(Reuters) - Midfielder Julie Ertz said she is driven to be a better player than she was before after being named in the United States squad for the first time since giving birth in August, with a spot at the Women's World Cup on the line.
The twice U.S. Women's Player of the Year made a surprise return to the national team for their final two friendlies, both against Ireland, before the quadrennial tournament, having not played professionally since the Tokyo Games.
"My career I feel like hasn't been, you know, just normal and smooth every single time because it's about just getting better each year," Ertz told reporters on Tuesday.The friendlies on Saturday and on Tuesday will be a critical last shot for players to make an impression before head coach Vlatko Andonovski names his 23-player squad.
"I feel good and I love the sport differently than I did then, and I thought I loved it then," said Ertz, who is in talks to sign for a few different club teams.National Women's Soccer League MVP Sophia Smith, who was sidelined from national team activities earlier this year, makes her return to the fold for the matches against Ireland on Saturday, in Austin, Texas, and Tuesday, in St. Louis, Missouri.
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