the marooned on the bench alongside Jillian Loyden. We might have to get used to that glum look.

If Heather O’Reilly scores, the left outside midfielder (either Lilly or Rapinoe) will score as well.

Legit stat: every time HAO has scored for the USWNT this year, her outside midfield counterpart has scored as well.

Coach Sundhage won’t play a true holding midfielder.

And AWK’s new tagline will become “Hey USWNT Coaches, A Holding Midfielder Would Have Just Prevented That Horrible Defensive Mishap”

Rachel Buehler will play most of the tournament at left-back.

But the damage won’t be apparent until the Final against Canada.

There won’t be any goals from any defenders.

Not even in the open range that will be the group stage.

Kristine Lilly will earn her 350th, 351st, 352nd and 353rd caps. She will also score her 131st and 132nd goals.

That will put her just 26 goals behind Mia Hamm’s record total of 158 USWNT goals.

Christine Sinclair will score at least 5 goals, and perhaps all in one game.

Legit stat: Brandi Chastain and Tiffeny Milbrett are the only players to have scored five goals in a single Gold Cup match. They also played/play for FC Gold Pride. Hmm. (Thanks, Angie)

The USWNT will be tested mightily by a defensive-minded Canada in the Final but will ultimately win.

Bold Predictions:

Haiti will provide the story of the tournament. The team will qualify out of Group B and will face Mexico in the 3rd place match. Mexico will win the game, however, and will thus qualify to the UEFA/CONCACAF play-off where they will lose to Italy.

The Wambach/Morgan pairing will be more productive than the Wambach/Rodriguez and/or the Wambach/Cheney pairing. Amy Rodriguez may have led her team to the WPS Championship game this season but has she scored a perfect hat-trick? Because Alex Morgan has.

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