The US Women’s National Soccer Team have found themselves in an unfamiliar position going into the knockout stage of the World Cup: with their backs against the wall. The USWNT, who have historically dominated the tournament since its inception and have never finished worse than third place, struggled through the group stage…and it won’t get any easier, as a physical Sweden team awaits them in the round of 16.

ESPN’s Ali Krieger is a former member of the USWNT herself, and she tells us what she’s seen on the pitch from her old team, how expansion of women’s soccer around the world has elevated this edition of the World Cup…and why there’s still hope for a USA three-peat.

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Ali Krieger on USWNT’s Group Stage Woes + Round of 16 Preview