Defending champions United States were knocked out in the last 16 of the 2023 Women’s World Cup after losing on penalties to Sweden. The Sweden vs United States duel which took place at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Sunday (6/8/2023) ended goalless, aka 0-0 in normal time.
This situation made the match proceed to extra time or extra time for 2 x 15 minutes, but no goals were scored. The winner must also be determined via a penalty shootout. Sweden won with a score of 5-4.
Five of the seven Swedish kickers scored goals, namely Friodilina Rolfo, Elin Rubensson, Hanna Bennison, Magdalena Eriksson and Lina Hurtig. Meanwhile, only four United States executors have scored goals, namely Andi Sullivan, Lindsey Horan, Kristie Mewis and Alyssa Naeher.
Three other players, namely Megan Rapinoe, Sophia Smith and Kelly O’Hara, failed to score. This result made the United States women’s national team fail to finish in the top three of the Women’s World Cup for the first time.
The defeat to Sweden marred Megan Rapinoe’s last Women’s World Cup. The 2019 Women’s Ballon d’Or winner has decided to retire at the end of the 2023 NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) season. Rapinoe made her debut for the United States women’s national team in 2006 and was part of the World Cup winning squad in 2015 and 2019.
She hopes the failure to defend the Women’s World Cup title did not make his colleagues slump and will come back stronger. “Failed to take a penalty, there was an unpleasant joke in there for me personally,” Rapinoe said, quoted from the official FIFA website. “It wasn’t our day. That’s the cruel side to this beautiful game but I’m very proud of the team. I thought we put in a great performance tonight,” she said.
“We just couldn’t score. However, this team has a bright future. Hopefully they don’t get worse as a result of this defeat,” said Rapinoe. “They will be back here (Women’s World Cup) in four years,” added Megan Rapinoe.
There are only four teams that have confirmed a place in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, namely Sweden, Japan, Spain and the Netherlands. Sweden will face Japan, while Spain will face the Netherlands. The eight teams still fighting for the remaining four places in the quarter-finals are England, Nigeria, Australia, Denmark, Colombia, Jamaica, France and Morocco.
