AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
The United States women’s national team is reeling.
The Americans were eliminated for the third straight game on Thursday night, losing 2-1 to Germany after losing to England and Spain in October.
FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer
Germany takes a 1-0 lead in Florida 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/yzngnbTM5k
This was particularly painful when second-half substitute Megan Rapinoe leveled in the closing moments, only to see Germany regain the lead almost immediately:
FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer
🔥@alexmorgan13 ➡️@mPinoe@USWNT equalizes to 1:1! 🇺🇸🙌 pic.twitter.com/sO31FD6zwU
FOX Soccer @FOXSoccer
Germany is again at the top with 2:1 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/1Lx4lxoKuw
While neither Germany nor England nor Spain are the slightest bit weak, the USWNT is not used to losing streaks regardless of the competition. It is the country’s first three-game losing streak in nearly 30 years.
B/R football @brfootball
2-1 defeat by England
0-2 defeat against Spain
1-2 defeat against GermanyFor the first time since March 1993, the USWNT has lost three games in a row ❌ pic.twitter.com/BEmeITrAOw
PaulCarr @PaulCarr
🇺🇸 #USWNT is unbeaten in 71 home games. It was the second longest in the club’s history.
🇺🇸 The USA has lost three games in a row for the first time since 1993.
🇺🇸 The USA have conceded multiple goals in three games in a row for the first time since 2001.
As you’d expect, fear ran rampant on Twitter after the game, and much of it was directed at manager Vlatko Andonovski:
Michael Hand @OBOY2377
Vlatko Andonovski ruins the USWNT. It’s a shame what he’s doing.
TAC @Terrocracy
It’s time for Vlatko Andonovski to go. #USWNT
K @katieweavil
I want Vlatko Andonovski to be fired immediately after the game ends. This experiment has to stop.
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
The USWNT is in quite a mess at the moment. This is usually a status reserved for the USMNT in our country. It’s strange to see them play so badly so often.
Haley Rosen @HaleyRosen
Women’s international football has grown so much. Say what you will about Vlatko, but this is one of the most talented USWNT rosters we’ve had and the group struggled more than I’ve ever seen.
Jayme Mizzoni @Jaymemizzoni
The injuries and Vlatko’s coaching… this isn’t a championship team #etc
Steph Yang | Terrible soccer goose @thrace
I don’t think this game was a tactical disaster or anything, it’s just that one of the things that was missing was something that’s been elusive for a while and imo it feels more like it is it on the mental/energetic side #etc
abby 🇬🇧 (fan account) @leahfridas
it’s not crazy that usnt is losing this game and you all have to realize that 😭 the game is growing and germany has been one of the big ones for a while
Dustin Page @DustinMPage
Sigh. This #USWNT-Team has so many problems. love their fight. They always fight. But something has to change. They’re just not sharp. Don’t know where to find answers at the moment.
It’s difficult to determine what exactly is going on with this current iteration of the USWNT. There is undoubtedly a transition happening from many of the long standing veterans to a young and extremely talented next generation.
In addition, the rest of the world is catching up with the USA in women’s football.
But it’s hard to completely rule out the possibility that Andonovski isn’t currently resonating with his players or his current tactics aren’t working. Something is wrong, and when a team has as much talent as that team has, the blame usually falls on the manager.
Andonovski will have a few days to figure something out before the United States and Germany tangle again at 5 p.m. ET Sunday. If the United States loses for the fourth consecutive season, Andonovski’s seat could be a little more than hot.