Abby Wambach Laces Her Cleats for the Last Time

Abby Wambach threatened to score several times in the final game of her extraordinary career, but China shut out the World Cup champion United States 1-0 on Wednesday night to hand the Americans their first loss on home soil in more than a decade. “It’s like, OK, maybe it is time for me to go”.

“I think it’s kind of appropriate I lost my last game”. “They’ve allowed me to express who and what I wanted to be and be the dreamer that I’ve always been”, Wambach said.

Abby Wambach is one of the legends of American soccer.

The 35-year-old announced her retirement in October after a 14-year career for the women’s national team.

Wambach, who has scored more goals than any male or female player in global football history and helped the United States win the World Cup in July, said Klinsmann had concentrated on recruiting the likes of German-born Jermaine Jones and Fabian Johnson rather than developing home-grown talent. “You know, when you get into those big-time tournaments people have to step up and play their part and play their role”.

Wang Schuang scored the only goal in the 58th minute with a deflected volley, while Wambach was substituted to a standing ovation from the 32,950 crowd in the 72nd minute.

New York City FC midfielder Diskerud, the son of an American mother and Norwegian father, was raised in Norway and represented his native country at the Under-18 and U-19 levels before committing to the U.S. Wambach was playing in her final global match. “Her strength and perseverance is what makes her so great and it’s what defenders and opposing teams fear”. “Sorry Sunil, sorry U.S. Soccer”, Wambach said rather candidly and referring to Sunil Gulati, the president of the United States Federation.

Under Klinsmann’s watch, the amount of money spent on the men’s U.S. program jumped from $9.9 million in 2010 to $19.7 million in 2014, according to U.S. Soccer financial reports. From the outset the goal of team was clear – get Abby a goal.

Wambach’s goalscoring career, stretching back 15 years at global level, is not only the most prolific from an American, but from anyone. It wasn’t the narrative that US Soccer planned out, but adapting to new circumstances and learning to be threatening in new ways are more valuable to the USWNT than narrative. “But I also think that overall as a culture we have been imprinted on the fact that women make less money, get fewer opportunities”.

US men’s soccer team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, pictured during a match at Red Bull Arena in … Alex Morgan, who was subbed out in the 44th minute, had Wambach’s arm draped on her shoulders as she walked off the field.

“Do I think that one day it’s possible?”