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AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Back in 2007, in Hangzhou, China, the U.S. women’s national soccer team suffered a devastating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Brazil during the World Cup. The loss not only ended their hopes of reaching the final, but it also marked a turning point for a team that had once dominated the sport. Hope Solo’s postgame outburst added fuel to the fire and the team found themselves in crisis mode for the remainder of the tournament.
Fast forward to the present day, and after a lackluster 0-0 draw with Portugal in the group stage, the USWNT finds themselves in a similar position. Despite their pedigree as the number one ranked team and a record number of titles, they are now considered underdogs heading into the round of 16 against Sweden.
In previous World Cup appearances, the U.S. team had always made it to at least the third-place game, so the prospect of an early exit seems unthinkable. Yet, compared to teams like England, Japan, and Colombia, their level of play has been lackluster. The chemistry is off, their gameplay lacks joy and ruthlessness, two qualities that defined U.S. women’s soccer for decades.
The disappointing performance against Portugal continues a pattern of underwhelming performances in major tournaments under Coach Vlatko Andonovski. While friendly matches and smaller tournaments are important, the World Cup and the Olympics are what truly matter. Two years ago, the team struggled in the Tokyo Games and finished second in their group before getting eliminated in the semifinals by Canada.
Their performance in this World Cup, with a lackluster victory over Vietnam and a mediocre draw with the Netherlands, had hoped for a breakout moment against Portugal, but it never materialized. Portugal disrupted their rhythm and showed that they were the better team throughout the match.
In fairness, emerging teams like Portugal have improved significantly in women’s soccer, bringing greater competition to the sport. The days of landslide victories for the U.S. in major tournaments are slowly fading away. However, given their history and experience in women’s soccer, the Americans should still be winning matches like these.
Following the draw with Portugal, the U.S. team finds itself at a crossroads. While they managed to advance to the knockout stage, they are far from their best form. Uncomfortable truths need to be confronted, and if the team fails to turn things around, Coach Andonovski is likely to lose his job. The U.S. team has a reputation for consistently reaching the final in past tournaments, and their recent performances have fallen short of expectations.
Injuries have played a part in their struggles, but the U.S. has a pool of talented players and a strong domestic league. The coach’s role is to bring the best players together and ensure they work cohesively. Unfortunately, recent results against top teams have been lackluster, and their current unbeaten streak seems deceiving.
The players themselves also share some of the blame. Scoring leaders like Alex Morgan have failed to find the back of the net, while others have struggled in their respective positions. Megan Rapinoe, in particular, has not lived up to expectations.
As the U.S. team wakes up to cold, windy, and rainy weather in New Zealand, it is a fitting metaphor for their current state. They find themselves lost in the dark, with a long road ahead to rediscover their winning form.
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