In one of the biggest shocks in Women's World Cup history, the USA are out before the quarter-finals. The USWNT entered this tournament seeking a "threepeat," after coming out victorious in the 2015 and 2019 tournaments, but are ultimately packing their bags before we've even reached the business end of things.
They had already been questioned after poor performances in the group stages saw them take only five points from a pool they had been expected to top in relatively routine fashion ahead of the Netherlands, Vietnam and Portugal.
That they were nearly eliminated by Portugal with virtually the last kick of the group stages had question marks hanging over the USWNT entering the last 16, where they faced world number three Sweden.
For the first time in the 2023 World Cup, the USA of old appeared, as they bossed possession and created most of the best opportunities in Melbourne on Sunday. However, the pace of the game lacked any real zip, and the best performer on the pitch was Swedish goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, meaning the game finished 0-0 after extra-time.
An utterly bizarre penalty shootout saw the Swedes through, and left the media in the USA questioning how their world leading champions had exited the tournament in such acrimonious circumstances.
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USA: FOX pundit questions "wasted opportunities" after shock USWNT exit
FOX Sports carried live coverage of Sunday's game in the US - though news of the USWNT's premature exit will have greeted many as they woke up, with the game kicking off as early as 5am East Coast time.
Lina Hurtig wins it for Sweden, her penalty kick in the shootout just made it over the line, the holders USA are out 5-4 on penalties
📱Recap https://t.co/D7iRaDsbV6 #wwc2023 #rtesoccer #SWEUSA pic.twitter.com/iPCSrYROQu— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) August 6, 2023
On the panel were two-time World Cup winner Carli Lloyd, as well as USA '94 cult hero Alexi Lalas.
Lalas became a hero to the football world for his audacious hairstyles, as the US hosted a World Cup for the first time ever in 1994, and was one of their best performers as they progressed to the last 16.
For his team, that was an overperformance - but for the world-leading USWNT, this World Cup exit at the same stage will be a bitter disappointment.
Speaking on FOX immediately after full-time, Lalas praised the team for finally showing their quality in Sunday's game - but said that the tournament could not be seen as anything other than a failure, due to the disappointment of the USA's performances throughout:
The play of this game has been deservedly praised. It doesn't cover up defficiencies, it doesn't mean that there isn't going to be an examination of this team. As you mentioned, from historic perspective, this has never happened.
Ultimately, 2023 has been an unmitigated failure for this US team. The number one team in the world, the defending World Cup champions come out and go out in the round of 16.
There will be examinations of Vlatko Andonovski and the players that were picked...what they did throughout the tournament.
Again, that group stage...you look back at the wasted opportunities and the play, let's be honest, was not good enough. Yet, they showed up in this game, and that's what makes it kind of strange in this moment.
But, ultimately, it is about what you do throughout that tournament - you never got the feeling that they were necessarily evolving and growing into this tournament. They picked a wonderful day to have their best game but, ultimately, they still went missing on the most important part of the game which is putting the ball in the back of the net.
Sweden now progress to the quarter-finals against Japan on Friday.
With plenty of the "golden generation" now retired, and the USA hoping to co-host the 2027 tournament with Mexico, fans of the USWNT will have to hope that the young stars in this team come to the fore in the coming four years.
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