US Women’s Soccer Team Suffers Shocking World Cup Exit
In a stunning turn of events, the US women’s soccer team crashed out of the Women’s World Cup in the round-of-16, losing a dramatic penalty shootout against Sweden. This defeat marks the end of an era for a team that has been dominant in women’s soccer for over a decade.
The US women’s soccer team has been a force to be reckoned with, boasting an unbeaten streak in the World Cup for 12 years and never finishing worse than third in the tournament. They were aiming for a historic World Cup three-peat, a feat that has never been achieved in men’s or women’s soccer. The loss to Sweden left fans and players in a state of disbelief, with forward Alex Morgan describing it as a “bad dream.”
Public figures, including First Lady Jill Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, sent messages of consolation on social media. They praised the team for their determination and encouraged them to continue fighting for their dreams.
The US dominated much of the match against Sweden, with numerous scoring opportunities denied by the brilliant saves of Sweden goalkeeper Zećira Mušović. Despite their efforts, the game went into extra time and eventually penalties. US coach Vlatko Andonovski expressed pride in his team’s performance, highlighting their resilience and bravery.
The US had a difficult tournament leading up to this defeat, struggling in the group stages with only one win against Vietnam and draws against the Netherlands and Portugal. The draw against Portugal drew criticism, as the US narrowly avoided elimination thanks to a goalpost.
Captain Lindsey Horan expressed optimism for the future of the team, emphasizing the young players coming through and their ability to entertain and create chances. She acknowledged the cruelty of penalties but commended her teammates for their courage in stepping up to take them.
The defeat also marked the end of the international careers of several iconic players. Two-time World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe, who announced her retirement before the tournament, missed her penalty in the shootout. Rapinoe expressed mixed emotions, feeling grateful and joyful for her success while also acknowledging the sadness of the end of her career. Julie Ertz, another two-time World Cup winner, fought back tears as she revealed that she would likely never play for the USWNT again.
The penalty shootout ended in heartbreaking fashion for the US, with the video assistant referee (VAR) determining that Lina Hurtig’s penalty had crossed the line despite initial saves from US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. Naeher expressed pride in her team’s performance but admitted that the loss would hurt for a long time.
This shocking defeat marks the end of an era for the US women’s soccer team. As they regroup and look towards the future, they will have to navigate a new chapter without veteran players such as Rapinoe and Ertz. The loss serves as a reminder that even dominant teams can suffer setbacks and that the world of soccer can be unpredictable and unforgiving.
Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-08-06 23:01:00
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