VLATKO ANDONOVSKI RESIGNS AS USWNT MANAGER 🇺🇸

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It’s Wednesday, August 16th. Give us four minutes, we give you everything World Cup.

AUSTRALIA RESPONDS TO SAM KERR’S GOAL: Australia are out of the World Cup, but leave a hefty mark upon a nation that reeled with excitement for the Matildas by the end. Scenes like this will last far longer than any final defeat. MORE BELOW.

I. Vlatko Andonovski is set to resign as manager of USWNT 🇺🇸

It’s now 11 days in Australia since the United States was bounced from the World Cup at the earliest point in their history. That Round of 16 defeat to Sweden after penalties in Melbourne will live on in US Soccer infamy; it’s a point of reckoning for a program that may need to evolve to keep up with a growing global game.

Today, as reported by several colleagues, but first by Lizzy Becherano of 90min Football, the initial sign of evolution includes that Vlatko Andonovski is set to resign.

The announcement does not come as a shock, though it does mark the first official change in what may hopefully be a number of them. For there have been intermittent successes found in Andonovski’s reign, but overall his tenure directly following Jill Ellis’ two-time World Champion era (ending in 2019) will be seen as a time when the US slipped behind.

In the near-term, Andonovsi appears to be well-sought after at the club and international level. A return to NWSL seems potentially likely (though international suitors seek Andonovski too) with perhaps a return specifically to Kansas City Current in the cards. That he may find success there seems likely, hopeful, unsurprising and deserved.

Now, one hopes that the USWNT will continue this chapter-turn by commencing a scrupulous search for a leader able to direct this team into a new future. That they do so, as a matter of generational importance to this program, cannot be overstated enough.

In the meantime, Meg Linehan has reported at The Athletic that assistant Twila Kilgore has been tapped as the interim skipper while we await a permanent change. Kilgore is likely to be in charge as the US face South Africa in a set of friendlies this September.

II. England’s Lionesses are in the World Cup final, defeating the Matildas 3-1 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇦🇺

From the start, England came out at Stadium Australia inserting a physical aggression and possessional dominance into last evening’s/this morning’s semi-final. For large swaths of the opening half, they held the ball (nearly 70% overall) and looked for the pass, the run, the moment to break through.

In a rhythm now familiar to Australia’s style of play, though, all that’s needed is the spark of a quick counter and Matildas would have the lead. In between the hum of England’s possession, Australia cut through with specifically that threat. They pounced and countered with a danger that had 75,784 on their feet, buzzing at the sight of Sam Kerr’s first start.

Still, England out-produced Australia’s chances. And when a set-piece arrived in the 36th minute, Ella Toone made the throw-in count.

The second half debuted a Matildas side refreshed and ready to reset the momentum. With the crowd’s encouragement behind them, they edged their way back into the game with more of the ball and a quick succession of chances.

When they did find the equalizer, igniting Stadium Australia with an elation to match any other this tournament, it came rather poetically at the foot of Sam Kerr. After being sidelined by injury in her home country’s World Cup, she’d finally made the start. And in the 63rd minute, she moved toward goal with a determination that can only be named inevitable, as she collected the ball from Katrina Gorry, turned, tore toward goal with multiple defenders on her, and slammed it into the back corner of the net.

But hope is a fickle feeling, and rather soon it disappeared for Australia. Lauren Hemp responded eight minutes later as she split defenders and punished the long ball sent to her by Millie Bright. Australia pushed back with more threats of an equalizer. But in the 86th minute, Lauren Hemp setup Alessia Russo to end the night with the final dagger to make it 3-1.

And with that, England are in their first-ever World Cup final. The deservedly esteemed Sarina Wiegman will guide them, as she manages her second World Cup final in a row, for Wiegman was in charge of the Netherlands as they met the US in Lyon back in 2019.

Waiting for them will be Spain, who beat Sweden in Auckland to cement their fate as fellow first-time finalists. The test marks the first all-European final since 2003 (German beat Sweden to collect their first star). It also pits two nations who perhaps best encapsulate the newfound ascendancy of Europe, as the game grows ever more technical and better-developed in a globally competitive field, in a battle for the future of the game.

III. Reflections on a historic run for Australia’s Matildas 🇦🇺

Australia’s Matildas began their host nation World Cup precisely where they ended it: before a packed and celebratory crowd of over 75,000 supporters at Stadium Australia.

What happened in the interim space following their record-breaking debut as they bettered Ireland 1-0, and then fell to England 3-1 Wednesday night, is a team already-loved became iconic, gripped hearts, and stopped time, cutting deep into the tournament and holding off football’s major powers.

That they fell short of the final feels cruel, given the proximity of its reach. But the incredible depth of will and identity that brought this underestimated team to the semi-final will stay with us for some time, perhaps sparking a newfound era of football-mad Australians and young girls that want to be Mary Fowler or Hayley Raso when they grow up.

Tony Gustavsson valiantly rallied his beleaguered side, missing their star and talismanic striker Sam Kerr through the entire group stage, to progress through what has often been argued as the toughest group. On a memorable, final night in Melbourne, they overcame the reigning Olympic gold medalists Canada in a 4-0 trouncing that ushered them into the knockout phase.

On arrival they kept cooking, working past Denmark powered by the top performances of players like Raso, who once was sidelined with injury so severe she thought she’d never walk again, only to find herself scoring multiple goals for her home nation in a FIFA World Cup.

In the quarter-final, perhaps the most tense match yet of the tournament, they slid by formidable France after a record-setting number of penalties (20!). And while they ultimately fell to England in the semi-final- the furthest point they’ve ever reached in a World Cup and the first host nation to delve this deep since the US did in 2003- the success of the hearts they won will be their grandest legacy.

In the words of Tony Gustavsson, this is the beginning of something, not the end: "It’s bigger than 90-minute football. I'm very disappointed we lost, but hopefully we won something else. Hopefully we won hearts and minds.”

IV. News and Notes

1. Now that Australia is out of the tournament. Could Tony Gustavsson become the next US coach?

2. From Kevin Baxter at The LA Times: NWSL spearheaded growth, is it stuck on the sidelines?

V. Parting Shots

Lionesses fans react to Alessia Russo’s goal in the bright summer sun of England, where football might be coming home to?