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Jill Ellis and the U.S. national team get a reality check in harsh loss to France

The U.S. national team coach dropped back-to-back matches for the first time while learning some tough lessons about her new formation.

WASHINGTON — The steady rain that drenched RFK Stadium seemed apt for the occasion. After six matches of relative promise from the U.S. national team’s three-back formation, France sure cast a wet blanket on that ambitious experiment.

In jumping to a two-goal lead before 10 minutes were gone Tuesday, the French put themselves on the road to a 3-0 win and the SheBelieves Cup title. The Americans, meanwhile, finished last in the four-team, round-robin tournament.

Following Saturday's 1-0 loss to England, the setback marked back-to-back U.