Fans furious as US knocked out of FIFA Women's World Cup after penalties

The USA Women's football team, two-time defending champions, suffered a loss to Sweden in a penalty shootout, eliminating them from the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.

The highly regarded USA Women's football team, considered strong contenders for this year's Women's World Cup, faced a disappointing exit from the tournament after faltering in a tense penalty shootout against Sweden.

Following an intense and gripping match, Sweden emerged victorious, advancing to the quarterfinals. This defeat puts an end to the reigning champions' bid for an impressive third consecutive global triumph. The captivating penalty shootout took place in Melbourne on Sunday (August 6).

A nail-biting penalty shootout

The dramatic conclusion unfolded in a high-stakes penalty shootout between the two teams:

• Nathalie Björn of Sweden missed her penalty kick, providing Megan Rapinoe with an opportunity to give the US the lead.
• However, Rapinoe, known for her reliability in penalty situations, faltered, reigniting Sweden's chances.
• Both Rebecka Blomqvist from Sweden and Sophia Smith representing the US also failed to convert their penalties.
• As the score leveled at 4-4, substitute Kelley O'Hara's shot for the US hit the crossbar.
• This set the stage for Hurtig to secure victory for her team. The final decision was made through the video assistant referee (VAR), with referee Stéphanie Frappart determining that Lina Hurtig's penalty was valid.

Rapinoe’s Farewell

Prior to the tournament, Megan Rapinoe, an iconic figure in the US Women's Soccer team, announced her retirement after this event.

The defeat marked a bittersweet farewell for Rapinoe, as her name joined those who struggled with penalty kicks.

Criticism

Since the team's defeat, it has faced a barrage of controversies and criticism within the US.

• Many USWNT players refrained from singing the national anthem during their Group E matches against Vietnam, the Netherlands, and Portugal. This act served as a protest against racial injustice and police violence in North America. Following their recent loss, critics have turned their attention to the team's political engagement, labeling them as "Anti-American."

• At the center of these divergent reactions is Megan Rapinoe, a vocal advocate for various social causes and the team's leader. Her missed penalty kick led to swift criticism, with detractors pointing to her off-field activism and assigning blame for the defeat.

• Former US President Donald Trump, who has clashed with the USWNT before, took to Twitter to criticize the team, suggesting a link between the defeat and the "Biden rule's failure."

The US Women's fotball team has consistently reached the World Cup semifinals, making this instance a humbling moment for a nation that has long been a trailblazer in women's footbll.

In the previous World Cup, where the US secured their second consecutive championship, the team dominated their era. However, the sporting landscape has evolved since then, awaiting the emergence of the next champion.