USWNT drops three straight games to European competition

USWNT fans have been spoiled to be supporting a team so synonymous with winning.

You expect to leave games in a bright, cheery mood and go about your day with a loop of “We Are The Champions” playing triumphantly in your mind.

So when the USWNT loses their third straight game for the 1st time since 1993, it leaves you less in the Christmas cheer kind of mood and more in an “I’m the one who turns all my lights off on Halloween to avoid sugar-hyped children/people in general” mood.

In short, it’s been a minute since the USWNT gave us reason to be this sulky.

What does this mean for the USWNT?

Has Europe caught up to the US? Are the days of World Cup trophies and Olympic gold medals in the past?

Yes and no. England, Spain, and Germany, the USWNT’s latest foes, are prime examples of the current impressive state of women’s football in many European countries. As women around the world have fought for more money, resources, and support to be thrown into the women’s game, the teams that already possessed the talent are naturally on the rise.

Though the USWNT’s #1 ranking is being challenged on many fronts, they’re not one to easily let it go. So to count them out of upcoming trophy opportunities would be a mistake.

Thursday’s match-up against Germany was wide open through the final whistle. Possession was relatively even, both teams had near misses, and the referee had a questionable call or two, but in the end, Germany put away more of their chances, capitalized in the waning minutes when legs were tired, and in a game of inches, they came out the victor.

Next summer’s World Cup will be a dogfight between the USWNT and Europe’s best. The more games the US drops this winter, the more confident the Germanys of the world get. And that’s a scary thought.

The USWNT will have one more opportunity to face Germany on Sunday. Someone please notify the team that Halloween is over. We’re ready for some of that Christmas cheer.