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United States’ Megan Rapinoe, right, reacts with her teammates following their loss to Sweden in their Women’s World Cup round of 16 soccer match in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour)
Where to now?
A penalty shootout loss to Sweden in the Round of 16 has ended the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) short run at the 2023 Women’s World Cup without any silverware for the first time since 2011.
After a mediocre group stage showing, the US performed well against the Swedes in Melbourne on Sunday. It was not enough, however, to book their place in the quarterfinals. The USWNT will have many questions in the coming months about the future of the squad and its management after a campaign in which they only won one match.
The initial reaction after the match was a contrast between pure elation and devastation as a swarm of Swedish yellow jerseys rushed to the sideline to celebrate. The USWNT was gutted after 120 minutes of football and a penalty shootout that was decided by a matter of inches.
There will inevitably be fallout in the coming months. Players will retire, the manager’s faith will be decided, new players will come in, and the focus will turn to four years’ time.
Megan Rapinoe’s reaction was one of disappointment and then acceptance. Rapinoe – a stalwart of the team for a decade – had just played her final match in the Stars and Stripes. She announced that this would be her final World Cup when she arrived in Australia before the opening match against Vietnam. Having missed her penalty on Sunday, Rapinoe was tearful on the pitch afterward but also grateful for her illustrious career in the red, white, and blue.
“This is the balance to the beautiful side of the game. I think it can be cruel,” she told Fox Soccer. “Just not our day, but I still just feel really grateful…
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