“‘We should have put some in the back of the net, and we didn’t. We own that. We’re not happy with the performance we put out there. But, at the same time, we’re moving on.’”
That’s United States Women’s National Team forward Alex Morgan reacting to the team’s 0-0 draw Tuesday against Portugal that barely qualified the U.S. women for the marquee tournament’s Round of 16.
Portugal’s Ana Capeta nearly scored in stoppage time — a goal that all but certainly would have eliminated the U.S. from the competition — but her shot hit the right post and rolled to a U.S. player outside the 18-yard box.
“I was like, f—. Right at the end, I mean, yeah, that’s stressful,” U.S. forward Megan Rapinoe, who is planning on retiring after this Women’s World Cup, said after the match. “Because you’re out. If that goes in, you’re out. Your whole international career is over. It’s terrible.”
The 2019 Women’s World Cup’s Golden Boot winner, who entered Tuesday in the 61st minute as a substitute, hasn’t lived up to her own standards so far this tournament. She is without a goal or assist. “Obviously we want to play great and score a lot of goals, and we didn’t do that. We know that it can be better, and has to be better, moving forward,” said Rapinoe. “But, ultimately, we’re on to the next round.”
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After the Portugal draw in Auckland, New Zealand, tournament broadcaster Fox Sports briefly showed clips of USWNT players including Morgan, Crystal Dunn, Trinity Rodman and team captain Lindsey Horan dancing and posing for photographs with fans.
Fox pundit and former USWNT player Carli Lloyd was critical of those moments: “I have never witnessed something like that.”
Lloyd is a two-time Women’s World Cup winner and universally viewed as one of the best American footballers of her generation.
“There’s a difference between being respectful of the fans and saying hello to your family. But to be dancing, to be smiling? I mean, the player of the match was that post,” Lloyd said. “You’re lucky to not be going home right now.”
USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski later called Lloyd’s comments “insane.”
The U.S. team will next play in Melbourne, Australia, on Sunday, Aug. 6, at 5 a.m. Eastern time. The game, against an unnamed opponent, will be broadcast on Fox and Telemundo.
The U.S. finished second in its group, with one win, two draws and no losses. The group winner Netherlands had two wins and a draw (with the U.S.) and was also undefeated. Portugal and Vietnam took the third and fourth spots in the group.
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