USWNT

As the sun crested the horizon for many Americans on Sunday morning the figurative sun set for the United States women’s national team who lost 5-4 on penalty kicks to Sweden in the Round of 16 of the Women’s World Cup.

I’m sorry to disappoint folks but I’m at a loss for words. How on Earth did the USWNT lose that game? The Swedish kryptonite continues to haunt the women.

Let’s get to where it went wrong in penalties. Megan Rapinoe and Sophia Smith blew it. Plain and simple. I know Kelly O’Hara would miss her kick later but let me set the scene.

WELLINGTON — Hinata Miyazawa scored her fifth goal of the tournament as Japan beat Norway 3-1 in a clash of former champions on Saturday to reach the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup for the fourth time.

Japan have been on a mission to bury the memory of their disappointing exit at the last-16 stage in 2019 and move on to play the winner of Sunday's clash between holders the United States and Sweden.

The USWNT's 0-0 draw with Portugal was a cry for help. If there's one thing we can say with 100 percent certainty, it's that Vlatko Andonovski's previous call for patience and simply more of the same is entirely without warrant. Recurrent issues have been plaguing the team for almost two years and they aren't working themselves out — there's something wrong with the system.

As a regular U.S. soccer fan, it’s typically my duty to disagree with polarizing FOX pundit Alexi Lalas. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case this Tuesday morning as the USWNT pathetically got a 0-0 draw vs. Portugal to finish second in Group E and advance to the Round of 16 of the Women’s World Cup.

There isn’t much to discuss about the USWNT’s draw. They were slapdash on the attack and lucky not to concede on defense. Portugal were inches away from sending the USWNT home but rattled the post late in the game.

The United States women's national team is still heavily favored to move on to the knockout rounds, but a small chink in the armor of the two-time defending Women's World Cup champions has caused a ripple effect at sportsbooks.

The USWNT needs to earn at least a point against Portugal at Auckland, New Zealand, early Tuesday (3 a.m. ET) to guarantee it advances out of Group E.

AUCKLAND - Holders United States arrived at the Women's World Cup as favorites to win an unprecedented third straight title but their place in the tournament will be on the line when they take on Portugal in Tuesday's Group E showdown in Auckland.

The Americans, who have never been eliminated from the group stage in World Cup history, have not yet hit peak form. They beat minnows Vietnam 3-0, and a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands left both teams locked on four points.

It's Sunday morning in the United States and every nation at the Women's World Cup has completed at least two matches. Group A, the Group of Life, went ahead and finished their third and final games in the early hours so that makes our Power Rankings a little clearer, but this is how things stand in our eyes with the knockout stages taking shape.

2023 Women's World Cup Power Rankings (Pt. II)

#32. Zambia (Change: 0)

AUCKLAND - The United States are built to handle the pressure of their do-or-die final group stage match, veteran Megan Rapinoe said, with everything on the line against Portugal on Tuesday at the Women's World Cup.

The four-times champions have never exited in the group stage but may suffer that fate without a win or a draw against the World Cup debutantes, after beating Vietnam in the opener and settling for a 1-1 draw to the Netherlands.

It is hardly the position fans imagined the team would be in as they pursue an unprecedented third consecutive title.