The United States have begun the method of rebuilding their girls’s crew after the departure of their coach, common supervisor and a handful of influential gamers following the nation’s most disappointing Women’s World Cup marketing campaign.
Spain defeated England 1-0 in Sunday’s last in Sydney, capping the biggest-ever version of the match that broke attendance and TV information, elevating hopes of a surge in curiosity for the ladies’s sport.
The Americans, who personal a file 4 World Cup titles and had by no means earlier than completed worse than third place, left city lengthy earlier than the social gathering was over after a shock defeat to Sweden within the final 16.
Days later, coach Vlatko Andonovski stepped down as coach, leaving each U.S. fan questioning: ‘Was this match a bump within the highway or is that this the tip of an period for essentially the most profitable girls’s worldwide soccer crew?’
“It’s imperative that we continue to evolve and innovate, and we are excited about the path that lies ahead,” U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker stated in a press release final week.
“Our commitment to excellence remains unshakeable, and we believe this strategic plan will set the foundation for our women’s national team to achieve greater heights in the years to come.”
The former director of soccer operations at Premier League aspect Southampton is the person on the centre of the ladies’s nationwide crew’s long-term technique at a pivotal second for American soccer, with the lads’s match coming stateside in 2026.
Announced within the function in April, Crocker took the reins after the federation overhauled the scope of the sporting division, as the lads’s aspect supplied a glimmer of hope by reaching the final 16 in Qatar after failing to qualify for the earlier version.
The U.S. federation should additionally substitute girls’s nationwide crew General Manager Kate Margkraf, whose departure was introduced on Friday. She took the newly created place in 2019.
“There’s been a lot of great work that has been done by the sporting staff on the women’s side of the game at U.S. Soccer, which means we are starting from a position of strength,” Crocker stated after Margkraf’s departure.
“We’re looking forward to building on what has been created already.”
EMBRACING NEWCOMERS
Andonovski, who beforehand coached within the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), had no worldwide expertise earlier than taking the helm for the U.S. crew – an omission to his resume that got here below growing scrutiny because the Americans’ fortunes unravelled in New Zealand and Australia.
But the Macedonian-American by no means shied from bringing the subsequent era into the fold, as he fielded the least skilled U.S. crew in reminiscence with 14 World Cup newcomers, in comparison with solely eight in 2015.
A slew of injured gamers, together with midfield stars Sam Mewis and Catarina Macario and prime goalscorer Mallory Swanson, could have compelled among the new crop into the fore.
But followers on the lookout for a glimmer of hope from the Americans’ dismal marketing campaign can look to the youthful gamers.
Forward Sophia Smith, 23, recorded a brace within the U.S. opener in opposition to Vietnam whereas 23-year-old defender Naomi Girma lived as much as the hype on the again line.
The youthful class that features 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson can be in focus when the U.S. journey to Paris for the 2024 Olympics after selecting up bronze in Tokyo, with former captain Megan Rapinoe among the many veterans anticipated to step apart.
Twice U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year Julie Ertz steered that her time was up too following the defeat by Sweden.
“It s probably the last game ever being able to have the honour to wear this crest,” she advised Fox.
“But it is an honour to represent this team and I am excited for the future of the girls.”
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
