Rampone, Rapinoe sidelined for France, England exhibitions
CHICAGO (AP) - American defender Christie Rampone and midfielder Megan Rapinoe will miss the U.S. team's exhibition games at France and England next month along with suspended goalkeeper Hope Solo.
Rampone was omitted from roster announced Friday because of a back injury and Rapinoe because of a knee strain, the U.S. Soccer Federation said Friday.
Solo was suspended for 30 days on Jan. 21, a day after her husband, former Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Solo was in the car when Stevens was pulled over in Manhattan Beach, California.
The games are preparation for the World Cup in June. All but one of the 24 players on the roster was at the team's January training camp in Carson, California. The addition is Washington midfielder Tori Huster, who has not played for the national team.
The Americans meet France at Lorient on Feb. 8 and England at Milton Keynes on Feb. 13. The U.S. then has matches at the Algarve Cup in Portugal, where its plays Norway (March 4), Switzerland (March 6) and Iceland (March 9). The Americans also host exhibitions against New Zealand on April 4 in St. Louis; Ireland on May 10 at San Jose, California; Mexico on May 17 at Carson, California; and South Korea on May 30 at Harrison, New Jersey.
Seeking their third World Cup title but first since 1999, the second-ranked Americans open the World Cup in Canada against No. 10 Australia on June 8, play fifth-ranked Sweden four days later and finish the third round against No. 32 Nigeria on June 16.
The roster:
Goalkeepers: Nicole Barnhart (Kansas City), Ashlyn Harris (Washington), Alyssa Naeher (Boston)
Defenders: Lori Chalupny (Chicago), Crystal Dunn (Washington), Whitney Engen (Western New York), Julie Johnston (Chicago), Meghan Klingenberg (Houston), Ali Krieger (Washington), Kelley O'Hara (Sky Blue), Becky Sauerbrunn (Kansas City), Rachel Van Hollebeke (Portland)
Midfielders: Shannon Boxx (Chicago), Morgan Brian (Houston), Tobin Heath (Portland), Lauren Holiday (Kansas City), Tori Huster (Washington), Carli Lloyd (Houston), Heather O'Reilly (Kansas City)
Forwards: Sydney Leroux (Seattle), Alex Morgan (Portland), Christen Press (Chicago), Amy Rodriguez (Kansas City), Abby Wambach (Western New York).