There should be no doubt the United States showed up for its World Cup matches ready to play. There are questions about whether the team was ready to win, though.
The United States was victorious in only one game (1-0-3) before falling Sunday on penalty kicks against Sweden in Melbourne. It was the team’s earliest World Cup elimination ever. But there was no quit in this squad, and it defended like champions.
The problem was, obviously, scoring. The finishing touch was missing, even before Megan Rapinoe, Sophia Smith, and Kelley O’Hara missed penalty kicks against Sweden. In the run of play, though, no one player can create opportunities on her own. And the team lacked a true playmaker, especially against the Swedes, as Rose Lavelle was suspended because of two previous yellow cards.
But in moments of truth, when it came down to scoring, the United States simply did not come through. In its last three games, covering 300 minutes, the United States outshot opponents, 57-20, yet produced only one goal.