They dominated the first half and into the 2nd half, but they just couldn’t manage to get one past the Swedish goalkeeper who played one heck of a game.
That said, I really wish there was a way to decide a winner other than penalty kicks.
I don’t like them either. Soccer is a game based on the combination of individual skill, team work, and strategy. To progress or be eliminated in a world championship based on PKs is really just about individual skill (and some strategy?), and it feels like a letdown or less legitimate for me personally.
The games are already so long anyway, but I do wish they would go into overtime instead, similar to the NHL playoffs.
A shame to see Rapinoe go out like this. Every time she got on the field she was fairly ineffective. Commentators always brought up her ability to change the game with a single pass/crossed ball, but she had pretty poor service. And then obviously the missed penalty kick against Sweden.
Was hard to watch her have this kind of performance since I’ve been a big fan of hers for years.
Unfortunate but not surprising at all. For whatever reason(s) they just couldn’t get it together like they needed too.
I hope that picture wasn’t from right before the game.
They don’t look fierce. The only unity there looks like they’re all varying degrees of miserable.