Abby Wambach walked off the field for the final time like a rock star — mic drop and all.
It sounded as if she was ready to party like one, too.
She was not able to leave with a victory in her final game with the US women’s team, but China’s 1-0 victory on Wednesday night — the US’ first home loss in more than a decade — was not going to diminish the triumphant nature of Wambach’s extraordinary career.
Photo: AFP
“Tonight is a celebration,” Wambach said. “The result, obviously, is annoying. It would be better if we had won, but the reality is I played in so many games. This result doesn’t shape or determine or define my career.”
Wambach said her teammates apologized profusely to her afterward, but she told them: “There’s nothing to be sorry about. Today wasn’t about getting a result.”
Wambach played into the 72nd minute, managing two threatening headers and a shot on goal from inside the penalty area before subbing out of a match for the final time.
The career scoring leader in international play — for men and women, with 184 goals — kicked off her cleats and hugged each teammate on the field before walking to the bench, smiling, to embrace her coaches and remaining teammates as the crowd chanted her name.
“I love this team,” Wambach said in comments delivered on the field to fans after the game. “It has been my pleasure and my honor to represent you all, the fans, for as long as I’ve been able to.”
She made it clear that, despite the loss, it was time to celebrate, saying: “Bourbon Street, watch out,” before dropping the microphone and walking off alone as her teammates waited behind, applauding with the rest of the crowd.
China scored in the 58th minute, when forward Wang Shuang volleyed in a bounding cross from Wang Shanshan.
US coach Jill Ellis expressed confidence that younger players would step up to fill the void as the team prepares to qualify for next summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. At the same time, she sounded certain she would never coach another player like Wambach.
“She does transcend soccer. It’s not just about her, the player. It’s been her, the leader; her the advocate; her, the spokesperson,” Ellis said. “What she has ahead of her is going to be remarkable. As brilliant as a soccer player as she is, she’s an even better person.”
Wambach said she had been invited to Switzerland by FIFA to take part in the world soccer body’s ongoing reforms and said she is eager to do so.
“I’m all for it because I have opinions and I’m not afraid to say them,” she said.
Wambach stirred up controversy before the China game, saying the US Soccer Federation should sack men’s coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
She even apologised to federation president Sunil Gulati for remarks on a podcast blasting Klinsmann, the man charged with getting the US men to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“I would definitely fire Jurgen,” she said. “Sorry Sunil. Sorry US Soccer, but I don’t think Jurgen and this litmus test on him has worked.”
Additional reporting by AFP
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