The U.S. lacks that 2019 magic at this Women’s World Cup

The United States is clearly not the dominant crew that received the 2019 Women’s World Cup.

The Americans have superior to the knockout stage at this version of the match, however simply barely after a 0-0 draw with Portugal of their last group match. After the ultimate whistle on Tuesday evening, Alex Morgan stood expressionless along with her fingers on her hips.

It was a glance of frustration. If the Americans don’t choose up their play, their run to a 3rd straight World Cup title may quickly be over.

With only one win and a pair of attracts, the United States fell to second in Group E behind the Netherlands. The Americans now head to Melbourne, Australia, for a Round of 16 match in opposition to the highest finisher from Group G, which wraps up Wednesday.

The United States scored simply 4 targets in group play – a pointy distinction to the 18 they scored within the group in 2019. In every of their first six matches 4 years in the past in France, the Americans scored throughout the opening 12 minutes.

“I think there’s things we can do better for sure, things we could do better from the last couple of games. But I’m not going to dwell on it. It is what it is,” veteran Megan Rapinoe stated. “We need to play better and we know that. We need to be a little bit more fluid and I think just a little bit more connected offensively.”

PHOTOS: The US lacks that 2019 magic at this Women’s World Cup

The crew has 14 gamers who’re making their first look in a World Cup, and for 12 of them, it’s their first massive worldwide match. Coach Vlatko Andonovski centered on creating younger expertise after the United States settled for a disappointing bronze medal on the Tokyo Olympics.

Andonovski rolled out the identical lineup for the primary two matches of the group stage in opposition to Vietnam and the Netherlands. The starters had by no means performed collectively earlier than.

Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle, who each scored within the 2-0 victory over the Netherlands within the World Cup last 4 years in the past in France, had picked up accidents within the run-up to the match and their minutes have been restricted.

When Lavelle was subbed into the group match in opposition to the Dutch final Thursday, she gave the crew a second-half spark and served up the nook kick to Lindsey Horan for the objective that pulled the U.S. right into a 1-1 draw.

Hoping to spice up the assault, Andonovski modified issues up in opposition to Portugal, beginning Lavelle for midfielder Savannah DeMelo and changing ahead Trinity Rodman with Lynn Williams. Still, the scoring points endured.

Lavelle picked up her second yellow card within the match in opposition to Portugal, that means she received’t be obtainable to play on Sunday in Melbourne.

Portugal almost scored in stoppage time, however Ana Capeta’s blast hit the submit. A loss to the Portuguese would have despatched the Americans residence after the group stage for the primary time at a World Cup or an Olympics.

Following the draw, former U.S. ahead Carli Lloyd blasted the crew as “uninspiring.”

“Disappointing. They don’t look fit. They’re playing as individuals and the tactics are too predictable,” Lloyd stated on the Fox Sports postgame present.

Andonovski was requested afterward about Lloyd’s feedback.

“One thing that I want to say is that this team wanted to win this game more than anything else, and they’ve put everything they could in preparation for this tournament and in every game,” Andonovski stated. “To question the mentality of this team, to question the willingness to win, to compete, I think it’s insane.”

The United States can be lacking Mallory Swanson’s scoring punch and Becky Sauerbrunn’s veteran management on the backline. Swanson, the crew’s high scorer this yr, tore her patella tendon in an exhibition match with Ireland in April. Then Sauerbrunn, the crew’s captain, introduced in June that she was unable to recover from a foot harm in time for the match.

The Americans, who’ve received a document 4 World Cups, had not wanted the third and last group-stage match to clinch a spot within the knockout spherical since 2007.

Going into the match in opposition to Portugal, the United States sat atop Group E even on factors with the Netherlands however holding an edge on objective differential. The Dutch erased that benefit and took the group lead with a decisive 7-0 victory over Vietnam, in a match performed concurrently Tuesday evening in Dunedin.

The Netherlands now heads to Sydney to face the second-place crew from Group G, which incorporates Sweden, South Africa, Italy and Argentina. The United States performs the group’s high crew – probably Sweden. If the U.S. can win in Melbourne, it’s again to Auckland for the quarterfinals.

But there’s no assure until the crew can discover that 2019 magic once more. And quick.

“I know this team and I know what we’re capable of,” Morgan stated. “Just because it hasn’t clicked every moment on the field and we’re not putting goals in the back of the net doesn’t mean that these aren’t the right players for the job. The confidence is there, now we just have to prove it out on the field.”