FOX Sports FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 Preview Press Call Highlights

Today, FOX Sports FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2015™ analysts Tony DiCicco, Alexi Lalas and Angela Hucles, along with FOX Sports FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP™ Executive Producer David Neal, previewed the month-long tournament, which kicks off Saturday, June 6. A replay of today’s press call is available by dialing 719-457-0820 and entering passcode 2001635. Highlights from the call appear below. FOX Sports presents exclusive coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 beginning with the hour-long FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2015™ PREVIEW on Friday, June 5, at 7:30 PM ET on FOX Sports 1.

Alexi Lalas says U.S. fans should expect their team to win the World Cup:
“No one has put more resources, money, attention or focus into their women’s program than the United States. With that, we expect results. If you’re a U.S. fan, you should expect this team to win the World Cup. Anything less, maybe you could consider it a failure. They care about winning and they expect their team to win. That type of pressure is engrained. We’ve said this since 1999, and it’s certainly time to change that, but it’s not time to change the expectation. Expect your team to win this summer because of the talent that they have, because of the resources that they are given and because of the success that they have had.”

Tony DiCicco believes the USWNT expects and is expected to win the Women’s World Cup:
“This group of players, led by Abby Wambach, Shannon Boxx, Carli Lloyd, Hope Solo and Christie Rampone, they have all been so excellent for so long. I can’t imagine them leaving the game without having a World Cup Championship. They were close in 2011 – you just don’t get any closer. Every time the U.S. women go into an event, they have to win. And they can’t just win – they have to win with flare, style and beauty. That’s what is expected of the USA women, and I love that expectation. That’s why every event that the U.S. women go into, the only thing they’re thinking of is standing on the top of the podium that last day.”

Angela Hucles says expectations are high for the USWNT partially because stars like Abby Wambach and Christie Rampone have announced this will be their final Women’s World Cup:
“You really want to win for those players that have given so much to the sport and the team. It’s another incentive for every single plyer and coach on the U.S. team. We’re not going to see an easy road for the U.S. team. To play seven games against talented competition, it will be a challenge. However, they want this so badly, and this has been their focus. That experience, combined with the talent of the United States team, they will have a very excellent chance at success.”

David Neal says that having a record 16 games on broadcast television is an important part of FOX Sports’ FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 on-air strategy:
“The broadcast network is still an extremely powerful platform, and it can be a difference-maker. There is definitely a strategic reason why we’re putting 16 matches on big FOX. The real delineation between a successful broadcast for us and a hit is going to be the ability to attract casual viewers – people who might not describe themselves as sports fans, much less soccer fans. The way you still most-effectively reach the audience that is larger than just a sports audience is through broadcast network coverage. For us, it is a significant and important part of our overall strategy to be on big FOX to be able to reach the maximum amount of potential viewers in the United States.”

Lalas says Alex Morgan’s injury could be a huge opportunity for Sydney Leroux:
“Without Alex Morgan, it’s going to be a big question what [head coach] Jill Ellis is going to do up top. If it’s a combination, as we’ve seen in the past between Sydney Leroux and Amy Rodriguez or Abby Wambach, and how that changes regarding the opponents they are playing is going to be important. Somebody like Sydney Leroux – who has been driving for that starting spot and at times because of circumstances hasn’t necessarily had it – this is a wonderful opportunity for her. [Leroux] has the opportunity and needs to step up.”

DiCicco says the USWNT will be in the hunt for a championship, due in part to its improved defense:
“It’s a better defense than it was in 2011. In 2011, the U.S. conceded seven goals in their last four games, and you just don’t win World Cups conceding goals that late in the tournament. They’re going to be in the hunt deep into this tournament.”

Hucles on how the Women’s World Cup expansion, from 16 teams to 24, impacts the game:
“What we’re seeing is the growth of the women’s game with more young players getting involved. At the international level, much more attention and support is being given to the women’s teams. Obviously, there’s a long way to go, but with the expansion of this tournament, it really allows for some of the teams that may not have had the opportunity to play at this level, at this world stage, to really give them the opportunity, exposure and growth for their individual game and their nation’s game. We’re seeing some of the other teams like the Ivory Coast and Thailand that are getting their first experiences in the World Cup. That also helps the other teams that have had experience on this level like the U.S. and France. Every team has had to develop their game because there are more teams that are being allowed in this tournament. The top teams now actually have to further their games as well.”

Neal says that the success of the USWNT is important to FOX Sports’ audience:
“American viewers love seeing American athletes succeed. The success of the U.S. National Team is without question hugely important to us. Having said that, this is the world’s most important women’s sports event, and we will cover it fully and with that level of enthusiasm throughout, regardless of the results we get from the U.S. team. But do we hope to see the U.S. team playing in the final on July 5? Absolutely.”

Hucles says Abby Wambach will be important on and off the field:
“Abby Wambach will play a crucial role in this World Cup. It probably won’t be in the same sense that we’ve typically seen her. There are some players on this team right now like Shannon Boxx, Christie Rampone, Abby Wambach and Heather O’Reilly who have veteran experience for this team, and some of these players, especially Boxx, is on the team because she knows what it’s like to be in this tournament. When it comes to Abby, whether she’s on the field or off the field, she is the leader for this team.”

DiCicco breaks down his top title contenders:
Canada – “A few months ago Canada had no chance in my mind, but their coach John Herdman has really impressed me. Herdman has this team believing. Having coached a team that is the host country, there are going to be some nerves too. You might see some early game issues, but if they can get through those, they’ll go deep into the tournament.”
Germany – “I have Germany in the final. They’re a proven commodity, know how to win big games and are incredibly talented. They’re deep, and you have to be deep in this tournament because of the extra game, travel and because of the synthetic surface that is going to take players longer to recover.”
Brazil – “You never know with Brazil. They have Marta, and Marta can carry them. They have a lot of talent, and if they get on a roll, they can go deep and into the final.”
Japan – “They’re really impressive and are very clean technically. They’ve also worked to mesh their older players with their younger players. [Head coach] Norio Sasaki is a good coach, and they’re focused.”
France – “France has got everything. The only thing they don’t have is the experience of getting into a final and winning that game.”
USA – “The USA comes to these events and there’s only one goal, and it’s to win. Anything else is coming up short. That kind of focus, talent and preparation will carry them deep into the tournament.”