The U.S. women’s national team has reached the World Cup last 16, but the manner in which they did so should set off major alarm bells.
In one of the worst performances in recent World Cup history, the USWNT had to hold on for a 0-0 draw against underdogs Portugal in their Group E finale.
The result was only good enough for second place in the group, and the performance was even more worrisome. The U.S. was slow, lacking ideas and disconnected, looking like a shadow of the team that entered as World Cup favorites.
Portugal’s Ana Capeta hit the post in second-half stoppage time, narrowly avoiding the biggest shock in recent World Cup history.
There were plenty of reactions — none of them good! — to the USWNT’s scoreless draw against Portugal.