Mic'd Up: The FutbolW host hails Hayes' impact, cites challenges of NWSL expansion and praises young USWNT stars
Two-time World Cup champion Ali Krieger recently swapped her cleats and her long decorated career as one of the world's best soccer players for a microphone and camera, joining ESPN as an analyst for NWSL matches and co-host of "FutbolW."
Krieger had a remarkable 18-year career playing professional soccer across the U.S., Germany and Sweden, where she won two World Cups for the U.S. women's national team and also led Gotham FC to the club's first NWSL Championship. Known on the field for her relentless, disciplined, and body-on-the-line-mentality, Krieger has adapted her skillset and experience to the analyst role.
Krieger has a lot to balance. She's a mother, she's in and out of the studio, and she's still very involved with Gotham FC. And Krieger admits that the adjustment to this new career phase has its challenges. And that includes sometimes providing sharp commentary about players she lined up with, or against, on the pitch.
"I'm glad a lot of my friends are retired now – I don't have to criticize them in a negative way!" she said with a laugh. "I feel like I could be confident in those criticisms, not that I do it often, but I have to be realistic too, right? I think it's all just been really interesting, kind of, having my own structure and having to plan my own day to day. I think that's been difficult for me, because you don't have that grounding… where you don't really get that in the studio. I think that's just going to take time."
On the broadcast, Krieger is dialed in. She brings a worldly perspective from her playing days. She understands the ins and outs of the national team, but also how domestic leagues function – or don't. And while Krieger is still adapting to life off the soccer pitch, she still competes. In fact, INDIVISA caught up with her as she was on the way to the field, sipping on her Optimum Nutrition – her golden fuel these days – as she trains for her team's upcoming competition in TST.
"As a working mom and busy broadcasting," she says, "I still want to make sure I'm fueling my body with the proper whey protein so I can perform at its best, right?"
Krieger talked the about the brilliance of Emma Hayes, U.S. players moving to Europe, the trajectory of the NWSL and more in the latest edition of Mic'd Up, a recurring feature in which GOAL US taps into the perspective of broadcasters, analysts, and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad.
Getty ImagesON USWNT COACH EMMA HAYES
GOAL: Do you think US Soccer got it right with the hiring of Emma Hayes?
KRIEGER: Of course, she's amazing. And I think she has proven herself with just 10 months, right? She has one eye on the World Cup, but also she's making sure she's getting that young talent in – because they deserve to be there. And I think that it's been missing all these years where, you know, we were always afraid to get the younger players in and give them a chance. And now I think that it's really refreshing to see so much talent and how good we're going to be, because we're going to have that depth moving into a big tournament. It's what we always should have been doing – giving these young players experience at this level, so that when the time comes they're ready for the challenge.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesON LILY YOHANNES AND ALYSSA THOMPSON
GOAL: Who is one youngster on the current USWNT squad that you've seen in recent games that excites you about the future?
KRIEGER: I would say Lily Yohannes is one of my favorites – I would also say Alyssa Thompson. I think they are tied for me, depending on where they play in what position on the field. Yohannes' vision of the game – the calmness and the confidence that she has on the ball, the way she can spray passes and slip balls in behind, no matter what kind of texture or pace she has – like, it's been really fun to watch. Then I think Alyssa and Ally [Sentnor] are both going to be rapid up top. I think as long as they can limit the mistakes, which they are already doing, just getting better and better every every chance. They're going to be really exciting goal scorers in the future.
Getty ImagesON U.S. PLAYERS MOVING TO EUROPE
GOAL: With some of the best U.S. players going overseas, what do you what do you think about those decisions? Do you think the best football is in Europe or do you think it's in the U.S. at the moment?
KRIEGER: It's not better or worse? I value Champions League so much because I obviously played there for enough time to really figure out how competitive it can be. I do think the best teams are in Europe. But I think the NWSL is one of the best leagues in the world because of the athleticism and the talented younger players. I think that we are very difficult to play against because we're very transitional. So I wouldn't say it's better or worse. I think European players are very technical and they're intelligent – not that we aren't, but we just play a different type of style. In the U.S. it's more about getting behind the back line and having a fast, high-press mentality. However, It's changing a little bit.
You see some of these teams with European coaches who have this possession-oriented style of play, which has been exciting. But we're not all there yet. I do think with the national team, and the younger players – just younger generations – has been super impressive. So I don't think it's better or worse in the comparison. I just think it's different styles, and we're always going to be one of the top teams and leagues because of the athleticism, and because of the pace and the ability we have to laugh through matches with just our fitness level. So, you know, we've always been that way. So I think the mentality piece is, you know, the best in the world, definitely.
Getty ImagesON NAOMI GIRMA'S RECORD TRANSFER TO CHELSEA
GOAL: Do you think it's a good move for Naomi Girma, getting experience playing overseas?
KRIEGER: I think it's amazing experience. I think she gave the style [in the NWSL a chance], and she really put everything into that. Now it's her time to want to go do what she wants to do and be involved with top footballers and top teams, and be in a culture where football is the most important sport. I think that's what's so attractive about it: football is the No. 1 sport overseas. So it's a feeling of being more valued. And I think that playing in Champions League, that's like the next big step – and we don't have that over in North America. So it's nice to have that opportunity, and if you're one of the best players, you should put yourself in situations where you can win the top club tournaments. It's a different style, a different type of game, different challenge, totally different experience. And as a player, you want to continue to put yourself in situations where you can grow and get better. And that's the only way to do it, to take that risk, like Naomi did.