There’s a disaster at Team USA.
They got here simply 10cm from being knocked out of the World Cup and now they’re being slammed for boastful acts after the ultimate whistle of their 0-0 draw with Portugal.
Having averted catastrophe in Auckland, imaginative and prescient of the gamers celebrating and dancing was slammed by soccer legend Carli Lloyd.
The likes of Megan Rapinoe, Trinity Rodman and Kelley O’Hara had been seen high-fiving and dancing round followers after what some may say was their worst ever efficiency in a gaggle stage.
“I have never witnessed something like that. There’s a difference between being respectful of the fans and saying hello to your family,” Lloyd stated on broadcast.
“But to be dancing, to be smiling. I mean, the player of the match was that post. You were lucky to not be going home right now.
“We saw before the game, the dancing. There’s a difference between confidence and arrogance, and I think that’s a fine line of where is the direction going with that,” she stated.
“It’s OK to be confident, but you never want to cross that line of becoming arrogant and this is exactly what can come and bite you.”
Lloyd was aghast and stated she noticed nothing value celebrating.
“It started to shift post-2020 and there are a lot of off-the-field things that are happening,” she stated.
“You never want to take anything for granted. You put on that jersey and you want to give it everything you have for the people who came before you, the people who are going to come after you and I am just not seeing that passion.
“I am seeing a very lacklustre, uninspiring, taking it for granted. Winning and training and doing all that you can to be the best possible individual player is not happening.”
US STAR SHUTS DOWN JOURNO IN AWKWARD EXCHANGE
Team USA scraped by way of to the knockout rounds of the World Cup by the pores and skin of their enamel – and Megan Rapinoe was taking no prisoners in her post-match interviews.
The dramatic draw with Portugal ensured Team USA would end second in Group E, with the Netherlands topping the group.
It is the primary time the USA have did not prime their World Cup group since 2011, some extent that was raised with Rapinoe throughout an ungainly post-match trade.
“You go through as second in the group and actually the last time it happened, and the only time, was in 2011 and you guys were still World Champions at the end,” the journalist requested Rapinoe.
A puzzled Rapinoe rapidly, and awkwardly, corrected the inquisitive reporter: “Well, Japan won in 2011. We didn’t actually make it to the final. But if you want to get to the final you’ve got to make it through the group stage, I guess… (that’s a) line of logic.”
Undeterred, the journalist persevered, posing a query in regards to the USA’s subsequent matchup – which can be towards the top-ranked group in Group G, which in the meanwhile is probably going going to be the highly effective Sweden.
“Off to Melbourne, are you hoping for any kind of opponent there?” Rapinoe was requested.
“Just the next one. I don’t think we get a hand-pick of it at this point. We’ll check them out and prepare for the next game,” got here the chilly response.
It wasn’t the one frank trade Rapinoe had in entrance of the TV cameras after the Portugal draw – which included a late probability for his or her opponents to grab victory on the loss of life, which might’ve consigned the defending champions to an early exit.
The retiring Rapinoe let slip with an f-bomb as she expressed how tense the end had been.
“I was like, f**k. Right at the end, I mean, yeah, that’s stressful,” Rapinoe stated.
“Because you’re out. If that goes in, you’re out. Your whole international career is over. It’s terrible.”
9:25AM ENGLAND DOMINATE BUT REFUSE TO SHAKE HANDS
England put six targets previous China however Lucy Bronze was nonetheless filthy with the referees after her facet confirmed their spot within the final 16 of the World Cup, refusing to shake palms after the whistle.
Lauren James scored twice and performed a starring position because the European champions England swept previous shell shocked China.
The end result equalled England’s biggest-ever World Cup victory and booked them prime spot in Group D, whereas consigning the Asian champions to their earliest-ever exit.
Along with Japan, England are the one group to win all three group video games thus far, reaffirming their standing as among the many favourites to win the World Cup.
Vision from after the whistle confirmed bronze refusing to acknowledge the officers afterwards.
The Lionesses star was the sufferer of a number of controversial choice through the 6-1 thrashing on Tuesday.
Firstly, she was dominated as being offside within the build-up for a disallowed England aim shortly earlier than half-time.
Lauren James thought she had put the Lionesses 4-0 up in first half stoppage time earlier than a VAR assessment deemed Bronze offside.
After the interval, the Barcelona star was on the receiving finish of a controversial choice once more.
Bronze was adjudged to have dealt with the ball inside the world and was booked for her infringement.
Replays from the VAR assessment confirmed she had tried to dam the ball in entrance of aim earlier than it struck her arm.
Wang Shuang stepped as much as convert the ensuing spot-kick and cut back the deficit.
Cameras picked up Bronze’s perplexed response to the choice earlier than she later made her feeling’s recognized to the officers at full-time.
8:30AM: PRESSURE IS ON: DENMARK TURNS THE HEAT UP ON AUSSIES
Lars Sondergaard stated the stress is on co-hosts Australia in entrance of a packed home after his Denmark facet reached the knockout phases of the Women’s World Cup for the primary time in 28 years.
The Danes arrange a date with Australia within the final 16 after a 2-0 win over debutants Haiti to take second place in Group D behind England.
They will face Australia in entrance of a partisan sellout crowd in Sydney on Monday, however Sondergaard stated: “Anything can be decided in those kinds of Cup games, anything can happen.
“We have a pretty good defence, we have a player like Pernille (Harder) who can decide games.
“So we have a pretty good chance. We know it is going to be difficult but we are looking forward to the game. We are going to see it as a fantastic experience.”
The coach added: “The whole nation are standing behind them. That’s important for them, but it could also be pressure when the game goes into the second half and it’s still 0-0, and anything can happen.”
Australia’s skipper and talismanic striker Sam Kerr is anticipated to return from a calf harm to make her debut at this World Cup.
Harder is aware of Kerr effectively, having performed along with her at Chelsea earlier than her latest transfer to Germany.
“I’m looking forward to seeing her, but not playing against her,” she stated.
Originally revealed as FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 schedule, outcomes: Team USA star Megan Rapinoe’s weird interview
Source: www.news.com.au
