Take a look at the USA team ahead of the Women's World Cup.

Anyone thinking USA's travails in qualification are a sign they might be on the wane should probably reconsider.

After suffering their first defeat since 2008, when they went down 2-1 against Mexico in the Semi-Final of the CONCACAF qualifying event, there was no direct ticket to the finals for the USA.

But there was no panicking within the squad when their qualification was not guaranteed. Instead, they negotiated a very tricky play-off against one of the world's emerging forces Italy with industrious 1-0 wins both home and away.

Alex Morgan's injury-time strike gave them a 1-0 win in a tight first leg in Padua and Amy Rodriguez scored the only goal of the return leg.
 
This is no dying dynasty and the nation are still seen by many as the pioneers of women's international soccer. And the USA are still widely tipped to lift their first Women's World Cup since 1999 and become the first three-time winners of the trophy in Germany this summer.

In fact, people inside the USA camp are adamant that they are now better placed to take on the world after their usually serene progress was disrupted this time around.

They might not have gone all the way for 12 years, but this is still a national team who have never finished outside the top three in the Women's World Cup.

And with an exciting, tight-knit squad, everything is in place to ensure that record will not change on German soil.

USA squad:

Goalkeepers: Nicole Barnhart (Philadelphia Independence), Jill Loyden (magicJack), Hope Solo (magicJack)

Defenders: Rachel Buehler (Boston Breakers), Stephanie Cox (Boston Breakers), Ali Krieger (out of contract), Amy LePeilbet (Boston Breakers), Heather Mitts (Atlanta Beat), Christie Rampone (magicJack), Becky Sauerbrunn (magicJack)

Midfielders: Shannon Boxx (magicJack), Tobin Heath (Sky Blue FC), Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence), Carli Lloyd (Atlanta Beat), Heather O'Reilly (Sky Blue FC), Megan Rapinoe (Philadelphia Independence), Lindsay Tarpley (magicJack) ~

Forwards: Lauren Cheney (Boston Breakers), Alex Morgan (Western New York Flash), Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence), Abby Wambach (magicJack).