USA vs Thailand Women’s World Cup Live Score and Updates

Starting lineups: Horan and Mewis are in, Sauerbrunn is out

The big question for the United States was whether Lindsey Horan, who hasn’t been fully fit this spring, or Sam Mewis, who looked great in the final tuneups, would start alongside Rose Lavelle in the midfield.

The answer has come in an unexpected way: Both will start against Thailand, but center back Becky Sauerbrunn will not. Sauerbrunn has what U.S. Soccer is calling a quadriceps “issue” — not an injury. Basically, she’s feeling something, and with Thailand as the first opponent, the coaches decided — to paraphrase one federation official — “why risk it?”

The good news for the U.S. is that Sauerbrunn’s replacement, Julie Ertz, just slides back from her midfield spot into the role she starred in at Canada 2015.

United States starting lineup: Allysa Naeher; Crystal Dunn, Abby Dahlkemper, Julie Ertz, Kelley O’Hara; Rose Lavelle, Sam Mewis, Lindsey Horan; Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath.

Thailand starting lineup: Cal’s Miranda Nild starts up top

We don’t expect many of you are familiar with the Thai team, but one player to watch is the center forward, Miranda Nild. She is the California-raised daughter of a Thai father, and played more recently for the University of California, Berkeley. That also happens to be Alex Morgan’s alma mater, and they met briefly in a hallway in Reims yesterday for the first time.

Thailand’s starting lineup: Chor Charoenying; Srangthaisong, Chinwong, Saekhun, Phetwiset; Thongsombut; Intamee, Phancha, Boothduang, Sung-Ngoen; Nild.