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The United States got the result that was coming, but in a manner that no one could have predicted. The USA’s reign of dominance at the Women’s World Cup is over; after two consecutive titles and four overall, they suffered their earliest-ever exit from the competition at the hands of a familiar opponent. After victories over the USA at the previous two Olympics, Sweden struck again. This time it was by the finest of margins, with Lina Hurtig’s winning penalty crossing the line by barely an inch, awarded by VAR amid confusion, madness and heartbreak. It brought one of the most successful eras in sport to a close. The USA set the standard and led the way at the Women’s World Cup, but now the rest of the world has caught up. Megan Rapinoe could only laugh, and then cry, as her penalty was blazed over the bar. Player of the tournament in 2019 and a winner in 2015, her final touch at her final World Cup in 2023 was an ignominious one. Kelley O’Hara, another stalwart of the USA’s golden age, also missed at a crucial moment, setting up Hurtig’s final blow. The USA will now turn to a new generation, but this defeat will leave its mark. Sophia Smith, the next star of the USA team, missed the chance to send the defending champions through to the quarter-finals, firing high and wide. That could have been her moment, instead it could also spell the end for Vlatko Andonovski. The head coach faced an arduous task in following the two-time World Cup winner Jill Ellis, but he has now resided over the USA’s worst ever campaign at the tournament. His substitutions, or lack of them, against Sweden contributed to their undoing. But defeat, although perhaps not like this, always felt inevitable. It could have come even earlier. After scraping past Portugal in the group stages, the writing felt on the wall. Yet the USA were improved against Sweden. Had it not been for an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Zecira Muscovic, then the USA may have survived long enough to face former foes Japan in the quarter-finals. Muscovic was sublime, another goalkeeper to win player of the match at this World Cup, yet the ironic twist was Sweden won the shoot-out without her needing to make a save. A painful exit at least offers the USA a chance to start again. How they needed it, with a squad that looked trapped between sending out the old generation in a blaze of glory and bringing in the new. The problem for the USA as it attempts to build its next great team is that they are no longer the powerful force in women’s football. The past four years has seen the stunning rise of the European club game and its league, powering England and Spain to new heights, while the past two weeks at the World Cup has demonstrated how other countries around the world have been lifted up by advances in coaching and player development. The USA are no longer at the forefront of that change: the best players in the world are being born in countries like Colombia, and are being nurtured at the powerhouses in Europe. This will be a wake-up call not just for the USA but their entire structure, from its domestic league to its youth development. There was plenty of evidence at this World Cup that the USA’s next line of talent aren’t at the level of previous generations. The USA may have been hit by injuries ahead of the tournament, and were certainly held back by Andonovski’s stale tactics, but none of Smith, Alyssa Thompson or Trinity Rodman lived up to the expectations, especially when compared to the young talent elsewhere at the World Cup. The USA again played a front three that showed little cohesion, a collection of straight lines that failed to connect. There was Rodman, and then Lynn Williams, charging down the right wing, unable to find the crosses. Alex Morgan herself starved of service and confidence, struggling to find the space to make an impact, or the finishing to make her chances count. Smith represents another disjointed fragment, who would surely be starting through the middle if not for Morgan’s history at the World Cup. There was very little change from the bench: Andonovski’s side were more competitive in midfield against Sweden, but failed to find an extra gear when they were clearly on top. The problem for the USA was everyone wanted to be the match-winner: Rapinoe, looking to take a thrown in quickly at the halfway line after coming on as a substitute in extra time, instead launching the ball downfield to where she should have been standing. A different USA side, perhaps of four years ago, wouldn’t have allowed this to reach its dramatic but wildly unpredictable conclusion. It’s been a brilliant World Cup, but this wasn’t a classic, at least in terms of attacking plan. Instead, it was a classic of a different genre, that of a tense and nervy knockout stage clash. Sweden were passive: they had an opportunity to trouble the USA, given the noise around the build-up to the fixture, but ceded control. Sweden played for moments from set-pieces, as if feeding off scraps. The inswinging deliveries from Joanna Andersson targeted USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and a packed six-yard box. Naeher at least dealt with the threat, punching and swinging to clear the danger; Sweden offered little else. For the first time in three games, the USA had the brighter moments: Smith struck at Muscovic after finding space on the right, with Rodman also able to create some moments of danger when roaming inside. Lindsey Horan, goalscorer against Vietnam and the Netherlands, hit the crossbar with a header on the half-hour, the USA almost using Sweden’s strength against them. Horan threatened again in the second half, curling a first-time shot that beckoned the far corner before Muscovic made an excellent diving stop to her left. The contest was destined for extra-time from as early as the first half - it took until the 85th minute for Sweden to have their first shot on target - but much of that was also down to the outstanding Muscovic. The goalkeeper kept Sweden alive with her best save of the match, denying Morgan’s late header when the USA striker seemed set for her moment of the World Cup. Instead, after she was spurned again by Muscovic with a snap-shot, Morgan soon departed. A joint-winner of the Golden Boot in 2019, Morgan left goalless at the World Cup in 2023. Morgan could only watch on at what happened next, powerless to stop what in the end was the inevitable. This was a World Cup too far, for a team who need a new plan. Read More From Megan Rapinoe’s miss to VAR drama: How the USA and Sweden’s penalty shoot-out unfolded Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today Sarina Wiegman reveals stunning Keira Walsh fitness update on eve of Nigeria clash Women’s World Cup golden boot: Who’s leading the top-scorer standings? South Africa exit the Women’s World Cup having left their mark When do England play next? Women’s World Cup fixtures and route to the final

VIDEO: Glenn Greenwald doesn't know who Chad Johnson is.

Reigning champions the United States were knocked out of the Women’s World Cup after the VAR intervened in a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Sweden. Lina Hurtig’s winning penalty was found to have crossed the line following a check with the VAR officials after USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher appeared to have saved the effort. Replays showed the ball had just crossed the line and Sweden were able to celebrate a 5-4 win on penalties after a goalless draw in the last-16 clash in Melbourne. The back-to-back defending champions led 3-2 in the shoot-out but misses by Megan Rapinoe and Sophia Smith opened the door for Sweden to take it to sudden death. Goalkeeper Naeher scored for the United States but with their next effort Kelley O’Hara hit the right post to give Hurtig the chance to win it. Her shot was blocked by Naeher, who then reached behind her to claw the ball away as it looped up in the air, but she was a fraction too late to stop Sweden moving on to the quarter-finals. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

The best goals at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in New Zealand and Australia, including strikes from Lauren James, Bia Zaneratto and Marta Cox.

Keira Walsh could make a stunning return for England’s last-16 World Cup clash against Nigeria. Walsh was carried off on a stretcher late in the first half of the Lionesses’ 28 July victory over Denmark, with fears that the influential midfielder’s tournament could be over, but scans revealed her knee injury was not as serious as first suspected. The 26-year-old took another step forward in her recovery when she joined her team-mates in training at the Central Coast Stadium on the eve of their last-16 showdown, before England flew to Brisbane ahead of the knockout encounter. England boss Sarina Wiegman said: “She is doing well. She started her rehab straight after we knew what was going on. “She has been on the pitch, she has been training today. Now we will wait until [we see] how she recovers from that training session and if she does well then she is available tomorrow.” The Dutch boss, who led the Netherlands to the World Cup final four years ago in France, would not reveal specifically what injury Walsh had sustained, but did add: “I can only say that there wasn’t a ligament injury. “Of course that moment in that game against Denmark, that was a very hard moment, but after the assessments and we knew what was going on we also said don’t take any assumptions. “Just wait until a proper assessment has been done. That’s what we did and then we got the green light to just get her rehab started. “Everybody is going on about injuries all the time, but the day after we noticed things were much better.” The moment Walsh was stretchered off – grimacing, telling team staff “I’ve done my knee” and fending off help from team-mates – England fans began to fear that she was the most recent victim of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) crisis facing women’s football. European champions Leah Williamson and Beth Mead were ruled out with that injury ahead of this tournament, while Fran Kirby also underwent surgery for a separate knee issue. Wiegman stuck to the Lionesses’ standard 4-3-3 formation in the immediate aftermath of Walsh’s injury and brought in Manchester City’s Laura Coombs for the remainder of the 1-0 Denmark victory, but against China handed Manchester United captain Katie Zelem her first England start and switched to a 3-5-2, which paid off with a thumping 6-1 victory. Wiegman added: “We have two options now. The way we played and what we did against China, we have taken that into consideration.” Nigeria head coach Randy Waldrum is confident in his plan for however England line up, with or without Walsh. He said: “Obviously, she’s a key player in the midfield for them. Kind of like we had to do for Australia and Sam Kerr, we had to prepare with and without, we have to do the same. “England has so many weapons. All of those players are playing all over the world in high profile settings. There are more that can do damage to us than just her. They’ve given us a lot of challenges to prepare for and it will just be another one if she comes in. “We have to prepare for both, as a coach I would expect her to go with a back three because they played ever so well like that. “We also know they’re going to adapt to how they can best play against us so we have to prepare for both situations, that’s what makes the job challenging because we don’t have a lot of time. We’ve tried this week to prepare for both and we’ll see which way they come out. “[Sarina Wiegman] has done a fantastic job with England, since she took over you can see the progression of the team. “When I look at a coach and try to analyse, if I don’t know them personally, you look at the team and tell if they have an idea. In their organisation, they look like they have a plan [and] a way they want to play.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Simone Biles makes stunning return after two-year break: ‘It means the world’ Andy Farrell says Jack Crowley can take ‘massive confidence’ from Italy showing Three players who boosted their World Cup hopes as England toiled against Wales

West Ham United in talks with Ajax over transfer fee for midfielder Edson Alvarez.

West Ham United in talks with Ajax over transfer fee for midfielder Edson Alvarez.

The United States’ Women’s World Cup hopes are on the line as the defending champions face Sweden in the last-16 in Melbourne. The USA only scraped through Group E as runners-up, with the four-time champions avoiding an early exit by the narrowest of margins as Portugal hit the post in stoppage time Vlatko Andonovski’s side are under pressure after failing to win two World Cup group stage matches for the first time in their history, and face a Sweden side who cruised into the last-16 with three wins out of three. Sweden defeated the USA 3-0 on their way to winning the Olympics silver medal two years ago, and the side ranked third in the world will be confident that they can pull off the upset. Earlier, Jill Roord scored her fourth goal of the tournament as the Netherlands marched into the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over South Africa at Sydney Football Stadium. Follow live updates from USA vs Sweden as the World Cup last-16 continues. Read More Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today Women’s football world rankings: Who could take No 1 at the World Cup? When do England play next? Women’s World Cup fixtures and route to the final

Brighton agree deal with Ajax for Mohammed Kudus, who has been monitored by Chelsea, Arsenal & Man Utd.

United States women’s national team veteran Alex Morgan expects a “challenging” round of 16 match against Sweden on Sunday, given the opponent’s transitional moments and technical players.

The first match of any season involving top-flight clubs is the Community Shield, and that’s exactly where we find ourselves once more ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Arsenal and Manchester City will meet at Wembley on Sunday to battle for the first, and most minor, piece of silverware of the year, with the Premier League winners and runners-up having both been head-to-head in the transfer market this summer as well as towards the back-end of last term. It was Pep Guardiola and his side who were triumphant on the pitch, winning the treble including the league ahead of the Gunners, but Mikel Arteta has managed to convince Declan Rice to move to north London instead of the northwest after leaving West Ham where he was captain. We’ll likely see both clubs at least in the mix for major honours much later on this season, but the first meeting could be a far more open affair with minutes on the pitch and honing of tactics more important than the trophy on offer. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match. When is the Community Shield? Arsenal take on Man City at Wembley on Sunday 6 August, with a 4pm BST kick-off. Where can I watch it? The match will be broadcast live free-to-air, with UK viewers able to watch on ITV and STV. It can also be streamed via ITVX and the STV Player. What is the team news? The Gunners have added £105m signing Declan Rice to their midfield as well as former Chelsea man Kai Havertz, who played up front for the Blues but may be another central option for Mikel Arteta. Jurrien Timber will also be looking for involvement after the versatile defender joined from Ajax. In attack, Eddie Nketiah is likely to start the season as the man in possession of the centre-forward jersey, with Gabriel Jesus sidelined after surgery. For Man City, Pep Guardiola will turn to new signing Mateo Kovacic to fill the void left by Ilkay Gundogan’s departure, but the Josko Gvardiol deal is not done in time for the defender to feature here. The likes of Julian Alvarez or Cole Palmer will hope for more involvement this season in attack too, after Riyad Mahrez’s departure left one fewer face competing for a spot. Kevin de Bruyne will miss out with injury, Predicted line-ups ARS - Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber, Partey, Odegaard, Rice, Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli MCI - Ortega, Stones, Dias, Laporte, Ake, Rodri, Kovacic, Foden, Alvarez, Haaland, Grealish Odds Arsenal 19/5 Draw 16/5 City 4/5 A further selection of tips and selected odds for the Community Shield can be found here. Prediction City to get their hands on another piece of silverware, albeit one which will make no difference to the rest of the season. An eventful opener is on the cards at Wembley: Arsenal 1-2 Man City Read More Can Mikel Arteta become Pep Guardiola’s greatest nemesis – or merely the latest? Barcelona landed one Man City star for free - now Pep Guardiola won’t allow another Mikel Arteta offers injury update on Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus It’s not normal – Pep Guardiola worried about physical demands on Man City squad Aaron Ramsey: Riches of Saudi league no contest for ‘priceless’ Cardiff return Arsenal will need ‘unheard of’ points tally to win title – Mikel Arteta

Welcome to the new week, when we can expect some telling data that could drive equity and debt