'We just have to get better': US regroup after World Cup close call
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[August 02, 2023]
By Amy Tennery
AUCKLAND (Reuters) - The United States must up their level across
the board as they likely face a lethal round-of-16 opponent at the
Women's World Cup, having just barely kept their title defense alive
after a breathtaking scare in Tuesday's final group-stage hurdle.
The five-inch-wide (12.7 cm) aluminum goalpost was all that
separated the Americans from utter disaster on Tuesday, as a
stoppage-time shot from Portugal forward Ana Capeta ricocheted off
the post.
The attempt was so convincing that even the Portugal coach on the
sideline at first believed they had pulled off the impossible,
getting past the top-ranked Americans and into the knockout stages
in their tournament debut.
Instead they packed their bags after the scoreless draw as the
United States stayed behind, left to wonder how their journey for an
unprecedented third consecutive title had nearly turned into utter
disaster.
"The player of the match was that post," Fox Sports correspondent
Carli Lloyd said in a grim appraisal of her former teammates'
performance.
Had they exited, it would have been the worst World Cup performance
for the top-ranked team and would have marked the first time that
defending champions had gone out in the group stage.
"It's not like we don't have the pieces," coach Vlatko Andonovski
told reporters. "We have to stick to our principles, we have to
stick to our game model and we have to stick to our philosophy."
They will almost certainly meet their rivals Sweden in the round of
16, where they must find a way to manage the 1995 winners' set-piece
prowess in order to survive.
Doing so will require that the United States resolve their lack of
synchrony, with Andonovski previously blaming the starters' lack of
playing minutes together.
His decision to start Lynn Williams over Trinity Rodman at forward
on Tuesday failed to yield better results as the Portugal goalkeeper
Ines Pereira had no problems fending off Williams' best efforts.
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FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New
Zealand 2023 - Group E - Portugal v United States - Eden Park,
Auckland, New Zealand - August 1, 2023 Alyssa Naeher and Lindsey
Horan of the U.S. walk out ahead of the match REUTERS/David Rowland
"There are areas where we need to get better ...
starting from the back, how to connect with the midfielders, and
from the midfield to the forwards, how to be more dangerous,"
Andonovski told reporters.
"We have to get on the same page when it comes down to the final
goal, to the final pass and execution."
Another potential issue for their round-of-16 affair in Melbourne on
Sunday will be the absence of star midfielder Rose Lavelle, who had
been limited in her minutes after coming back from a long injury
recovery.
The crafty, creative fan-favourite got the start on Tuesday - and
appeared to be the most capable against the Portugal defence - but
incurred a second yellow card that will prevent her from playing in
the next match.
It was a disappointing blow to an American midfield already
operating below the level they wanted to see.
"I wouldn’t say that the midfield three was disjointed - obviously
we wanted to see them more connected," said Andonovski. "We just
have to get better."
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Auckland; Editing by Sonali Paul)
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