U.S. players, devastated by their loss to Sweden in a penalty shootout at the Women’s World Cup round of 16 soccer match in Melbourne, Australia on August 6, 2023, reacted with disappointment. This marked the earliest exit in the tournament for the four-time champions. In contrast, their victorious penalty shootout in the 1999 World Cup cemented their dominance in the sport. Despite showing some desperation in their last match, the U.S. team displayed uncharacteristic timidity and disorganization throughout the tournament. Their group stage performances were lackluster, with only one win against Vietnam and disappointing draws against Netherlands and Portugal. The women’s soccer landscape has witnessed a growing parity, as traditional powerhouses like the United States, Germany, and Brazil have been eliminated early while teams like Jamaica, Colombia, and newcomers Morocco have exceeded expectations. Defender Crystal Dunn believes this demonstrates the game’s global growth and the U.S. team’s efforts to promote it. With a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and an early exit from the World Cup, coach Vlatko Andonovski’s future with the team is uncertain as they prepare for the Paris Games next year. Andonovski replaced Jill Ellis, who led the United States to back-to-back World Cup victories in 2015 and 2019. U.S. Soccer expressed their gratitude to the players, coaches, and staff for their remarkable efforts, thanking the fans for their unwavering support. The federation plans to conduct a review to identify areas of improvement and determine their future steps. Apart from facing tougher competition, the United States also struggled with inexperienced players. Fourteen players on their roster had never participated in the World Cup before, with 12 of them lacking major tournament experience altogether. This was part of a youth movement following disappointing performances at the Tokyo Games. Andonovski focused on developing younger talents like Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, and 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson. The team missed the contributions of key players like Mallory Swanson, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Catarina Macario, who were all sidelined due to injuries. Ultimately, the United States’ struggle lay in finding their identity and confidence, which were lacking compared to past teams. Despite the disappointment, forward Alex Morgan remains hopeful for the future of the team and the continued growth of women’s soccer.
NPR explores the uncertain future for the U.S. following its Women’s World Cup elimination
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