United States women’s national team players, as well as coach Vlatko Andonovski, expressed heartbreak Wednesday after captain Becky Sauerbrunn was officially left off the 2023 Women’s World Cup roster as she recovers from a foot injury. Here’s what you need to know:
- Andonovski said he was “gutted” for Sauerbrunn and that she “will always be our captain.” He added that the team was “confident” in its ability to replace her on the field, with part of the plan potentially being to capitalize on veteran Julie Ertz’s experience at multiple positions.
- Star forward Alex Morgan said she was “shocked” and “heartbroken” for Sauerbrunn when she heard the news, and that Sauerbrunn is “a person that holds people accountable” and “raises the level of standards of every team she’s on.”
- Veteran defender/midfielder Crystal Dunn said that she had “checked in” with Sauerbrunn. Dunn added: “She’s doing OK. She’s the leader that she is, and she’s always thinking about the team first. And I kind of had to tell her, like, ‘It’s okay to think about your situation and not only care about the team at this moment because at the end of the day, we’re all human.”
GO DEEPER
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