Despite playing center or defensive midfielder her entire WNT career, Ertz has scored 19 career international goals. Few players (although Abby Wambach comes to mind) have shown such fearlessness inside the penalty area. Seven of his goals came from free kicks and eight from corners. Nine of his 19 goals were headed, nine were with his right foot and one with his left. Impressively, 37 percent of his goals (7 of 19) were game winners.

Ertz made her United States debut in 2013 against Scotland in Jacksonville, Tenn., And seven years later, after persevering through the valleys and cruising the heights elite athletes must climb, she is dawn finds a magic number for any international football player. : 100 capsules.

Julie Johnston entered the world stage as captain of the United States National Women’s Under-20 Team which won the 2012 FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Japan. As a center-back, she received the Bronze Ball as the tournament’s third best player, a rare honor for a defender.

His talent, courage and overall potential were evident at this World Cup, but these qualities do not guarantee anything when it comes to breaking into the senior squad. She had miles to go before she became the player she is today.

She would get her first full-team call-up under Tom Sermanni in early 2013, but only played five games from then until March 2015.

Then came the 2015 Algarve Cup and an injury to veteran center-back Christie Rampone. Johnston was inserted into the starting lineup in Portugal – and scored her first career goal against France – and then stayed there as the United States won the 2015 Women’s World Cup. She was exceptional throughout the game. tournament in Canada, playing every minute of the seven games in mid-defense with veteran Becky Sauerbrunn.

She had a solid 2016, playing in 19 of 25 games for the United States (he missed two at the end of the year due to his marriage to Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro tight end Zach Ertz and their honeymoon) but only saw action in two of the US. four Olympic games as the Americans crashed in the quarterfinals.

Then came one of the most unusual years a WNT player has ever known. In early 2017, Ertz found herself out of the starting lineup as US head coach Jill Ells began retooling the squad for the 2019 World Cup. She played sparingly, if at all. , in the first eight games, seeing just 123 minutes of action.

Then came summer and the Tournament of Nations. The United States lost to Australia 1-0 in Seattle (which remains their most recent home loss) and traveled to San Diego to face Brazil in their second game.

The game was tied 1-1 when Ertz came on in the 57^e minute in defensive midfield. This position was not unknown to her, having played it in college and for the U-20s. Surprisingly, Brazil then scored twice, once from a corner and once from a direct free kick, to take a 3-1 lead.