Power changed at the World Cup level on Sunday, when the United States, which won the previous two world championships, was already eliminated in the quarterfinals.
The loss was extremely dramatic, as the United States bowed out against Sweden in the seventh round of the penalty shootout. In the penalty shootout, the United States even had chances to decide the next place, but for example a 22-year-old Sophie Smith failed to finish.
– Incredible drama arc. There were situations where the United States could have decided the game, Urheilu’s expert Liisa-Maija Rautio stated.
– We said that this is a battle of giants and we see a tight game, but it couldn’t have been tighter than this, Urheilu’s expert Hanna Ruohomaa wondered.
The gameplay lacked the final touch
Pivotal by Linda Hurtig the hit was finally verified using goal line technology. Based on that, the ball crossed the goal line by only millimeters.
The United States had a lot to worry about from the match. It was able to create enough top positions in actual game time, but Zećira Mušović made great saves in Sweden’s goal.
– The United States could have decided even in official game time. Maybe the commas showed what has also happened during the matches. Playing lacked the last touch, finishing, clinicalness in the box. That lack of goals caused this, Rautio summarized.
The United States is no longer a pioneer
The US tournament was difficult from the start. The team was already in the starting group in the final round game against Portugal, when the offensive game was not up to scratch. In the end, only the post saved the Americans from being eliminated. All in all, the United States only beat Vietnam in the games and tied with Portugal, Holland and Sweden in regulation time.
Sports expert Mari Savolainen already stated after the game against Portugal, which decided the first group, that the United States is not able to produce enough goal chances at the moment, and besides that, its game is tactically poor and straightforward.
Savolainen reminded that the advantage in terms of professionalism has been taken away from the United States in recent years. European leagues have also developed and the United States has received tactically and physically good teams.
However, against Sweden, the United States played more slowly than before and created dangerous situations.
– The American game was going in the direction that they showed the people and the media that this is how we can play. Can we forgive all the drama? Now, when they lost, maybe the Portugal game and all the games in the first group will come up again, says Rautio.
– If the best game of the Games falls, then there’s not much left to worry about, Ruohomaa said.
US head coach Vlatko Andonovski got the team in October 2019, i.e. right after the last championship.
Ruohomaa thinks that Andonovski will not continue as the team’s head coach after these games.
– This was quite a gut punch from the reigning world champion. The United States got into this situation as easily as possible. They need changes and my guess is that the coach will change.
Rapinoe’s career ended
With the fall of the USA, also a superstar Megan Rapinoe, 38, career ends. The United States just celebrated two world championships under Rapinoe’s leadership and she has been the biggest manifestation of success.
Rapinoe’s career ended in a bitter way. Experts say he leaves a big hole and big boots to fill on the US national team.
– He has played a really important role in the team, Rautio says.
– Today’s comma was probably the worst thing he could have imagined about the end of his career. He laughed it off after the failure, but later had tears in his eyes. The disappointment was huge, says Rautio.
Rapinoe missed a penalty kick for only the second time in her career. If Rapinoe, who shot fourth, and also the last player, had succeeded, the United States would have reached the top eight.
– This is like a sick joke. I smiled as I thought it wasn’t real. “Honestly, I don’t remember the last time I failed,” Rapinoe told Fox Sports in the interview.
Rapinoe, who had previously missed a penalty kick, could not get the ball into the goal five years ago. At that time, a member of the national team Audrey Kingsbury blocked Rapinoe’s shot Washington Spirit–Seattle Reign in the NWSL match of the US premier league.
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