Picking up right where they left off, the United States Women’s soccer team punished yet another goaltender on Tuesday afternoon in France.

This time, however, the occasion’s unfortunate victim hailed from Thailand, as the reigning World Cup champions found the net time after time during their inaugural match. Alex Morgan’s introductory goal just 12 minutes into the contest only ignited an engulfing flame, which the Thailand Women’s national team failed miserably to put out, as Morgan followed up with a whopping four goals while her teammates added another seven goals. Once the dust settled, the scoreboard flashed a 13–0 score, breaking a record for the largest winning margin and most total goals scored during a World Cup match.

Alongside their monstrous victory, the defending champs now carry some extra baggage, however, which unfortunately poises to weigh them down, as the team continues to draw criticism due to a growing belief that they intentionally “ran up the scoreboard” on their clearly defeated opponents en route to their victory. Most comments denouncing the team’s actions came once their goal total reached double digits, as manly verbally attacked players due to extravagant post–goal celebrations. The team eventually lost the support of some reporters such as Jeff Paterson who tweeted out, “the goal celebrations of #USWNT at 9-0, 10-0, 11-0 are so overboard. Why are they even trying to score anymore. I’m on #teamthailand at this point.” While goals piled up, reporters continued to join Paterson, with multiple figures surrounding the sport condemning the team’s behavior.

As she did on the field for years, former team member Abby Wambach came to the squad’s defense, tweeting out a response illustrating the intoxicating excitement the World Cup brings and each player’s right to enjoy the moment.

SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019 – IN MEMORIAM SLIDESHOW 

Head coach Jill Ellis later neglected to admit any disrespect shown toward Thailand during a press conference. Ellis commented on the affair as she stated, “A lot of this is about building momentum and so as a coach I don’t find it my job to rein my players in. This is what they’ve dreamt about. I respect Thailand, I spoke to some of them afterward and they should keep their heads up. This is part of the growth of the game.”

The United States sits ready to face off against Chile during their next match this upcoming Sunday at 12 p.m. EST. While the team’s on–field talent certainly poises to draw attention, the squad will draw further eyes now, as their behavior surrounding their success now generates noticeable attention as well.

Former U.S. Women’s National Team soccer star Abby Wambach has pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of intoxicants, in a reversal of her previous plans to fight the charge.

Abby Wambach Pleads Guilty to DUI Charge

The 35-year-old former forward appeared before a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge in Oregon Tuesday afternoon. As part of the plea, Wambach agreed to enroll in a diversion program that could potentially cause her charge to be expunged in a year if she follows specific conditions, The Oreognian stated.

Wambach, who is a first-time offender, was ordered to complete drug and alcohol treatment and to install an ignition interlock system in her vehicle. She was also ordered to refrain from drinking alcohol for one year.

The retired two-time Olympic gold medalist was pulled over on April 3 in Portland, Oregon, after a police officer caught her running a red light shortly after 11 pm. After failing a field sobriety test and registering a 0.13 percent blood alcohol content (BAC) level, Wambach was arrested and charged with a DUI. The legal limit in Oregon is 0.08.

Her attorney, Ben Eder, originally submitted a non-guilty plea on her behalf.

Wambach confessed to police that she had tried cocaine and used marijuana 10 years ago in court papers released from her arraignment on April 5. She also admitted to weekly alcohol use.

Wambach retired from from the U.S. Women’s National Team following the team’s World Cup victory last summer, and currently lives in Portland. She is the highest all-time goal scorer for the national team and holds the world record for international goals for both female and male soccer players with 184 goals. She was also awarded the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year, becoming the first American woman to win the award in ten years.

The day after her arrest, Wambach wrote a heartfelt apology on Facebook in which she accepted full responsibility for her actions and explained that she had been leaving a friend’s house that night.

GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 13: Abby Wambach #20 of the United States attempts a shot against Zhao Rong #14 of China during the second half of the women’s soccer match at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. USA defeated China 2-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

After her final game with the United States National Team, Abby Wambach was a guest on Bill Simmon‘s podcast, where she took aim at USMNT manager Jurgen Klinsmann and his inclusion of foreign-born players.

“He hasn’t really focused, I feel, enough attention on the youth programs. Although he says he has, I don’t think that he has,” Wambach said. “The way that he has brought in a bunch of these foreign guys is not something I believe in wholeheartedly. I don’t believe in it. I don’t believe in it in my heart. And I love [Germany-born] Jermaine Jones, I love watching him play, and I love Fabian Johnson, and he plays in Germany and is actually killing it right now.”

In international soccer, national eligibility can be determined by place of birth or familial heritage. A player is free to play for any country he or she is eligible to represent, but is bound to that choice after making a single senior appearance. This can lead to issues as some feel a player may not truly belong to and represent the country they play for.

United States Men’s midfielder Mix Diskerud, for example, was born to an American mother in Norway. While he grew up in Europe, he is a United States national in soccer.

“Wow Abby,” he captioned an Instagram post. “I guess there are pros and cons in limiting the base for selection. You have just singled out a few of us. But why? Why are we your single oddballs? Think about who you try to disenfranchise. Because if you see us as the group to disenfranchise, then at least let it be known who we are.”

“Stats and history will show – ‘our group’ has more than others produced volunteer and defending soldiers for what, by us, is willingly chosen and gathered to be worth protecting: Your nation.
Wish you would accept it as ours too,” he continued.

“I know we’re not quite equal. From “your group of people” the country’s Commander in Chief need to be selected. However, other than that – you and I share something not unique, but constitutionally earned, a birthright to defend this nation as an American. Wherever we go. Led by whoever has earned, by democratic process, his/her right to lead, on or off the field, in peace, in war, in practice, or in any other kind of pursuit of your happiness.

Enjoy your retirement. But stay active. We all need you. Oddballs or not.
Mix”

Photo: Mix Diskerud #10 of the United States dribbles past Carlos Lobaton #16 of Peru in the second half during an international friendly at RFK Stadium on September 4, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

It’s hard to imagine the United States Women’s National Soccer Team without Abby Wambach leading the line. But, after tonight’s game against China in New Orleans, that will become a reality. She will captain the side in what will be her final match before retiring.

From a purely numerical perspective, Wambach’s career is something to behold. She has scored 184 international goals, the more than any man or woman in history, and has won two Olympic gold medals and one World Cup title. She also 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year and won an NCAA championship with the University of Florida.

She has also seen women’s soccer grow over the years. “It’s evolved. It’s harder than it ever used to be,” she said in New Orleans. “The standard is even higher. That’s the way it should be.”

But that evolition also means that it’s now time to move on. “The body just knows when it knows and your mind is at the right speed but your body just isn’t doing of what it was capable of doing even three years ago,” she continued.

Photo: Abby Wambach #20 of the United States attempts a shot against Zhao Rong #14 of China during the second half of the women’s soccer match at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 13, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. USA defeated China 2-0. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Following the USWNT’s 2-0 victory over Colombia, Abby Wambach vented her frustration about head referee Stephanie Frappart, who was fairly eager to hand out yellow cards.

“It seemed like she was purposefully giving those yellows to the players she knew were sitting on yellows,” Wambach said. “I don’t know if it was just a psychological thing. Who knows?”

Abby Wambach Apologizes

Well, in the wake of possible disciplinary actions, she has backed away from her comments and has apologized.

“We’re all trying to do our very best and that’s what I feel bad about… I don’t know what she was thinking and nobody can,” Abby told FOX Sports. “She’s doing the best she can and, for me, I have the utmost respect for the referees who are refereeing these games… No way did I intend to offend her and my biggest apologies if it was offensive in any way.”

It is understandable why Wambach was upset about the two yellow cards, as they were delivered to Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday. Both players already had previous cards and will now have to sit out tomorrow’s quarterfinal matchup against China. Still, organizations get a little feisty when it comes to criticizing refs, especially when Abby blatantly accused Frappart of purposefully sabotaging the USWNT.

At the same time, Wambach was not the only person to negatively comment on Frappart. “It was disappointing,” said Tobin Heath. “I think anybody watching the game would have been a little bit surprised at some of the things that were called.”

Neither player plans to appeal their suspension and they will be available in the semifinal match — if the U.S. beats China — against either France or Germany.

After years of already dominating the marketplace, FIFA 16 has finally found out how to expand their dominance. They are now adding the ability to play as the women’s national teams.

FIFA 16 Adding Women’s National Teams

These days both the men and women’s national teams are enjoying mainstream praise. So the next logical step for EA Sports’ juggernaut franchise was to include the ability to play as the women.

So when FIFA 16 is officially released on September 22, the player will get the opportunity to play as 12 teams, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden and the United States.

As for the athletes in the game, the developers met with the superstars like Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux and Megan Rapinoe to do motion capture. This gives the player the distinct feel that they are actually playing like these amazing talents.

These sessions allowed the developers “to build new walks, runs, sprints, and horizontal movement,” and also the 360 degree body scanning rig, with the help of Soccer Canada, enabled them to create proper models for the female athletes, according to EA Sports’ press release.

“I honestly can’t believe all of the science and technology behind the game itself, let alone getting us into the motion capture suits and eventually into the game,” Wambach said in the release. “We’re all excited to see ourselves in the game, but even more excited to see the reaction from all of the fans, including the fans of our team that maybe wouldn’t be expecting something like this from EA Sports.”

This move is probably the easiest slam dunk for the much-maligned video game corporation. Again, the game comes out on September 22 for PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3 and PS4.

At the moment, it is uncertain who will be the cover athlete, but uSports votes for Alex Morgan.