Sweden eliminates USA
No women’s soccer team has been more celebrated than the US Women’s National Team (USWNT). But Sweden demonstrated today that no team is invincible.
The United States was eliminated from the women’s World Cup on Sunday after losing to Sweden, 5-4, in a dramatic penalty-kick shootout after a scoreless draw in the round of 16 in Melbourne, Australia. The Americans, who had never finished worse than third at any previous World Cup, were sent home in the first round of the knockout stage, a massive disappointment for the world’s top-ranked team.
(The Washington Post, August 6, 2023)
Let’s be clear. This loss had nothing to do with the USWNT’s heroic fight for equal pay. And it had nothing to do with team members refusing to sing the National Anthem with jingoistic fervor before matches.
The USWNT was the 2-time reigning World Cup champion. So there’s no denying the upset and disappointment. But the only thing that explains this loss to Sweden is what explained the USA men’s basketball “Dream Team,” as reigning 3-time reigning Olympic champion, losing to Argentina at the 2004 Olympics.
Not to mention that Sweden goalkeeper Zecira Musovic proved impenetrable. Indeed, Musovic’s performance echoed that of USWNT goalkeeper Briana Scurry during their gold medal run at the 1996 Olympics and title run at the 1999 World Cup.
Besides all that, the USWNT telegraphed this loss last year by losing three straight matches for the first time since 1993. So nobody should be surprised.
MAGA world is gloating
Of course, none of that matters to unpatriotic MAGA trolls like Megyn Kelly. Because facts never matter to them.
That’s why they’re blaming this loss on “wokeness.” And they’re citing the USWNT fighting for equal pay and refusing to sing the National Anthem before matches. That’s their evidence of wokeness.
But that’s every bit as frivolous as the fake evidence of fraud they cite to explain Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential election. Indeed, these dystopian cultists would like all Americans to think Donald Trump is the most persecuted man since Jesus Christ.
Alas, their gloating over the USWNT’s heartbreaking loss is consistent with their Trumpian mission. Their mission? Destroy every democratic institution to help Trump realize his fever dream of ruling America the way autocrats like Xi of China and Putin of Russia rule their respective countries.
My pick to win the Cup
Japan was the last team to defeat the USA in World Cup matches before Sweden did today. So it seems fitting that Japan and Sweden will meet in the next round.
But I’m rooting for Jamaica to win it all. And no, this is no Cool Runnings sentimentality. Its women’s soccer team is really that good. And nothing would please me more than watching Jamaica defeat Sweden or Japan, USA slayers, in the final match.