Tag: Sweden

Julie Ertz says she’s likely finished with the USWNT

The 31-year-old was emotional after her side crashed out of the World Cup

After the U.S. women’s national team crashed out of the World Cup in the last 16 against Sweden, Julie Ertz said she has likely played her last game for the national team.

Ertz played every minute of the World Cup for the USWNT, shifting back to defense and partnering Naomi Girma throughout the tournament after an injury to Becky Sauerbrunn.

The 31-year-old has only recently returned to the game after nearly two years away, taking time off after giving birth last August.

Ertz has earned 122 caps over her USWNT career, winning the World Cup in 2015 as a center back and in 2019 in the defensive midfield role she’s made her own in recent years.

Speaking to Fox Sports after the USWNT’s loss, a tearful Ertz revealed that her national team career was likely over.

“It’s tough. We’re proud of the way that we played, but we didn’t put anything in the back of the net. The penalties were tough as well. I think for me, it’s just emotional because it’s probably my last game ever being able to have the honor to wear this crest,” Ertz said.

“It’s just an emotional time,” she added. “It absolutely sucks and penalties are the worst. But it’s an honor to represent this team. I’m excited for the future of the girls.”

Asked about her USWNT legacy, Ertz responded: “Kelley [O’Hara] always says that we just rent these jerseys, and it’s our job to pass it down to the younger ones to continue that in their DNA.

“It’s been an absolute ride. I’ve learned so much about myself as a player, but even just as a person. So this team obviously competes and plays soccer but it does so much more and I’m just very grateful.”

Speaking to ESPN after the game, Ertz was more definitive: “Unfortunately this is my last time in this crest,” she said.

After making her USWNT return, Ertz signed with Angel City FC in April. It’s not clear if she plans to retire from the game altogether or if she is only calling time on her international career.

Watch Ertz’s post-game interview

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USWNT crashes out of World Cup after agonizing shootout loss to Sweden

The quest for a third straight World Cup ends in the round of 16

The U.S. women’s national team is out.

After a lackluster group stage, the USWNT fell to Sweden in a penalty kick shootout in the round of 16, clinching the team’s worst-ever finish at a World Cup.

The manner of the exit, which followed a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes, was simply agonizing.

Megan Rapinoe, Sophia Smith and Kelley O’Hara all missed penalties in the shootout. Smith had the chance to send the USWNT through to the quarterfinals with her spot kick, but the reigning U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year shot wide.

Incredibly, Sweden’s winning penalty looked like it was saved by Alyssa Naeher but after a VAR review, the ball was shown to have barely crossed the line.

It was this close.

It was a devastating end to what was by far the USWNT’s best display of the World Cup. But after a poor group stage saw them finish second, the USWNT’s quest for a third straight title was always going to be difficult.

The major pre-game shift saw the U.S. move from the 4-3-3 formation it had utilized the whole tournament to a 4-2-3-1, with Emily Sonnett coming in as a holding midfielder in place of the suspended Rose Lavelle.

The move, while perhaps forced to due Lavelle’s suspension, was transformative for the USWNT, who looked like an entirely different side to the one Andonovski himself said was “crap” in its group finale against Portugal.

Suddenly with passing options in the midfield, the U.S. showed an ability to build up it had not displayed in a worrying group stage. Against one of the tournament’s best teams, the USWNT was firmly on the front foot in the first half, only lacking a goal in a much improved display.

The U.S. continued to push in the second half as Sweden appeared mostly content to absorb pressure. But as Peter Gerhardsson’s side was pushed back more and more, it had to rely on its goalkeeper to make two excellent saves to keep the match level.

First, Zećira MuÅ¡ović somehow dove to her left to keep out Lindsey Horan’s 53rd-minute rocket that appeared destined for the far corner.

Mušović was there again in the dying moments of regulation to claw out an Alex Morgan header to ensure the match went into extra time.

As it did during regulation, the USWNT had the better of the chances in extra time and just like she did during regulation, Mušović was up to the challenge.

Lynn Williams had the best chance of extra time for the U.S. but MuÅ¡ović dove low to her right to keep out the substitute’s effort.

MuÅ¡ović’s efforts in getting her side to a penalty shootout were richly rewarded. Sweden will move on to face Japan in a marquee quarterfinal matchup while for the USWNT, the recriminations are only begininng.

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USWNT lineup vs. Sweden: Rodman returns, Sonnett a surprise starter for round of 16 match

Sonnett’s inclusion signals a change in the USWNT’s formation

The U.S. women’s national team will take on Sweden in a round of 16 battle, the most familiar pairing in the history of the women’s World Cup.

However, the USWNT lineup on the night will be distinctly unfamiliar. Vlatko Andonovski made two changes to the team that finished up the group stage looking vulnerable in a 0-0 draw with Portugal. One was straightforward: Trinity Rodman returned to the lineup in place of Lynn Williams.

The other is less conventional. With Rose Lavelle suspended due to yellow card accumulation, it was expected that the USWNT would call on Savannah DeMelo or Ashley Sanchez in her place. Instead, Andonovski has turned to Emily Sonnett, a utility defender/midfielder.

While Andonovski’s unconventional choice left multiple options open due to Sonnett’s versatility, the final choice was the least surprising of the bunch. Sonnett lined up alongside Andi Sullivan in a defensive midfield role, with captain Lindsey Horan pushing further forward in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

A win for the U.S. would guarantee another immense challenge in the form of a quarterfinal against Japan, arguably the most impressive team in this World Cup thus far. That match would take place at Eden Park in Auckland, the site for two prior USWNT matches in the group stage. Kickoff would be set for 3:30 am ET.

A loss? Angst around the program would reach a fever pitch as the pre-tournament favorite would stumble out early, having won once in four games. We’d be in for months of analysis, criticism, “what could have been” scenarios, and almost certainly a new coach coming in. Suffice it to say, this one’s a big one.

Save for Lavelle, the rest of the U.S. squad is available off the bench.

USWNT lineup vs. Sweden

(4-2-3-1): Naeher; Fox, Ertz, Girma, Dunn; Sullivan, Sonnett; Rodman, Horan, Smith; Morgan

Sweden lineup (4-3-3): Zećira Mušović; Nathalie Björn, Amanda Ilestedt, Magdalena Eriksson, Jonna Andersson; Filippa Angeldal, Kosovare Asllani, Elin Rubensson; Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Stina Blackstenius, Fridolina Rolfö

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USWNT vs Sweden: How to watch World Cup round of 16 match

It’s not a World Cup unless the USWNT faces Sweden

The U.S. women’s national team’s path to an unprecedented third straight World Cup championship is down to just four more steps.

The USWNT’s knockout round begins with an extremely familiar foe, as Sweden is the opponent for a round-of-16 clash set for Sunday at 5 a.m. ET.

It has been a rocky road, to be sure. The USWNT was merely fine in a 3-0 win over Vietnam, before struggling for a large portion of a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands. Most troublingly, the U.S. couldn’t solve Portugal, surviving in a scoreless tie that saw their opponent hit the post in stoppage time, a chance that could have eliminated the USWNT at the first hurdle.

Nonetheless, the USWNT survived and advanced, setting up yet another game against Sweden. These sides have met in each of the last six World Cups, as well as the last two Olympic games. It’s almost like a major international tournament cannot happen without the USWNT lining up against the Swedes.

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Unlike the last game of the group stage, there’s no complicated scenarios to remember. If the USWNT can win in 90 minutes, Japan awaits in the quarterfinals. If scores are level at full time, the sides will move on to 30 minutes of extra time; if that doesn’t break the tie, penalty kicks loom.

In other words, now that we’re in the knockout stages, everything’s on the line for the USWNT from here on out.

USWNT vs. Sweden

  • When: Sunday, August 6
  • Where: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, AUS
  • Time: 5 a.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Fox, Telemundo, Peacock (Watch for free on Fubo)

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World Cup knockout round power rankings: Evaluating all 16 teams

Evaluating the hopes of the 16 teams left at this World Cup

A World Cup group stage full of surprises has resulted in a truly intriguing set of 16 teams going through to the knockout rounds.

Some favorites have looked the part, but the list of big teams that have underachieved is significantly longer (it’s not just the U.S. women’s national team, folks). A couple of second-tier teams have stepped their game up, while some unheralded sides have shown that while no one was watching, they were making major strides.

The result is a round of 16 where it feels like nearly anything could happen. Could the USWNT join the likes of Germany, Brazil, and Canada in being out? What about the possibility of teams like Jamaica, Morocco, and South Africa getting to the quarterfinals?

It’s been completely unpredictable, so all of these things are distinctly possible. Still, Pro Soccer Wire tried to sort out the likelihood of any one team making a run to the final. Somewhere between their results in this tournament, past track record, and overall talent level, we’ve settled on a power rankings list that everyone everywhere will surely have no problems with.

2023 Women’s World Cup Day 14 Recap: South Africa and Jamaica make history

South Africa and Jamaica have reached the knockout stage of the Women’s World Cup for the first time

Day 14 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup marked the second-to-last day of the group stage, as the final pieces of the puzzle have begun to fall into place.

However, before we get into all the action from Day 14, here is your daily reminder that you can follow the entirety of the World Cup right here at Pro Soccer Wire! You can get the full TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and the rankings in this year’s race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s see how the games played out on Day 14.

Here we go again: USWNT and Sweden to meet for sixth straight World Cup

Despite all of the previous meetings, the teams have never faced off in the World Cup knockout stage before

The U.S. women’s national team and Sweden can’t seem to get enough of each other in major competitions.

Sweden clinched first place in Group G with a 2-0 win against Argentina on Wednesday, sealing a spot in the last 16 against the USWNT, which finished as runner-up in Group E.

This will be the sixth consecutive World Cup at which the USWNT has faced Sweden, and the seventh out of nine overall. It will also be the first time the two teams have met in the knockout stage.

Overall at the World Cup, the USWNT has won four, lost one and drawn one out of its six previous matchups against the Swedes.

The history between the USWNT and Sweden extends well beyond the World Cup, though, as the teams have met at the past two Olympics — with disastrous results for the USA.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Sweden stunned the USWNT in the quarterfinals on penalties, ensuring the U.S. would end the Olympics without a medal for the first time. Five years later in Japan, the U.S. would be thrashed 3-0 by Sweden in their opener. Vlatko Andonovski’s side never seemed to fully recover from that humbling defeat, and would go on to take home a bronze medal.

USWNT-Sweden at 2023 World Cup

After very different group stage outcomes for the two teams, the Swedes may actually go into the last-16 matchup as slight favorites.

Sweden dominated an admittedly weak Group G, winning all three of its games while scoring nine goals and conceding just one.

The USWNT, meanwhile, struggled through Group E, turning in some uncharacteristically limp performances on the way to just one win and two draws. It was the first time in the team’s history that it failed to win at least two group games at a World Cup, and its total of five points was also an all-time low.

The two teams will kick off at 5 a.m. ET on Sunday at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

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2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 10 Recap: France sneaks by Brazil

France got a late winner against Brazil in one of the marquee matchups of the group stage

On Day 10 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, things got interesting. From late winners to dominant blowouts, the three-game slate had it all. The day featured Sweden taking on Italy, France facing off against Brazil, and Panama playing Jamaica.

But before we get into all that, here is your daily reminder that you can get all of your World Cup content right here at Pro Soccer Wire! We have the full TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and the rankings in this year’s race for the Golden Boot.

Let’s see how the games played out on Day 10 of the event.

Planning a golf trip to Europe? You might have additional forms to fill out

Plan to play golf in Europe in 2024 or after? You might need to do more digital homework first.

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Planning a golf trip to Europe in 2024? You might need to fill out some new digital paperwork first, even if you’re a U.S. citizen used to traveling about the European Union visa-free.

The official travel site of the EU announced this week that starting in 2024, visitors from more than 60 countries that are visa-exempt will need to apply for entry to 30 countries through the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). The applicable visas will not be physical paperwork, instead being digitally linked to a visitor’s passport.

Notably, the announced program for 2024 does not apply to the Republic of Ireland, probably the most-visited of EU countries for U.S. players on golf trips. (For anyone who was busy beating balls on the range for several years and missed it, popular golf destinations England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are no longer part of the EU and are not part of this new application process.)

U.S. nationals currently don’t need to fill out such an application, but that changes for any trips starting Jan. 1. The EU said ETIAS approval normally will take just a few minutes but can stretch out several days or longer, so it’s best to apply as early as possible to avoid any headaches or missed tee times.

Applications will be provided through an official website and app, and travelers will need to provide their passport information or another document to which visas can be affixed. The application process has not yet opened.

The processing fee is 7 euros, currently less than $8. Children under 18 years old and seniors over 70 can apply for free. Approval allows 90 days in the selected country over a 180-day period, and approval is good for three years or the expiration of the passport to which it is registered, whichever comes first. Parents and legal guardians can apply on behalf of children.

The program is similar to one the U.S. requires of many international visitors through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

ETIAS approval also will be required for citizens of Canada, Great Britain, Australia and dozens of other countries. For a complete list of countries whose citizens will need approval, click here for the official announcement, which includes several exemptions.

The counties that will require an ETIAS are listed below, as provided by the official travel site of the European Union:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 4 Recap: Jamaica earns shocking draw

Jamaica’s surprising draw against mighty France highlighed the fourth day of action

On Day 4 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, there was plenty to get excited about. From marquee matchups to surprising finishes, there was a lot of intrigue. In the opening match, Sweden took on South Africa. That was followed by Netherlands against Portugal, while France and Jamaica wrapped up the day.

But before we get into the games, here is a quick reminder that you can keep up with the entirety of the World Cup right here at Pro Soccer Wire. Make sure to check out the TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and a look at the race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s see how Day 4 went down.