North Carolina Courage: World Cup knockout round recap

With the 2019 World Cup in the rearview mirror, we take a look at how the North Carolina Courage players did on the biggest stage.

The North Carolina Courage were well represented in this summer Women’s World Cup in France, with seven players playing on the biggest stage in soccer imaginable. Six of those seven were able to advance out of the group stage and into the knockout rounds.

And out of those six, four North Carolina Courage players will be returning back home with a World Cup-winning medal for the United States. Although only four will bring home the hardware, all did North Carolina proud with their World Class quality on the field.

Here is a round-up of the North Carolina Courage stars during the knockout stages of the 2019 World Cup.

Debinha

Brazil’s run in the 2019 Women’s World Cup fell just short of a first-round upset against host country France. The Brazilian women fell to France 2-1, forcing extra time after being tied 1-1 to end regular time.

Although Debinha did not get on the scoresheet in the World Cup, she was consistently one of the best attacking threats for Brazil, creating chance after chance, and earned an assist in the group stage.

Against France, she continued her good run of form, sending in the ball that led to Thaisa’s goal to level up the score. In extra time, Debinha came painfully close to giving her side the lead when she slipped a shot past goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi only to have it cleared off the line by Griedge Mbock Bathy.

Debinha’s performance in France was exceptional, and although her run in the competition ended earlier than she would have liked, Brazillian fans now know the type of player she is.

Abby Dahlkemper

Abby Dahlkemper continued her streak of starts in the USWNT defense in the Round of 16 when the champions took on Jennifer Hermoso and Spain. The match proved to be the most difficult one to date with Hermoso breaking the American’s shutout streak after a Becky Saurebrunn error.

However, in that match, Dahlkemper shined bright, setting up a goal after sending in a pass from the back to Tobin Heath, who then earned a penalty kick that would give the United States a short-lived, 1-0 lead. The champions escaped with a 2-1 win.

Dahlkemper arrived to the scene against hosts France in superb form, continuing her world-class partnership with Becky Sauerbrunn. Her name won’t appear in the headlines, but for a defender, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

France did find the net in the quarter-final contest thanks to a Wendy Renard header, but Dahlkemper and the USWNT would continue onto the semi-finals, where they played another dangerous opponent, England.

Against England, the American defense endured more difficulty than in any of their previous matches, Ellen White breaking through in the 19th minute and almost doing it again but VAR called the English forward offside. The center-back did, however, make her presence felt in attack by driving a ball into the attacking third that would eventually find the net off an Alex Morgan header to give the United States a 2-1 win.

Then the final. Abby Dahlkemper achieved the dream of a lifetime when she lifted the World Cup trophy after 2-0 win over the Netherlands. Her and Becky Sauerbrunn held down the middle of the field for one last time to shut out the dangerous Dutch attack. Her consistency in defense was key to defend the crown all tournament and achieve what few athletes have ever done.

Sam Mewis

Midfielder Sam Mewis put on a show in the group stage, so much so that she earned the start against Spain in place of Lindsey Horan who was carrying a yellow card into the match. Although she didn’t get on the scoresheet or earn an assist, Mewis was a force again in midfield, winning balls back and even having a couple of attempts at goal from outside the box.

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She then started again versus France in the quarter-finals. The midfielder ended with a 72% pass completion rate and took two shots on target to challenge the French defense and helped earn a 2-1 win over the hosts.

Prior to the semi-final against England, however, Mewis slipped to the bench in place of midfielder Lindsey Horan. She would later replace Rose Lavelle in the 65th minute. For the final, Mewis returned to the starting line-up, and just as she had done all tournament, she dominated every aspect of the midfield role, pushing players off the ball and even earned an assist in the 69th minute to put the match away for the USWNT.

Mewis was one of the brightest stars in the tournament, making up a midfield that lit up the stage in France. Her play made the entire country — and the North Carolina Courage — more than proud of the Tower of Power.

Crystal Dunn

Throughout the World Cup, Crystal Dunn was thrown into an unfamiliar role on the left side of the defense. Usually, an attack-minded player, she was forced to resist her natural urges and play with a greater constraint and defensive acumen. She was solid against Spain, making runs up the wing while also supporting the backline when needed, but was most tested against France in the quarter-finals. The questions mounted. She answered them and more.

Dunn put in her best performance of the World Cup when the champions needed it most. Going up against Kadidiatou Diani and France seemed like an improbable mountain to climb, but she surprised everyone with one of the best showings of the tournament to help shut down one of the best attackers in the world.

Dunn then turned in a solid performance against England in the semi-finals, before achieving her dream of World Cup glory against the Netherlands in the final. In the final she once again answered those questions, completing four of her five attempted tackles defensively while also taking a shot on target as she contributes to the attack.

The heartbreak of being left off the 2015 World Cup roster seems nonexistent for Dunn as she now returns to North Carolina as a world champion.

Jessica McDonald

It was a quiet tournament for Jessica McDonald, who, for most national teams, would be the star of the show. She was left on the bench for the entirety of the matches against Spain, France, England and the Netherlands.

Sitting on the bench is a moot point when your team is the best in the world. McDonald would never get another opportunity to show the world what she can do after an impressive performance against Chile. But nonetheless, she is a champion just as much as anyone, and made Courage Country very proud while doing it.

Stephanie Labbé

Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé was not granted any favors to start the knockout round as she faced off against a potent Swedish attack.

Labbé wasn’t called into action in the first half but was forced to make her only save of the match from a set piece in the 51st minute. Shortly after the lone save, Canada’s defense gave way when Stina Blackstenius found the back of the net in the 55th minute.

Although Labbé only gave up the one goal, it was enough to end her run in France as Canada fell in the round of 16 1-0. Labbé now sets her sights on North Carolina to try and pick up a different piece of silverware in the NWSL.

All in all, the World Cup was a tremendous tournament for the North Carolina Courage, with some of the best players in the world heralding from WakeMed Soccer Park.