Is U.S. Women's Soccer Team, the World Cup Favorite, Ripe for an Upset?

Resolved: The star-studded U.S. Women's National Soccer Team will successfully defend its World Cup championship in France next month.

Note: As you recall, the U.S. thumped Japan in the 2015 final on the strength of Carli Lloyd's stunning hat trick.

Admission: Watching Lloyd's third goal on You Tube can still raise goose bumps and, we'll admit it, a patriotic throat-lump. But can the U.S. pull off a repeat?

For the Negative: Jim O'Grady, WNYC reporter. He's worried about everything — the advanced age of some of the players and the callowness of others; the fact that goalie Ayssa Naeher, though solid, is no Hope Solo; the increasing rise of rivals to U.S. dominance; and the potential for distraction from a lawsuit by players on the women's team demanding equal pay and training conditions with the men.

"At the last World Cup maybe four countries had a chance to beat the Americans," Jim observed while begging to be shot with a tranquilizer dart. (He's a fan of the team and gets nervous.) "But this time it could be ten or more!"

For the Affirmative: Isabel Angell, producer for the Takeaway, who spews soccer knowledge like a statistically super-literate sports MC. She believes that head coach Jill Ellis has selected a potent mix of brash young talent — Mallory Pugh, Rose Lavelle, Crystal Dunn — to complement unflappable vets like Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and Ali Krieger.

"They way they're going to win this time is by scoring lots of goals, and they have the people to do it," Isabel posited with Buddhistic serenity. "You should not be worried."

Listen to the audio player to hear their full discussion, then decide for yourself. Either way, it should hype you for the 2019 Women's World Cup, which kicks off June 7 in France. The U.S. Women's first game is against Thailand on June 11.

Final note: The American women will play their last pre-Cup tune-up game against Mexico on Sunday, June 2, at Red Bulls Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. Isabel Angell will be in the stands, cheering like a well-informed maniac.