Relieved Americans escape, move on at World Cup

The Americans came into the Women’s World Cup as the two-time defending champions and tournament favorites. They are simply relieved to still be in the competition by the end of the group stage.

August 1, 2023 - 2:50 PM

USA's defender (4) Naomi Girma (L) and Portugal's forward (10) Jessica Silva vie for the ball during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group E football match between Portugal and the United States at Eden Park in Auckland on August 1, 2023. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — The Americans came into the Women’s World Cup as the two-time defending champions and tournament favorites.

By the end of the group stage, they are relieved to still be in the competition.

“That was stressful. I was like (expletive),” said United States star Megan Rapinoe, using a curse word to describe her emotions after the team squeezed into the knockout stage with a 0-0 draw against Portugal on Tuesday.

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