Abby Wambach: ‘I’d fire Jurgen Klinsmann’

Assuming the US advances through qualifying for the Rio Games, Wambach said she is “going to be a fan and watch, for once, and it’s going to be awesome”. But China’s 1-0 victory on Wednesday night in New Orleans wasn’t going to diminish the triumphant nature of her extraordinary career.

“I think that is why coming in (to play) the last 10-15 minutes of the last few games has been really cool, really important”, Wambach said.

The loss snapped an epic 104-match home unbeaten streak for the US Women, who had not dropped a match at home since November 6, 2004.

However, Wambach has made a very final cut to her career, deleting her social media accounts after tweeting “Make them forget me”. “Her strength and perseverance is what makes her so great and it’s what defenders and opposing teams fear”.

Abby Wambach created a stir on Wednesday prior to her farewell match when answering a question on Bill Simmons’s podcast regarding the USA men’s national team, and two with ties to the squad have responded.

She handed the armband to Carli Lloyd, then hugged each of her teammates.

It was apparent from the outset that the Americans’ plan of attack was based in part on sending high crosses into the penalty area in hopes of connecting with Wambach for one of her trademark headers.

– Abby Wambach sounds certain there will be no unforeseen circumstances luring her back onto the field next year at the Rio Games.

PARTING NOTE: Wednesday marked the end of a nine-match, cross-country tour meant to celebrate the U.S.’s World Cup victory. “Sorry Sunil. Sorry US Soccer, but I don’t think Jurgen and this litmus test on him has worked”.

Wambach might have done better better to, say, criticize Klinsmann for making digs at MLS, or for not adequately cultivating youth soccer culture in the country.

She exits the game as America’s all-time leading national goalscorer and as the global record holder in goals for both men and women with 184.

“We won the 2015 World Cup but now we have the 2016 Olympics and we still have to be better and that’s the only way you grow as a group of people and grow the game – and be the trendsetting team of the game”.

Retired U.S. men’s national team icon Landon Donovan and current U.S. midfielder Mix Diskerud were among those to weigh in on the topic, with Diskerud posting a pointed message on his Instagram feed in response to Wambach’s remarks. During her illustrious career, Wambach won U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year six times.

How Wambach will be remembered in her hometown and around the world.

Notes: U.S. Forward Alex Morgan asked out of the game late in the first half after pulling up with what Ellis later said was an apparent hamstring pull in her right leg….

United States women’s coach Jill Ellis said she knows that there won’t ever be another Wambach but that she did lay the foundation for what will come next for the national team.

“That’s the environment that it needs to be with the men’s team but they (the men) don’t have that, they don’t have that mentality that every single day is brutal, every single day is pushing yourself. I will say she will be dearly missed”.