The future is uncertain for the United States after crashing out of the Women’s World Cup

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

The once-dominant People crashed out of the Ladies’s World Cup on penalties after a scoreless draw with Sweden within the Spherical of 16 on Sunday. It was the earliest exit ever for the four-time event champions.

A shootout within the 1999 World Cup — with a a lot totally different final result — supercharged the U.S. group’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 closing match, this U.S. group appeared uncharacteristically timid and disorganized all through this World Cup. The 2-time defending champions squeaked by within the group stage with only a win in opposition to Vietnam and disappointing attracts in opposition to each the Netherlands and Portugal.

The People have fallen sufferer to rising parity in ladies’s soccer. Former powerhouse groups like america, Germany and Brazil had been all despatched house early whereas groups like Jamaica, Colombia and first-timers Morocco surpassed expectations.

“I believe it says rather a lot concerning the development of the sport,” defender Crystal Dunn stated. “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 group, have all the time fought for the expansion of this sport 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 group is unsure because it prepares for the subsequent massive event, 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 group.

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

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

“Whereas we’re all dissatisfied the our journey has ended on the Ladies’s World Cup, we wish to thank the gamers, coaches and workers for his or her outstanding effort and to our followers each within the stands and at house for his or her unwavering help,” the federation stated. “As we all the time do after a significant event, we are going to conduct a evaluation to determine areas of enchancment and decide our subsequent steps. As we glance forward, we embrace the arduous work essential to grow to be champions once more.”

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

America 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 significant event.

The adjustments had been a part of a U.S. youth motion after the disappointing Tokyo Video games. Andonovski centered his consideration on growing 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 group match when she was named to the World Cup roster. She appeared in its place in a send-off match in opposition to 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 begin to the event with two targets in opposition to Vietnam, however went scoreless the remainder of the best way. She missed her penalty try in opposition to Sweden together with Megan Rapinoe and Kelley O’Hara.

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

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

There was backlash on social media and amongst pundits following the match, vital of each Andonovski’s ways and Rapinoe’s response after lacking her penalty. She laughed, explaining later that she had totally anticipated to make it.

Rapinoe, the outspoken star on the 2019 World Cup recognized for her iconic victory pose, wasn’t the identical game-changer she as soon as was. At 38, and after a pair of World Cup titles and an Olympic gold medal, her function had diminished. She introduced earlier than the event began that it will be her final World Cup.

“I do know it is the top and that is unhappy, however to know that is actually the one time I have been in one among these, this early, says a lot about how a lot success I have been capable of have and simply how a lot I’ve beloved taking part in for this group and taking part in for this nation,” Rapinoe stated, tears in her eyes. “It has been an honor.”

After the match defender Julie Ertz additionally stated it was doubtless her final time sporting the U.S. jersey.

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

Mallory Swanson, the group’s high scorer this 12 months, tore her patella tendon in an exhibition match with Eire in April. Becky Sauerbrunn, the group’s captain, introduced in June that she was unable to recover from a foot harm in time for the event.

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

In the long run, nonetheless, america struggled most with its identification. It may by no means muster the boldness of groups previous — together with the legendary ’99ers.

“All we wish to do is achieve success, be capable of uphold the legacy that this group deserves. We failed at that this time,” stated 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 group. I nonetheless stand by that. It’s what it’s. The sport this sport is evolving, the sport is getting higher and that’s not going to alter. It’s solely going to proceed.”

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Extra AP Ladies’s World Cup protection: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup