US Women's National Team's Quest for Glory at Women's World Cup: Will They Triumph?
USWNT seeks to etch their names in history as the sole nation to secure three consecutive World Cup victories, both for men and women With only nine players from their triumphant 2019 campaign, they head to Australia and New Zealand Can they make history again?
Since their World Cup victory four years ago, the US Women's National Team has witnessed significant changes. The lingering legal dispute with the US Soccer Federation concerning pay conditions concluded in a groundbreaking settlement last year. The landmark agreement ensures that, for the first time, the team will receive the same financial compensation as their male counterparts did during the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Heading to Australia and New Zealand, the NWSL, the American domestic top flight, is still overshadowed by a cloud of controversy. The league was shaken by a bullying and sexual abuse scandal, which was investigated twice. The second investigation concluded just months before the competition, revealing that the league had failed to protect players from widespread misconduct. An official inquiry exposed numerous leadership failures, resulting in four coaches being permanently banned. However, despite these dark clouds, the situation in Australia and New Zealand appears more optimistic.
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The situation on the field also appears markedly different from 2019. Out of the 23 women in the squad who will be going to Australia and New Zealand, fourteen will be experiencing their first World Cup. Among them, eleven have played in 30 matches or fewer, which is in contrast to the five players with similar experience in 2019.
Coach Vlatko Andonovski, a relative newcomer, is set to make his debut at the World Cup after taking over from the renowned Jill Ellis following their victory in France four years ago.
However, certain aspects remain the same. Once again, the US team is considered the frontrunner to secure their third consecutive World Cup win, a feat unprecedented in the history of men's and women's football.
Since the 2020 Olympic semi-final two years ago, they have remained undefeated in competitive matches. Additionally, they secured their spot in this World Cup by winning the CONCACAF Championship last year without allowing any goals. As Andonovski enters his inaugural major international tournament, he is fully aware of the task at hand—to bring home success.
"The expectations in this job are crystal clear," he stated to ESPN. "The players also share the same mindset as they step into this realm, determined to triumph in every game.
"This mentality has been ingrained from the very beginning, long before any of these players joined the team."
Travelling to Down Under without seven senior players, including injured captain Becky Sauerbrunn, the Macedonian-American could face challenges. Sauerbrunn's absence will be felt both on and off the pitch due to her extensive experience with 200 caps. Despite starting with a remarkable 23-match unbeaten streak, their confidence was shattered by a humbling 3-0 defeat to Sweden in the first group game of the Tokyo Olympics. This loss was a rare embarrassment for the US as they found themselves completely dominated from start to finish.
In late last year, they suffered three consecutive defeats for the first time since the 1990s, including a loss to England, who had just won Euro 2022, at Wembley in October.
It is worth noting that their journey to Europe followed the release of the initial report on misconduct in the NWSL. However, concerns about Andonovski's international experience started to emerge, particularly regarding his team's ability to gain insights from the international break.
If the US falters once more during this tournament, those questions will undoubtedly resurface prominently.
Considering the situation objectively, there may be signs of hope for the US' opponents in their quest to prevent them from dominating this summer.
However, let's not underestimate the young talents emerging in the United States. Andonovski has established a precedent of selecting players based on their current form, which he has carried over to the tournament squad. This is evident in his decision to include Savannah DeMelo, who becomes only the third American player in history to be called up for the World Cup without having previously earned a cap.
Although, it is 22-year-old Sophia Smith who is likely to grab the headlines. Born in the new millennium, she is one of four players on the squad from that generation. With her exceptional skills, she is a guaranteed starter as part of the forward line. Last year, she received recognition as the youngest-ever Player of the Season in the NWSL after scoring an impressive 14 goals in just 18 games for the Portland Thorns.
When it comes to betting on the Golden Boot, there are few options as promising as placing it on her. No one has more confidence in her abilities than the player herself.
"I've always been a winner," she confidently explained to Fox Sports in a recent interview. "I have an innate drive to win. Losing, even in card games or anything else, absolutely disgusts me. So, when it comes to soccer, I always manage to find a way."
The national women's team has become extremely popular among the American population and has recently achieved a significant milestone by attaining financial parity with their male counterparts. The team's accomplishment is further supported by the involvement and endorsement of US Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone, a highly accomplished former international player. Cone's unique position as a former player and current top football administrator distinguishes her from previous leaders in the field. Despite the challenges this posed for her and the organization, Cone has been unwavering in her vocal support for the women's equal pay agreement.
She expressed to ESPN the indescribable personal significance of this long-awaited day. However, she emphasized that its impact extends beyond the United States and the realm of sports.
This unapologetic display of positivity towards women's rights and advocacy for equality has garnered numerous admirers. Nonetheless, it also poses a significant challenge for the national team, as they find themselves thousands of miles away in Australia.
Certain sections of the US media have displayed less openness towards their approach. Recall the reaction Megan Rapinoe received when she chose to follow Colin Kaepernick by taking a knee during the national anthem.
Just a week prior to the tournament commencement, a prominent news anchor has generated considerable attention by claiming to have "accomplished more for women's sports" than the former captain, disregarding her significant involvement in achieving the groundbreaking pay equity agreement and her consistent vocal advocacy for women's sports.
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Megan Rapinoe divided public opinion in the United States in 2016 when she took a knee before the national anthem at a national team match.
If the United States manages to achieve the previously unimaginable feat of winning the World Cup for the second time, even the critics will have to stay silent, albeit temporarily. It would require a courageous skeptic to wager against such a possibility.
What is the World Cup schedule?
This group of women has demonstrated their ability to overcome challenges, especially considering the off-field issues they have faced since winning the trophy in France four years ago.The group stage is scheduled to start on July 20 and will span a two-week period, concluding on August 3. During this stage, the top teams from each group will advance to the round of 16, which will occur from August 5 to August 8.
The quarter-finals are set to take place on August 11 and 12 in Wellington, Auckland, Brisbane, and Sydney. Following that, the first semi-final will occur on August 15 in Auckland, and the second semi-final will be held on August 16 at Accor Stadium in Sydney. The final match will be hosted at the same stadium on August 20.
A third-place play-off will be played the day before the final on August 19 in Brisbane.
