(Update: 8-12-16 Julie Johnston is back to being match fit, starts at her usual spot in the back line for the USA in the Quarterfinal match versus Sweden)
(Update 8-10-16: Julie Johnston also missed Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw with Colombia in Group play. US Soccer did not give an update on her status after the game in the release. However, Johnston’s NSWL team did release a vague statement on Wednesday night.
It read: “Defender Julie Johnston started the opening match for the United States against New Zealand, but was a last minute pull from the starting line-up against France due to a nagging groin injury.”)
Last Saturday, United States Women’s National Team and Chicago Red Stars Center Back Julie Johnston re-aggravated the same groin injury that she suffered back in May; as well the previous December. According to a USWNT spokesperson, following today’s 1-0 win over France in 2016 Summer Olympic group play, “Julie Johnston who was held out to protect a sore groin.”
Whitney Engen made her Olympic debut in her stead.
Julie Johnston was also held out of a late January USWNT clash against Ireland as a precautionary measure. On May 2nd, she was listed as an available substitute for the Red Stars NWSL clash versus Alex Morgan’s Orlando Pride, but she did not see the pitch.
Johnston’s injury wasn’t too serious then, but it’s obviously more serious right now.
The USA now leads Group G (2-0-0; 6pts) with France (1-1-0; 3pts) in second place, although, New Zealand (0-1-0; 0pts) and Colombia (0-1-0; 0pts) play later tonight. The USA could qualify for the tournament Quarterfinals depending on the result of the day’s later game between New Zealand and Colombia. A New Zealand win or draw between the Football Ferns and Colombia would send the U.S. through to the next round. The U.S. will finish group play vs. Colombia on Tuesday at Amazônia Arena in Manaus
The USWNT press release did not give much detail on Johnston’s injury today, but back on May 2nd Red Stars Head Coach Rory Dames, refreshingly informative most of the time, said this regarding Johnston’s groin injury.
“Julie has the same injury that she had in December, just not as severe,” he said in the postgame press conference.
Dames continued, as transcribed below:
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
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