US goalkeeper: 'We lost the World Cup because of 1 millimeter'

Naeher thought he could stop Lina Hurtig's last 11m kick, but VAR confirmed that the ball had gone over the line and the US lost the penalty shootout 4-5. The published image shows the ball just millimeters from the line.

"We lost the World Cup because of just one millimeter. It was difficult," Naeher said after yesterday's match on August 6. "It's hard to accept. This pain will live with me for a long time."

Recalling that moment, coach Vlatko Andonovski said: "Until the final whistle blows, we still hope the ball does not cross the line. It shows how cruel football can be. Only with Even a small detail makes the difference between winning and losing."

Meanwhile, team captain Alex Morgan said her mind was devastated after a bad dream. 38-year-old legend Megan Rapinoe - one of three American players to miss a penalty shootout - thinks about the cruelty of a day that does not belong to the team. "Missing the penalty shootout in the last World Cup was like a sick joke," said Rapinoe tearfully.

In the two main periods and two extra periods, the US controlled the game, shot 22 shots with 11 on target, but were all saved by goalkeeper Zecira Musovic. This defeat is the first time the US has been eliminated early, from the 1/8 round of the Women's World Cup. In the previous eight periods, they all reached the semi-finals and finished in the top three strongest teams.

Coach Andonovski affirmed that the US deserves to win with a great plan and strategy. He attributed the excellence of goalkeeper Musovic to the failure of the US. "I can't think of any other reason why we're out of the World Cup," Andonovski said.

Before the 1/8 round, the US received a lot of criticism for its unattractive play when it only won 3-0 Vietnam, drew the Netherlands 1-1 and Portugal 0-0. When asked about the possibility of resignation, coach Andonovski said he has never thought about the future, and affirmed that the future of American football is still bright with many young players appearing this period such as Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman . Meanwhile, this could be the last Women's World Cup of Alyssa Naeher or Alex Morgan.

After four years in charge, Andonovski's contract with the US women's team will expire at the end of 2023, and the Paris Olympics are just a year away.