Megan Rapinoe referred to as it “a sick joke” after lacking her penalty within the shootout in her farewell Women’s World Cup as holders the United States had been turfed out within the final 16 by Sweden.
The Americans had been trying to find an unprecedented third straight World Cup title however as an alternative are heading dwelling 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 dwelling 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 workforce.
“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.
7:30AM COACH QUITS
Milena Bertolini stepped down as head coach from the Italian nationwide workforce after their early exit from the World Cup.
Their early journey dwelling adopted a catastrophe ultimately 12 months’s Euros, appears she’s most likely walked earlier than being pushed.
“Football is an extraordinary metaphor for Life,” she wrote on Instagram. “Because when viewed from a two-way street it can build bridges. The bridge that creates and makes every relationship fertile and constructive; that bridge that must be built well when advancing together with the teammates towards the opponent’s goal.”
It was all fairly metaphorical. But primarily, she’s walked.
Italy managed only one victory of their group. It got here towards Argentina. They acquired annihilated 5-0 by Sweden and went down 3-2 towards South Africa.
7AM DOES THE COACH WALK?
United States coach Vlatko Andonovski, who had been below strain after a collection of underwhelming performances in Australia and New Zealand, mentioned his workforce 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 dwelling the profitable spot-kick for Sweden after Zecira Musovic pulled off an unbelievable 11 saves in the course of the recreation to maintain them in rivalry.
US skipper Lindsey Horan mentioned it was a merciless approach to finish the event. “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 at all times going to be exhausting for Andonovski to fill the sneakers of Jill Ellis, who led the workforce to back-to-back World Cup triumphs.
But he didn’t need 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 boys’s workforce, has earned them assist from some politicians on the left and opposition from others on the appropriate.
Back dwelling, First Lady Jill Biden hailed the workforce.
“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 printed as FIFA Womens World Cup 2023 schedule, outcomes, Matildas kick-off time: Penalty shoot out USA v Sweden
Source: www.news.com.au
