The US Women’s National Team Disappointed

 


Written By: Max Freud, of Swish Tribune 

The US Women's National Soccer Team has long been a powerhouse in international women's soccer, with a legacy of success and a reputation for inspiring others. However, their recent World Cup campaign fell short of expectations, leaving fans disappointed.


The USWNT has established itself as one of the most accomplished teams in women's soccer, having won the FIFA Women's World Cup a remarkable four times and the last two consecutively. Their previous triumphs, coupled with their consistent dominance in international competitions, have elevated expectations to unprecedented levels.


The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup presented an opportunity for the USWNT to cement their status as the world's preeminent women's soccer team as they could have made history winning their third straight World Cup. Unfortunately though, their journey in the tournament was marred by underperformance and unexpected setbacks instead of their usual dominance. 


In the group stage, the USWNT struggled to find their rhythm, displaying a tout defensive scheme, but a lack of cohesion in attack and on offense. Their inability to convert scoring opportunities into goals and a series of missed passes resulted in surprising draws against lesser-ranked opponents. The team barely made it into the knockout stage as they drew with Portugal. 


The knockout stage brought more disappointment as the USWNT's weaknesses were further exposed. Their attacking prowess continued to be non existent and the team had lost its identity. Sloppy passing, poor decision-making, and a failure to capitalize on set-piece opportunities plagued the team throughout their game against Sweden.


The team went on to lose this game in penalty kicks thanks to a rare miss by Megan Rapinoe and Sophie Smith. Rapinoe had not missed a PK for her club team or the USWNT since 2019. The game ended on a VAR review that barely showed the ball fully over the goal line. Sweden then celebrated as David had beaten Goliath.  


All in all, the USWNT's failed and will have to work to get their momentum and standards back. While this disappointment will linger, it is essential to remember that  this team has a legacy and that they will not quit and will come back with an opportunity next World Cup. 








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