‘We hurt ourselves a lot’ – Rapinoe after USWNT 3-0 loss to Sweden

The tournament favorites and the world reigning champions had the worst possible start to their Group G campaign on Wednesday, losing 3-0 to Sweden.

The United States also saw their 44-game unbeaten run came to an end, but

Rapinoe

felt that they were the masters of their own downfall at the Tokyo Stadium.

"We did not play a very good game and that is to take nothing away from Sweden, they played a great game,"

the attacking midfielder said after the match

.

"This is the highest level and these are the best teams in the world. Sweden are one of the best ever in Europe and the world. If we don't play well we don’t win these games.

"We want to be a lot better, we played a bit tight and hurt ourselves a lot. You can't say one thing specifically.

"I can't remember the last time we gave up a goal, so to give up three is not great but we know what we need to do to win these games, get out of the group and go from there."

Despite the loss, USWNT manager

Vlatko Andonovski

refused to panic and is keen to see his side bounce back against New Zealand on Saturday.

"It has put us in a big hole and we are the only ones who can get ourselves out of it,"

he said.

"It is not going to be easy. We have to get good results in the next two games, but I know this team will not give up.

"I don’t remember this team losing 3-0 in recent history so it is a bit of a shock, but everyone is positive. We still have games ahead of us. We have got to bounce back. We have to forget this game and focus on the next one."

The United States will have to win their next fixture against New Zealand on Saturday to keep any hope of progressing to the quarter-finals alive.

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