Legends Only

“Obviously we wanted to get a gold medal,” Sauerbrunn said. “Everyone wants to get a gold medal, Americans love golds. The fact is we potentially didn’t deserve to get a gold medal.

“We had to change the goal, and it became, ‘Let’s get that bronze.’”

Only a bronze was possible at that point, and so the United States dutifully hopped on a bus and went to Kashima to go about trying to collect it.

Rapinoe, starting alongside Lloyd up front, got things started by scoring directly from a corner kick in the eighth minute. In an instant, the “joy” she said had been missing all tournament had returned.

- A federation that supports them and doesn’t treat them like an afterthought

- Facilities that are safe

- Staff that are well trained and well vetted to provide a safe environment for players

- Services that protect both their physical and mental health

- Equal pay

- Competent coaching staff that will use each player to their potential regardless of “favorites,”make sound decisions that keep players safe, and not be the puppet for their federation (be able to advocate for their players)