by
United States women’s team coach Vlatko Andonovski has resigned following the team’s poor showing in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, American media reported on Wednesday.
ESPN, 90min and The Athletic said that an official announcement on Andonovski’s departure would be made on Thursday.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Soccer Federation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This and more in our World Cup Daily!
FIBA Basketball World Cup | Starts Aug 25. Watch every Boomers, Team USA and Finals game FREE & LIVE on ESPN with Kayo Freebies. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >
The USA were eliminated in the last 16 by Sweden after a penalty shoot, the earliest the team has ever departed from a World Cup.
The Americans had won the previous two World Cups, in 2015 and 2019 with Jill Ellis in charge of the team.
Andonovski, an American citizen who was born in North Macedonia, took over the team in October 2019 having made his name in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Under Andonovski the USA won a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics after losing to eventual champions Canada in the semi-finals.
The Athletic said that Twila Kilgore, assistant coach of the team, was expected to take over as interim head coach.
Dream OVER as Tillies tumble out | 00:32
Four male Matildas fans fined amid ‘rowdy’ celebrations at Federation Square
Plans to show the Matildas’ third place playoff at Federation Square in Melbourne could be cancelled thanks to the “idiot” behaviour of young male fans.
Four men were fined after more than 50 flares were set off at the fan event where crowds reached capacity an hour before kick-off in the World Cup semi-final.
Victoria Police said it had been a “challenging” night for officers trying to keep fans safe as they watched the Matildas go down 3-1 to England.
“We saw a large rowdy group of mainly male youths, part of the active supporter groups, discharge and throw a significant number of flares,” a spokesman said.
Four males, aged 16 to 23, were fined $962 for possessing flares, and another 16-year-old male was cautioned in relation to throwing a flare.
Police said they’ve secured CCTV footage and detectives will investigate.
The third place playoff was due to be screened at Federation Square on Sunday night for fans who couldn’t make the trek to Brisbane for the match.
But that could now be scrapped, Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp confirmed.
“Those idiots ruin it for the rest of us,” she told 3AW radio.
“So pleased nobody was hurt but more than 50 flares really disappointing. So if we could find those idiots and make sure they don’t attend, then fed square will be going off again.”
She said Victoria Police were having a “good think” and would advise if the event could go ahead in the coming days.
But the councillor assured diehards there would be “lots of live sites” for people to enjoy the match.
Federation Square was filled with some 10,000 revellers on Wednesday evening, and fans were directed to watch the game at the live site at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (AAMI Park).
But some fans instead stormed barriers to gain entry to Federation Square instead.
“Officers were constantly trying to ensure the safety of the crowd, managing and monitoring public order at the Federation Square site; however, at times multiple temporary fences, which were in place to assist with managing the crowd, were breached,” police said.
The spokesman confirmed police were “very happy” with the overall behaviour of fans at AAMI Park and the packed bars and pubs around Melbourne’s CBD.
“There were no incidents of note at AAMI Park, other than a penalty notice issued to a male who was in possession of a flare,” they said.
