CNN —US coach Vlatko Andonovski defended his team from criticism ahead of the last-16 Women’s World Cup knockout clash against Sweden, telling reporters on Saturday that he didn’t think “it’s the right time” to question their mindset. I mean they’re not going to happen.”Former players and pundits have criticized the US following its underwhelming performances so far in this year’s Women’s World Cup. “This national team has held the standard for so long and it’s up to us to keep it going. Sweden was the last team to inflict a World Cup defeat inside regulation time on the USA back in 2011, when Alyssa Thompson, the youngest member of the 2023 World Cup squad, was only six years old. Carmen Mandato/USSF/Getty Images“It hasn’t been the tournament that I would have hoped,” US striker Alex Morgan told reporters on Saturday.

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Persons: Vlatko Andonovski, ”, “, Andnovski, Buda Mendes, I’ve, Lindsey Horan, Alyssa Thompson, ” Horan, it’s, Rose Lavelle, Alex Morgan, Carmen Mandato Organizations: CNN, Sweden, Tokyo, US, FIFA, USA, Vietnam, USSF, Getty, “ Locations: Melbourne, Australia, Portugal, Portuguese, Sweden, Vietnam, Buda