The US Women’s National Team is on its first losing streak in 5 years, and the timing couldn’t be worse

The US Women’s National Team is on a losing streak for the first time in more than five years . And the timing doesn’t bode well for the Stars and Stripes. The reigning World Cup champions lost back-to-back games during their highly anticipated European trip to start October.

On Friday, the USWNT lost a 2-1 decision to an England Lionesses side fresh off winning this summer’s Euros. Then, Tuesday evening, Vlatko Andonovski’s team fell 2-0 to a Spanish national team competing without 15 of its first-teamers , who are boycotting the federation. “It’s really disappointing,” Andonovoski said in a press conference following the loss to Spain.

“There’s no question about it. ” The United States’ loss to England — which came in front of a crowd of 76,893 at London’s Wembley Stadium — was incredibly competitive throughout. Though the USWNT’s defense struggled for stretches throughout the match, the squad was able to pull itself back from an early deficit and would have equalized a second time if not for a questionable VAR offside call in the 37th minute.

Still, the USWNT would’ve been lucky to pull out a draw had Trinity Rodman’s first-half goal been upheld. The Lionesses bested the Americans in both total shots and shots on target, while maintaining possession for 69% of the game. They completed a whopping 618 passes, with 86% accuracy to boot.

Even so, Tuesday’s match in Pamplona, Spain, was more discouraging. Even though La Roja was expected to be the weaker of the US’ two opponents on the week, Spain managed to hold the Americans scoreless for the first time since a nil-nil draw against the Czech Republic back in February. Five second-half substitutions did nothing to soften the blow for Andonovski’s side.

And as the game drew to a close, the players looked lost and depleted. Of course, the release of Sally Yates’ investigation into rampant abuse within the National Women’s Soccer League — where the vast majority of USWNT players compete on the club level — just days before the first game undoubtedly served as both a distraction and a mental strain for the American side. Still, the USWNT has built a reputation for winning at all costs and through all adversity — including but not limited to a feud with the president of the United States and a contentious legal battle with its own federation .

This week’s outcome stands in stark contrast to that decades-long record. And this isn’t the end of the Americans’ tough slate. Andonvoski and company will return stateside, with many players rejoining their NWSL teams for the 2022 playoffs, before regrouping for a pair of early November friendlies against Germany, the world’s second-ranked women’s national team.

The 2022 Euros runner-up hopes to extend its winning streak to five games by toppling the top-ranked but vulnerable-looking Americans in Florida and New Jersey. Between their disappointing bronze-medal finish at the Tokyo Olympics, several lackluster performances against lower-ranked teams, and this recent showing in Europe, the reigning world champions appear to have plenty of work to do to address issues with cohesion, consistency, and identity. And with just the nine short months remaining before the 2023 World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand, Andonovski will have to right the ship fast.

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