da apostebet： GOAL takes a look at what to watch for in these two friendlies against South Africa as the U.S. begins the preparing for the Olympics and beyond

da mrbet： The 2023 World Cup is now over for the United States women's national team. The tournament will be remembered as a failure, but perhaps a failure that served as a reboot point for a program that probably needed it.

But as we enter this first post-World Cup camp, it is fair to say that that reboot is on hold, at least for a little while. The USWNT is a team in transition, yes, but that transition hasn't quite happened yet. Instead, the U.S. has a squad full of World Cup veterans for these two friendlies against South Africa, including two legitimate legends that will be saying goodbye.

These games will serve as the swansongs for Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz, two historic figures for this program. They'll be surrounded by many of the players they competed with this summer as they prepare to say goodbye and move onto the next stage.

While those two will get the headlines, though, this camp is about more than just that. The farewells are nice, yes, but there are several new faces in this camp that could be very, very important as the U.S. puts this World Cup behind them and begins looking ahead to the 2024 Olympics, as well as the 2027 World Cup.

Getty ImagesNew coach bounce?

The Vlatko Andonovski era is over, and the (temporary) Twila Kilgore era is now beginning. Kilgore is serving as the USWNT's interim coach for now as the federation searches for Andonovski's replacement. Technical director Matt Crocker says that U.S. Soccer is hard at work with that task and that a new hire should be in relatively soon, but for now, this is Kilgore's team.

Kilgore has been with the U.S. Soccer program for some time, having started with the Under-20s before serving as both Andonovski's assistant and U.S. U23s coach. Her tenure in charge may not last long, but it certainly will be interesting.

Will Kilgore institute any changes? Will she abandon any of the concepts that, ultimately, led to failure at the World Cup? Or will she know her place as a more transitional coach and simply try to keep things together rather than reinvent things overnight?

Either way, it'll be intriguing to see someone different at the helm and to find out what that means for a USWNT that is in transition.

AdvertisementGettyA shot of Coffey

One of the biggest 'what ifs' from the 2023 World Cup centers around Sam Coffey. What would have happened if she wasn't overlooked? How would that midfield have performed with Coffey involved? Well, we'll get a pretty decent look during this window.

With the bulk of the World Cup squad hanging around, the introduction of Coffey will give us something of a look into what this team could have looked like with the midfielder involved. A No.6 that is capable of disrupting play and moving the ball, the fact that Coffey never got integrated to the team was one of Andonovski's biggest failures.

She'll now get a chance to prove herself, though, as she looks to make an impression early on the road to 2027.

GettyHow does Shaw fit?

One of two uncapped players in the squad, Jaedyn Shaw is a player that should be an intriguing one for the USWNT. She can either play out wide or centrally, making her a dangerous weapon that gives the U.S. tactical flexibility whenever she's in the XI. And she's just 18 years old, so this is all just beginning.

Shaw was U.S. Soccer's Young Player of the Year last year and already has plenty of NWSL experience under her belt for the San Diego Wave, despite her youth. Talent-wise, she's as promising as it gets, and her positional flexibility make her an even more interesting talent for a USWNT that remains loaded with young attackers.

With players like Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Alyssa Thompson all just getting started, how does Shaw fit in, especially in a fully-fit squad? Hopefully this camp offers an early idea.

Fishel steps up

To begin her career, Mia Fishel took the road less travelled, and that road has led her right to the USWNT anyway. From UCLA to Tigres and, now, a historic move to Chelsea, Fishel has forged a reputation as a goalscorer. She scored boatloads at Tigres, and it's her ability to put the ball in the back of the net that has her in the USWNT picture.

However, the U.S. has several other goalscorers around the team. Smith, Alex Morgan and Mallory Swanson (when healthy), all score plenty. So how does Fishel fit? Can she unseat one of the team's regular stars?

We'll learn the answer to that in the coming years, not the coming days, but Fishel will no doubt be looking to make a good first impression.