U.S. shutting out talk of team’s downfall – Dunn

The U.S. women’s national team is not subscribing to the idea that its best days are behind it and welcome the higher level of competition it is seeing globally, defender Crystal Dunn said on Saturday.

The most successful team in international women’s soccer history struggled to create chances in their 2-0 loss to Mexico in the group stage of the Concacaf W Gold Cup on Monday, prompting fresh concerns that they were falling behind the rest of the world.

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“We don’t speak a lot about any outside narratives that people want to take control of,” Dunn told reporters ahead of Sunday’s quarterfinal against Colombia in Los Angeles.

“We live in a world where we forget multiple truths can exist. As members of the U.S. women’s national team, we always step into this environment giving our absolute best, raising the standards and pushing this game forward.

“At the same time, we are very excited about the growth of the game and we are always challenging other federations to pour resources into their national teams as well.”

The four-time World Cup champion produced its worst-ever performance at a Women’s World Cup last year, exiting in the round of 16. Since then, mainstays Megan Rapinoe and Julie Ertz have retired.

Last year, the team named longtime Chelsea FC head coach Emma Hayes to lead the team into a new era, a position she will assume in May, two months before the Paris Olympics. Until then, Twila Kilgore is continuing to coach the team on an interim basis.

“The DNA of this team is very much the same,” said Dunn, 31.

“We have new players, yes, but at the end of the day we are always chasing success, always building on new momentum.

“We are really excited about this quarterfinal against Colombia and we also know that they are going to bring their absolute best.

“That’s to be expected, and we’re going to do the very same.”

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.