The Future Is Uncertain for the United States After Crashing Out of the Women’s World Cup

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The remainder of the world has lastly caught as much as america.

A shootout within the 1999 World Cup — with a a lot completely different final result — supercharged the U.S. workforce’s prominence atop the game globally. The People defeated China on penalties in entrance of a sellout crowd on the Rose Bowl and Brandi Chastain doffed her jersey in celebration.

Apart from some determined vitality within the last match, this U.S. workforce seemed uncharacteristically timid and disorganized all through this World Cup. The 2-time defending champions squeaked by within the group stage with only a win towards Vietnam and disappointing attracts towards each the Netherlands and Portugal.

“I believe it says lots concerning the development of the sport,” defender Crystal Dunn mentioned. “I believe so many individuals are searching for us to win video games 5-0, and World Cups. “We ought to be proud that these days aren’t right here. We, as members of the U.S. ladies’s nationwide workforce, have all the time fought for the expansion of this recreation globally, and I believe that’s what you are seeing.”

After a bronze medal on the Tokyo Olympics and now the early exit from the World Cup, coach Vlatko Andonovski’s future with the workforce is unsure because it prepares for the following huge match, the Paris Video games subsequent 12 months.

Andonovski took over the job for Jill Ellis, who led the People to their back-to-back World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. He has gone 51-5-9 throughout his time with the workforce.

“I by no means got here into the job, by no means got here into the locker room with the mindset that I needed to do one thing to save lots of my job,” Andonovski mentioned on Sunday, clearly shaken. “I used to be all the time centered on doing a great job, doing my job in the very best method to arrange this workforce for the challenges they’ve in entrance of them, and to arrange them to signify our nation.”

U.S. Soccer issued a quick assertion on Monday morning.

“Whereas we’re all disenchanted the our journey has ended on the Ladies’s World Cup, we need to thank the gamers, coaches and workers for his or her outstanding effort and to our followers each within the stands and at dwelling for his or her unwavering assist,” the federation mentioned. “As we all the time do after a serious match, we are going to conduct a overview to determine areas of enchancment and decide our subsequent steps. As we glance forward, we embrace the laborious work essential to develop into champions once more.”

Along with a stronger discipline, america additionally struggled with inexperience.

The US introduced 14 gamers to the World Cup who had by no means performed within the occasion. Certainly, 12 of them had by no means performed in a serious match.

The adjustments have been a part of a U.S. youth motion after the disappointing Tokyo Video games. Andonovski centered his consideration on creating younger gamers like Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and 18-yar-old Alyssa Thompson.

One participant, midfielder Savannah DeMelo, had by no means appeared in a nationwide workforce match when she was named to the World Cup roster. She appeared in its place in a send-off match towards Wales in San Jose, earlier than beginning within the People’ first two video games.

Smith, the U.S. Soccer Participant of the 12 months for 2022, had a great begin to the match with two objectives towards Vietnam, however went scoreless the remainder of the best way. She missed her penalty try towards Sweden together with Megan Rapinoe and Kelley O’Hara.

The one different scorer for the workforce was co-captain Lindsey Horan, who additionally had two objectives.

“Despite the fact that it did not find yourself the best way we needed. It is an enormous expertise for a few of these younger gamers,” Andonovski mentioned. “There is a group of gamers that may make a mark sooner or later.”

“I do know it is the tip and that is unhappy, however to know that is actually the one time I have been in certainly one of these, this early, says a lot about how a lot success I have been in a position to have and simply how a lot I’ve cherished taking part in for this workforce and taking part in for this nation,” Rapinoe mentioned, tears in her eyes. “It has been an honor.”

It was additionally clear america was lacking a number of essential gamers.

Dynamic ahead Catarina Macario, hailed among the many future stars of the workforce, tore her ACL final 12 months taking part in with French membership Lyon and didn’t get well in time.

Ultimately, nevertheless, america struggled most with its identification. It may by no means muster the arrogance of groups previous — together with the legendary ’99ers.

“All we need to do is achieve success, be capable to uphold the legacy that this workforce deserves. We failed at that this time,” mentioned ahead Alex Morgan, who like Rapinoe was taking part in in her fourth World Cup. “However I’m nonetheless hopeful with the way forward for this workforce. I nonetheless stand by that. It’s what it’s. The sport this recreation is evolving, the sport is getting higher and that’s not going to alter. It’s solely going to proceed.”

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