Julie Ertz retires from USWNT duty after World Cup heartbreak

United States ladies’s nationwide crew defender Julie Ertz introduced her retirement from worldwide soccer following Sunday’s heartbreaking defeat to Sweden within the Women’s World Cup spherical of 16.

Ertz was a part of a USWNT protection that recorded its third shutout of the match, and whereas the Americans dominated the 0-0 match for lengthy stretches, they fell 5-4 on penalties, marking their earliest exit from a Women’s World Cup within the crew’s historical past. Afterward, Ertz indicated the match could be her final for the U.S.

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“Unfortunately this is my last time in this crest,” she advised ESPN’s Alexis Nunes in a postmatch interview.

Ertz made a sensational comeback to skilled soccer earlier this 12 months after giving beginning to her son, Madden, final August. She first suited up for the U.S. in a pair of friendlies towards Ireland again in April, and shortly thereafter signed with NWSL aspect Angel City. She then made sufficient progress to be named to the U.S. World Cup roster in June.

Initially, it was anticipated that Ertz would play as a holding midfielder. But when U.S. captain Becky Sauerbrunn sustained a foot harm that saved her out of the World Cup, supervisor Vlatko Andonovski moved Ertz to center-back, a task she crammed throughout the U.S. crew’s run to the 2015 World Cup.

Ertz went on to strike up a vastly efficient partnership alongside Naomi Girma, with the U.S. conceding only one objective in 4 matches. She lauded the expansion of the crew’s younger gamers, a gaggle that features Girma.

“The future is in absolutely great hands,” Ertz mentioned. “You know, sometimes you learn the most from your failures, which sucks. But it’s part of my career as well.”

Ertz then fought again tears as she indicated she would not be taking part in for the U.S. once more, and added, “I’m so excited for [the USWNT] in the future.”

Barring a change of coronary heart, Ertz will end her worldwide profession with 122 appearances for the U.S., scoring 20 objectives. Ertz was a part of two World Cup-winning sides in 2015 and 2019.