What Should USWNT Fans Realistically Expect from Team at Women's World Cup?

When the United States women's national team takes the field for the first time at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, they will once again be greeted by the lofty expectations of a nation. 

Despite being expected to win each of the last three World Cups, the Yanks have come up empty in their attempt to return to glory on the sport's biggest stage. 

In 2003, Germany broke the hearts of the American fans, as they defeated the Yanks in Portland in the semifinals. A similar fate awaited the USWNT in 2007 in China, when they were ousted by Brazil 4-0. 

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Everything seemed to be going in the team's favor in 2011 after Abby Wambach scored in the 122nd minute to force penalties in the quarterfinal match against Brazil. However, the Yanks could not deliver a title in Germany, as they unexpectedly fell to Japan in the championship game. 

Despite the failure to bring home the World Cup since the infamous Brandi Chastain winner on penalty kicks in 1999, most of the casual fans of women's soccer in America are expecting to watch their team win it all in Canada this summer. 

Although that seems like a realistic goal, it will be harder to reach this year as the field is stronger than ever. Brazil, Germany, Canada, France and Japan all have a legitimate chance to lift the trophy in Vancouver on July 5. 

Since there are so many contenders for the title this time around, it is worth asking just how realistic the expectations of the fans should be entering the seventh edition of the Women's World Cup. 

Before we can even think about the Yanks winning it all in 2015, they have to get past the strong competition in this year's so-called Group of Death. Witnessing their team play in the hardest group at the World Cup is nothing new to American fans, who saw the men power through their difficult group last year in Brazil. 

Australia, Sweden and Nigeria will all bring a challenge to the table, but even if the Yanks struggle in one or more of their games, they could advance to the knockout round via third place if need be. 

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If they are able to come out on top on Group D, the USWNT should avoid the likes of Brazil, France and England in the round of 16. If they end up in second, a matchup with Brazil will most likely await them in Moncton on June 21. 

The path to the semifinals for the Group D winner is an ideal one, as the second-place teams from Group A and C face off in the adjacent matchup. That means the USWNT could easily find themselves in the final four without running into any of the major world powers. 

Then, it really starts to get interesting since only the top teams should be around for the semifinals. In the last year, the USWNT has lost and drawn with Brazil and won twice, drawn once and lost on one occasion against France. 

Those six games versus Brazil and France did not feature eye-popping scorelines like we see when the Yanks square off against the lesser nations in the sport. Against the true contenders for the title, the USWNT has struggled recently, which is why every fan watching back home should be concerned about how far Jill Ellis' side will actually go. 

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Despite their shortcomings at the World Cup, the Yanks have still been able to thrive in high-pressure situations over the last 16 years. The clutch play of certain players, especially Carli Lloyd, led to Olympic titles in 2008 and 2012. 

But the World Cup is a different animal compared to the Olympics, and the pressure will continue to mount on the shoulders of the players as the tournament in Canada progresses. 

Given all the potential outcomes in Canada, the fans of the USWNT should not be disappointed if their team bows out in the semifinals. Of course a victory would be nice, but there are still plenty of flaws in the Yanks' game that leave cause for concern, including the ability to produce in the final third. 

With more competition for the title than ever before, the Yanks could end up with a strenuous path to the final that leaves them exhausted when the big games come around during the final week of the tournament.

While having lofty expectations is a nice quality to have in the world of sports, the realistic approach to the tournament sees the Yanks dropping out in the semifinal round for the third time in four World Cups. 

We would love to be proven wrong by that statement, but given the competition, the rigors of the turf and the need for everything to go perfect in order to set up an ideal run to the final, we just can't see the USWNT taking home the World Cup trophy in 2015. 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.