U.S. gamers react following their loss to Sweden in a penalty shootout in the course of the Women’s World Cup spherical of 16 soccer match in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023.

Scott Barbour/AP

disguise caption

toggle caption

Scott Barbour/AP

U.S. gamers react following their loss to Sweden in a penalty shootout in the course of the Women’s World Cup spherical of 16 soccer match in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023.

Scott Barbour/AP

MELBOURNE, Australia — The remainder of the world has lastly caught as much as the United States.

The once-dominant Americans crashed out of the Women’s World Cup on penalties after a scoreless draw with Sweden within the Round of 16 on Sunday. It was the earliest exit ever for the four-time match champions.

A shootout within the 1999 World Cup — with a a lot completely different end result — supercharged the U.S. group’s prominence atop the game globally. The Americans beat China on penalties in entrance of a sellout crowd on the Rose Bowl and Brandi Chastain doffed her jersey in celebration.

Except for some determined vitality in its final match, this U.S. group appeared uncharacteristically timid and disorganized all through this World Cup. The two-time defending champions squeaked by within the group stage with only a win in opposition to Vietnam and disappointing attracts in opposition to Netherlands and Portugal.

The Americans have fallen sufferer to rising parity in girls’s soccer. Former powerhouse groups just like the United States, Germany and Brazil had been all despatched dwelling early whereas groups together with Jamaica, Colombia and first-timers Morocco surpassed expectations.

“I think it says a lot about the growth of the game,” defender Crystal Dunn mentioned. “I think so many people are looking for us to win games 5-0, and World Cups.

“We needs to be proud that these days aren’t right here. We, as members of the U.S. girls’s nationwide group, have all the time fought for the expansion of this recreation globally, and I believe that’s what you are seeing.”

After a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and now the early exit from the World Cup, coach Vlatko Andonovski’s future with the team is uncertain as it prepares for the next big tournament, the Paris Games next year.

U.S. group gamers react throughout a penalties’ shootout in the course of the Women’s World Cup spherical of 16 soccer match between Sweden and the United States in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023.

Hamish Blair/AP

disguise caption

toggle caption

Hamish Blair/AP

U.S. group gamers react throughout a penalties’ shootout in the course of the Women’s World Cup spherical of 16 soccer match between Sweden and the United States in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023.

Hamish Blair/AP

Andonovski took over the job for Jill Ellis, who led the Americans to their back-to-back World Cup titles in 2015 and ’19. He has gone 51-5-9 throughout his time with the group.

“I never came into the job, never came into the locker room with the mindset that I wanted to do something to save my job,” Andonovski mentioned on Sunday, clearly shaken. “I was always focused on doing a good job, doing my job in the best possible manner to prepare this team for the challenges they have in front of them, and to prepare them to represent our country.”

U.S. Soccer issued a short assertion Monday morning.

“While we are all disappointed our journey has ended at the Women’s World Cup, we want to thank the players, coaches and staff for their remarkable effort and to our fans both in the stands and at home for their unwavering support,” the federation mentioned. “As we always do after a major tournament, we will conduct a review to identify areas of improvement and determine our next steps. As we look ahead, we embrace the hard work necessary to become champions again.”

In addition to a stronger degree of competitors, the United States additionally struggled with inexperience.

The United States introduced 14 gamers to the World Cup who had by no means performed within the occasion. Indeed, 12 of them had by no means performed in a serious match.

The adjustments had been a part of a U.S. youth motion after the disappointing Tokyo Games. Andonovski centered his consideration on growing younger gamers like Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and 18-yar-old Alyssa Thompson.

One participant, midfielder Savannah DeMelo, had by no means appeared in a nationwide group match when she was named to the World Cup roster. She appeared instead in a send-off match in opposition to Wales in San Jose, earlier than beginning within the first two World Cup video games.

Smith, the U.S. Soccer Player of the yr for 2022, had a great begin to the match with two targets in opposition to Vietnam, however went scoreless the remainder of the best way. She missed her penalty try in opposition to Sweden together with Megan Rapinoe and Kelley O’Hara.

The solely different scorer for the group was co-captain Lindsey Horan, who additionally had two targets.

“Even though it didn’t end up the way we wanted, it’s a huge experience for some of these young players,” Andonovski mentioned. “There’s a group of players that will make a mark in the future.”

There was backlash on social media and amongst pundits following the match, essential of each Andonovski’s ways and Rapinoe’s response after lacking her penalty try. She laughed, explaining later that she had absolutely anticipated to make it.

Rapinoe, the outspoken star on the 2019 World Cup identified for her iconic victory pose, wasn’t the identical game-changer she as soon as was. At 38, and after a pair of World Cup titles and an Olympic gold medal, her position had diminished. She announced before the tournament started that it would be her last World Cup.

“I know it’s the end and that’s sad, but to know this is really the only time I’ve been in one of these, this early, says so much about how much success I’ve been able to have and just how much I’ve loved playing for this team and playing for this country,” Rapinoe mentioned, tears in her eyes. “It’s been an honor.”

After the match defender Julie Ertz additionally mentioned it was doubtless her final time carrying the U.S. jersey.

It was additionally clear the United States was lacking a number of vital gamers.

Mallory Swanson, the group’s prime scorer this yr, tore her patella tendon in an exhibition match with Ireland in April. Becky Sauerbrunn, the group’s captain, introduced in June that she was unable to recover from a foot harm in time for the match.

Dynamic ahead Catarina Macario, hailed among the many future stars of the group, tore her ACL final yr enjoying with French membership Lyon and did not get better in time.

In the top, nonetheless, the United States struggled most with its identification. It might by no means muster the arrogance of groups previous — together with the legendary ’99ers.

“All we want to do is be successful, be able to uphold the legacy that this team deserves. We failed at that this time,” mentioned ahead Alex Morgan, who like Rapinoe was enjoying in her fourth World Cup. “But I’m still hopeful with the future of this team. I still stand by that. This game is evolving, the game is getting better and that’s not going to change. It’s only going to continue.”