LE HAVRE, France — From the moment it stepped onto the pitch at Stade Oceane, the U.S. women’s soccer team made clear it hadn’t come simply to defend its 2015 World Cup title.
In taking the next step toward that goal, the Americans also reclaimed the upper hand in their longest running rivalry, defeating Sweden, 2-0, to finish atop their group.
With it, the Americans advanced to the round of 16 having scored more goals over their first three games (18) than any team in Women’s World Cup history. And they did so without conceding one, having shut out Thailand, Chile and Sweden in succession.