TO HELP DRUM UP INTEREST in the 2015 Women's World Cup, which kicks off this Saturday, Fox Sports made three of its analysts available to the media. 

Former U.S. women's national team coach Tony DiCicco and former U.S. internationals Angela Hucles and Alexi Lalas shared their thoughts—and some stories—about the U.S. squad that will face Australia on Monday (7:30pm, Fox Sports 1).

Below is a lightly edited recap of some of the more quotable comments.

On Alex Morgan's intro to U.S. Soccer

DICICCO: "When I took over the [U-20] team from Jill Ellis, [Morgan] wasn't in the pool. I wanted to find a little bit more pace up top and we put out calls and some coach said, 'Hey, check that kid over at Cal.' One thing led to another and Alex not only made the team, but she had a fantastic [U-20] World Cup.

"Pia Sundhage was the [senior] women's national team coach at the time for the U.S. At the end of the tournament, I said, 'There's a bunch of players you're going to take a look ateventually, but the two you need to bring in are Alex Morgan and Keelin Winters."

On the keys to victory for the U.S.

LALAS: "Without Alex Morgan, it's going to be a big question as to what Jill Ellis is going to do up top. I think for someone like Sydney Leroux, who has been driving for that starting spot but at times because of that talent ahead of her hasn't had that chance, this is a wonderful opportunity. Someone like her, who has the opportunity, needs to step up. This team has relied on Alex Morgan and plays differently with Alex Morgan. But it doesn't mean that it can't be as successful with different personnel out there. The [U.S.] does have depth when it comes to scoring goals, which is ultimately how you win games and how you win a World Cup."

HUCLES: "I really think Abby Wambach is going to play a crucial role for this World Cup. It probably won't be in the same sense as we've typically seen her. There's some players on the team right now like Shannon Boxx, Christie Rampone, Abby Wambach, Heather O'Reilly that have veteran experience for this team and I think some of these players, like Shannon Boxx, are on this team because they know what it's like to be in this tournament. When it comes to Abby, whether she's on the field or off the field, she is the leader for this team. She is a vocal leader and when she's on the field people know it and respond—her teammates are uplifted. Abby is going to play a crucial role."

DICICCO: "One of the weaknesses could be the midfield. Jill Ellis has decided to play without a traditional No. 6 holding midfielder and left that responsibility to Lauren Holiday and Morgan Brian. A normal player who has played that position over a number of years understands the defensive nuances of it a little bit better. I'm concerned about that in the midfield. Of course, we're all a little concerned with all their talent they have up top—we haven't seen the goals we've been expecting.

"I will say that the defense is better than in 2011. In 2011, the U.S. conceded seven goals in their last four games. You just don't win World Cups conceding goals at that point in the tournament. It's a better defense and I think they're going to be in the hunt deep in this tournament."

On Hope Solo and her recent troubles

LALAS: "She's the best goalkeeper in the world. It's amazing as players what you will put up with for someone to stand behind you and save your ass on a continual basis. And that's what she does and that's why she's in there. Ultimately, what makes her good is that she's an incredible competitor. She is intense and she wants to win."

DICICCO: "Hope is a complicated situation. She's the best goalkeeper in the world and if the U.S. wins this World Cup, she'll be the best goalkeeper that's ever played on the women's side. What I used to tell my players was, 'I'm going to treat you all fairly, but I'm not going to treat you all the same.' And that's kind of been the same position as U.S. Soccer.

"Hope lost her way and she was suspended, but since she's been back, she's been a model teammate and a model citizen. She's totally focused and she's playing really well right now. If you look back at the results of what's transpired, you'd have to say that U.S. Soccer handled it pretty well."

On Player Selections

DICICCO: "Crystal Dunn would have been on my roster, but in defense of Jill, there's players I would have kept on my roster that a lot of other coaches wouldn't have kept. Her job is to get the roster right. I think Crystal Dunn still has a tremendous international career ahead of her."

"Kelley O'Hara was one of my U-20 players and played for me on the Boston Breakers. We had this conversation. I said, "Kelley, the World Cup roster from 2011 to the 2012 Olympics is going to be a smaller roster. Do the math, you need to approach Pia—I had already approached her—about becoming an outside back.' And then she played every minute of the Olympics at left back."

"Klingenberg was my left back at the U-20 World Cup in 2008—she's good there. They're both good there. I think you'll see Kelley get some time, either at left back or right back."

John D. Halloran is an American Soccer Now columnist. Follow him on Twitter.