The United States are on the verge of disaster after surviving elimination by simply millimetres in a wild finish to their Women’s World Cup group stage match in opposition to Portugal.
The reigning champions dodged catastrophe in a dour 0-0 draw at Eden Park in New Zealand on Tuesday evening.
The US, who’ve gained the final two Women’s World Cup titles, survived by the width of a put up and the draw was sufficient for them to complete second in Group E.
It was virtually curtains for the powerhouse American group when Portugal substitute Ana Capeta had a golden alternative to attain within the 92nd minute, solely to see her shot bounce off the put up.
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The group’s lacklustre performances have been broadly criticised by soccer pundits all over the world, and one star’s act after the sport has significantly angered America.
American soccer legend Carli Lloyd was scathing of the second members of the United States group celebrated with followers after the match.
Meanwhile, different group members, together with Megan Rapinoe, have been additionally seen dancing after surviving via to a Round of 16 match in opposition to the highest group from Group G, which will likely be selected Wednesday.
Lloyd was staggered on the celebratory acts from the American gamers. The most eyebrow-raising one got here when Trinity Rodman and Kelley O’Hara have been seen taking images and high-fiving followers after the group’s worst-ever efficiency in World Cup group stage with 5 factors.
“I have never witnessed something like that. There’s a difference between being respectful of the fans and saying hello to your family,” Lloyd mentioned on Fox Sports’ World Cup post-game present.
“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.”
She mentioned the group’s “uninspiring” effort was nothing to have fun.
“It started to shift post-2020 and there are a lot of off-the-field things that are happening,” she mentioned.
“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.”
Lloyd, who led her group to World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019 and gained Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012, mentioned her former group is strolling a “fine line” proper 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 mentioned.
“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.”
Former Matildas star Catherine Cannuli responded to the imaginative and prescient of Rodman and O’Hara’s antics on the post-game present on Optus Sport by saying: “Typical USA arrogance. Coming off that pitch, finishing second in the group and still think they’ve got it all”.
Head coach Vlatko Andonovski had a unique view on his group’s aggressive stage in his post-game feedback.
“This team wanted to win this game more than anything else and they’ve put everything they could in preparation for this tournament,” Andonovski mentioned in response to Lloyd.
“To question the mentality of this team, to question the willingness to win, to compete … I think it’s insane. I’ve never seen this team step on the field and not try hard and not compete.”
Regardless, it’s the USA’s worst ever efficiency in a World Cup group stage and simply the second time the facet has not topped its group.
USA 2019 World Cup winner and ahead Jessica McDonald mentioned the champion facet have been a shadow of their common selves.
“As far as performance, I did expect more from them, I’m sure a lot of us do, and they’ve been outperformed,” she mentioned.
“I know they’re walking on eggshells right now. It has not been to their standard so far.”
McDonald mentioned she “felt sick” when Capeta’s shot beat US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher however slammed into the put up after which bounced straight again out.
There’s good news for the Matildas nonetheless with the facet no longer capable of come up in opposition to the defending world champs till the ultimate, in the event that they each make it that far.
Source: www.news.com.au
