Whenever a U.S. Women’s National Team takes the field, at any level or age group, the expectations are sky high. 

That was the case as the U.S. U20 WNT competed in the World Cup this month, aiming to defend a title secured back in 2012 under head coach Steve Swanson. That campaign came to an end in last Saturday’s quarterfinal, a lethargic 1-1 draw with North Korea that saw the United States lose on penalty kicks.

Obviously, the connection between youth national team success and what it means for the full team isn’t always directly linked, in either men’s or women’s international soccer. But the U.S. U20’s struggles in Canada, mixed in with the failure of the U17s to even make the tournament earlier in the year, deserves closer inspection.