USA forward Abby Wambach reacts during a presentation before her December 16 farewell match against China. On Wednesday, the final game of the USWNT’s World Cup Victory Tour also served as the last worldwide appearance for the 35-year-old forward, and she received a sendoff worthy of her remarkable career.
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Throughout the match, Wambach’s teammates looked for the familiar No. 20 jersey in the box but it was to no avail. Some pointed out that Wambach’s USA teammate Sydney Leroux, with whom she’s seemingly always been close, is Canadian-born and raised.
Wambach continued to not mince words taking aim at Klinsmann’s strategy for youth development. She never ceases to amaze me with her leadership skills, how she treats people, and the things she does on the soccer field that you can’t teach. “When thinking about her retirement, we wanted to honor and celebrate Abby and her tremendous impact on the game while supporting her final message to fans with a campaign inspired by her own words”.
She ends with 184 goals scored in worldwide play. Her final goal came in her 251st cap on August 19, 2015 against Costa Rica.
The result, the first home loss for the US since 2004, was not exactly the ideal Wambach send-off but it did not detract too much from an evening that was largely a celebration of her career.
Abby Wambach said on Bill Simmons’ podcast that she would fire USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
US President Barack Obama had already tweeted his congratulations to Wambach before the match – won by a 58th-minute goal from China’s Wang Shuang.
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Wambach scored four times in the first half to push her total to 160, besting Hamm’s total of 158. And I love Fabian Johnson and he plays in Germany and is actually killing it right now after being sent home for “faking an injury”. “It was just in the moment, and that’s something that I’m proud of….Hopefully, if that can help one person feel more confident about their life, then I’m proud”. She’s been a great player and added a great aspect for the game itself. “But I also think that overall as a culture we have been imprinted on the fact that women make less money, get fewer opportunities”. Probably not. But many do think that he is a big problem with the team and that list is growing. “While we still have more work to do for women’s soccer, after bringing the World Cup back to the United States this summer, I’m feeling extremely optimistic about the future of our sport”.
