The United States women’s national team has lost two games in a row for the first time since 2017, when they lost 1-0 to England, and then 3-0 to France. Now they’ve lost 2-1 to England, and 2-0 to Spain in a pair of away friendlies.
Is it time for panic? It’s time to protest the federation and demand Vlatko Andonovski is fired and forced from town, with only nine months until the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The U.S. won 2019 World Cup despite two losses in 2017. Could we see more of this happening?
First, it is important to place these losses within their proper context. You cannot ignore the demoralizing mental effects that Yates’ report had on the team. This report was more than just a summary of known misconduct. It was also a comprehensive one. Unexpectedly, new information has been revealed.the allegations of sexual assault and abuse, and clearly demonstrated how these players were repeatedly failed by numerous officials and organizations for many years. Each pre- and after-game press conference in England or Spain featured the same questions: how did they feel, how they processed the news, and what was the mood like in camp.
Defender and captain Becky Sauerbrunn said it outright days before the England game: “The players are not doing well. We are horrified and heartbroken and frustrated and exhausted, and really, really angry.”
Lindsey Horan, herself a Portland Thorn on loan, concurred; “I’m a part of an organization (Portland) I’ve always felt very proud to play for, a team I fight on the field for, a club I fight on the field for, so it’s hard to read this and look back at that and feel proud to play for an organization like that.
