It was an exciting prospect: Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson, the “Triple Espresso” front line for the top-ranked U.S. women’s national soccer team, facing No. 2 England before a massive crowd at Wembley Stadium this month.
But the end of a taxing year demands rest and recovery, and so the dynamic attackers will miss the Nov. 30 showdown in London, as well as the Dec. 3 friendly against another world power, the Netherlands, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced Monday.