USWNT alarm bells ring after Women's World Cup scare: "We are very fortunate"

01 August 2023 , 18:32

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Crystal Dunn admitted the USWNT were lucky to progress to the Women's World Cup knockouts. (Image: USSF/Getty Images)

United States women's national team full-back Crystal Dunn acknowledged the squad was troubled by their dull performance in a 0-0 draw to Portugal at the Women's World Cup on Tuesday. The Stars and Stripes needed a point to reach the knockout stage but almost crashed out when Portugal forward Ana Capeta struck the post in stoppage time.

They finished second in Group E behind the Netherlands, scoring only four goals in three games, and will now play the winners of Group G in the Round of 16. The Americans are trying to win the tournament for the third time in a row.

"Right now, we are very fortunate to have another opportunity," Dunn said after the Portugal close-call.

"Honestly, we expect so much of ourselves," striker Alex Morgan explained. "We hold a high standard, and we wanted to go through first in the group. But this World Cup is crazy. Every World Cup is crazy, but this one especially."

The USWNT already faced criticism after their 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, when they trailed for more than an hour — their first Women's World Cup deficit in 12 years. Fans and pundits urged head coach Vlatko Andonovski to rotate his squad and use more substitutions. Yet even with significant lineup changes against Portugal — he brought Lynn Williams and Rose Lavelle into his XI — and five substitutions, the Americans mustered little of the attacking energy that propelled them to back-to-back Women's World Cup titles.

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Andonovski still has potential tricks in his bag. He could introduce midfielders Ashley Sanchez or Sofia Huerta to shake up the team further. But there's growing concern that the USWNT might not have another gear. After all, they slumped to a third-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics two summers ago, hardly resembling a powerhouse that has traditionally stomped almost all opposition.

Morgan, who started despite ex-USWNT star Carli Lloyd saying she should be dropped, was one of the players who tried to take a positive spin on the Portugal game. At least the team survived, she emphasised.

Alex Morgan tried to highlight positives after a timid draw with Portugal. (USSF/Getty Images)

"I know this team, and I know what we're capable of," Morgan said. "Just because it hasn't clicked every moment on the field, and we're not putting the goals in the back of the net doesn't mean these aren't the right players for the job. The confidence is there. Now we just have to prove it out on the field."

Midfielder Lindsey Horan, a bright spot in the tournament, agreed with Morgan's assessment. She added: "We have to take every little positive out of it. Obviously, we're disappointed in the way that we played, but again, Portugal was a tough opponent and made it really difficult on us."

While Andonovski has claimed a press officer filters out negative TV and social media messages for him during the tournament, he is aware of the personal pressure he faces leading the USWNT. Anything less than an appearance in the final, and he's likely gone. The 46-year-old's contract is up after the Women's World Cup.

Andonovski still hopes the old magic of the USWNT can re-appear just in time. "It's not like we haven't done this before against good opponents," he said. "We have to stick to our principles. We have to stick to our model and our philosophy."

Dan Bernstein