Megan Rapinoe known as it “a sick joke” after lacking her penalty within the shootout in her farewell Women’s World Cup as holders the United States have been turfed out within the final 16 by Sweden.
The Americans have been looking for an unprecedented third straight World Cup title however as an alternative are heading residence after an evening of drama in Melbourne.
Rapinoe, the 38-year-old who’s retiring from soccer on the finish of the season, got here off the bench after which missed a penalty as Sweden received 5-4.
For so lengthy the face of girls’s soccer at residence and overseas, she was near tears in her post-match interview with Fox Sports.
“I mean, this is like a sick joke. For me personally, this is dark comedy. I missed a penalty,” she mentioned.
“This is the balance to the beautiful side of the game. I think it can be cruel and just not our day,” she mentioned.
Forward Alex Morgan, like Rapinoe a part of the groups which received the titles in 2015 and 2019, was additionally crushed.
“Just devastated. Feels like a bad dream and I don’t know, the team put everything out there tonight. I feel like we dominated, but it doesn’t matter,” she mentioned.
“On the day we’re going home, it’s the highs and lows of the sport of soccer it’s just, it doesn’t feel great… it’s a tough one to swallow,” she mentioned.
Morgan, 34, was unsure about her future with the group.
“I don’t know, I was so focused on the World Cup that I don’t know, I’m just ready to get back to San Diego, get back to work, go from there,” she mentioned.
DOES THE COACH WALK?
United States coach Vlatko Andonovski, who had been underneath strain after a collection of underwhelming performances in Australia and New Zealand, mentioned his group deserved to win.
“I’m very proud of them and devastated for them that we have to go out the way that we did. I thought we deserved to win this game, I thought we created enough to win this game,” he mentioned.
“We put up a fight, we represented this country proudly and showed what we stand for and did everything right.”
Lina Hurtig squeezed residence the profitable spot-kick for Sweden after Zecira Musovic pulled off an unbelievable 11 saves through the sport to maintain them in competition.
US skipper Lindsey Horan mentioned it was a merciless solution to finish the match. “Penalties, to be frank, they suck. They’re cruel, I’ve gone through too many in my career, and I’m proud of every player who stepped up to take one today,” she mentioned.
It was all the time going to be exhausting for Andonovski to fill the footwear of Jill Ellis, who led the group to back-to-back World Cup triumphs.
But he didn’t wish to dwell on what his future holds.
“I thought we had a great game plan, great strategy. We executed the game plan, we had the right personnel on the field to do that and if I had the chance all over again I’d probably do the same,” he mentioned.
The willingness of Rapinoe and different US gamers to specific their political opinions, together with their profitable marketing campaign for equal pay with the lads’s group, has earned them help from some politicians on the left and opposition from others on the precise.
Back residence, First Lady Jill Biden hailed the group.
“You made this sport matter. Today, you inspired us with your grit and determination. We are proud of you,” she tweeted.
“Always remember that you encourage women and girls everywhere to show up and fight for their dreams,” she wrote.
Originally revealed as FIFA Womens World Cup 2023 schedule, outcomes, Matildas kick-off time: Penalty shoot out USA v Sweden
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
