Making World Cup debut 'crazy' for US rising star Thompson
Download the Sports Brief App for More Trending and Breaking News!
Alyssa Thompson was just a starry-eyed 14-year-old when she watched the 2019 Women's World Cupfinal on television at her aunt's house — now the United States forward is playing at the tournament.
The Los Angeles native came on for her WorldCup debut as a late substitute in the holders' 3-0 win over Vietnam in Auckland on Saturday.
She was just 14 when now-teammate Megan Rapinoe and the Americans won 2-0 against the Netherlands — the United States' opponents on Thursday — in 2019 to retain the trophy.
«I was at my aunt's house and I was watching it there because we didn't have TV at home,» Thompson, now 18, told reporters in Auckland.
«I was surrounded by my whole family, we were watching the game and I just remember how intense the game was, how back and forth it was, and I was really nervous for the team.»
World Cup glory the missing piece for Australian superstar Kerr
FootballGoals by Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle gave the USA their second straight title and their fourth overall that day.
They are favourites to retain the trophy this year in Australia and New Zealand despite Thompson being one of 14 players on coach Vlatko Andonovski's roster appearing at the finals for the first time.
«In that moment I wasn't really thinking that the next one I was going to be at because I felt so young, so it felt so far away,» said Thompson, who plays her club football for Angel City.
«But being here now is crazy to me,» added Thompson, who made her full international debut against England at Wembley in October last year.
She came on for her World Cup debut against Vietnam with the USA leading 2-0 thanks to two Sophia Smith goals.
Moments after Thompson's introduction,
Read on sportsbrief.com
