17 June 2023 , 13:24
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The United States women’s national team will be without their captain for World Cup later this year.
Becky Sauerbrunn has sustained a foot injury and has been ruled out of next month’s showpiece event in Australia and New Zealand. The distraught 38-year-old took to social media on Friday night to confirm the news, saying: “Heartbroken isn’t even the half of it.”
“I had hoped and worked and hoped some more to make it back in time to help lead the team at this World Cup. But after lots of discussion, unfortunately, there’s just too much variability in my return to play timeline. So, I’ll be home, working as hard as I can to get back on the field as quickly as I can.”
The 23-player squad is set to be unveiled next week but to the dismay of the team’s fans, their experienced captain will not be included. Sauerbrunn has represented her country since 2008 and is one of the team's longest-serving players with over 200 international appearances.
She has featured in three World Cups and was part of the teams that have won the last two tournaments. She also won a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics and a bronze at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
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The defender suffered the initial injury in April and returned with a brief substitute appearance on June 3, but has not played since and her fears of missing what would have been her final World Cup as a player have been realised. “It’s been an honor to work and play alongside this incredible group of athletes,” the Portland Thorns player added.
“They have my unwavering support. And, more importantly, they have my unyielding belief. This program has always been about the collective and I have no doubt that the twenty-three players on the final roster have everything they need – in their feet, their heads and their hearts – to bring our fifth trophy home.”
Sauerbrunn has played over 200 matches for her country and has won two World Cups (John Todd/USSF/Getty Images)This is the third injury blow the two-time defending champions have suffered ahead of the World Cup. Forward Mallory Swanson underwent surgery on her left knee after suffering an injury during an exhibition match against Ireland in April. Catarina Macario announced she would miss the tournament as she has not yet recovered from tearing her ACL last year.
The US will play against Wales in San Jose on July 9 before heading Down Under, where they will commence their World Cup campaign against Vietnam in Auckland on July 22. Former USWNT midfielder Heather O'Reilly assessed her country's chances of claiming their third successive World Cup title.
“The USA has to roll up its sleeves to continue to find those one, two, three, five percent differences between them and other opponents," she said. "I do think we’re evolving as well, and I think they have a really good chance. No one on the men’s side or the women’s side has ever won three World Cups in a row, it’s never been done. A consecutive hat-trick of World Cups? What an incredible challenge.”