Carli Lloyd baffled by USWNT ‘celebrations’ after elimination scare
The favourites had a nerve-racking end to the group stage, grinding out a goalless draw with Portugal and the USWNT legend felt that the players should have toned down their post-match revelry.
The USWNT made it through to the Round of 16 by the skin of their teeth as Group E reached its conclusion today. Vlatko Andonovski’s team went into the game top of the group but needing to avoid defeat to Portugal to make sure of a place in the next stage. In the end, the United States, the defending champions and bookies’ favourites (+430) to win the tournament, were fortunate to scrape a goalless draw.
In fact it very nearly all went horribly wrong for the cup holders, who must have left out a huge, collective sigh of relief to see Ana Capeta’s strike ricochet back off the post two minutes into stoppage-time. An inch or two the other way, the ball would have entered, meaning curtains for the USWNT before the knockout stage line-up has even been finalized. But in the end, Andonovski’s team advance as runners-up in Group E on five points, two being the Netherlands.
Carli Lloyd has experienced all of the highs and lows you possibly can in international football. She is the second most-capped player in national team history with 316 appearances at full international level and lifted the World Cup twice. Yet she said she was surprised at how the USWNT players behaved on the final whistle in Auckland after being a whisker away from getting the next plane home. Players stayed behind to attend the fans and family members in the stands and were seen making heart signs, smiling, joking and even dancing.
Celebrations out of place
Considering their close shave with elimination, Carli Lloyd felt the players should have kept it low-key after the game, and save the revelry for other moments when they actually have something to celebrate. “I have never witnessed... I’ve just seen these images for the first time right now on the desk. I have never witnessed something like that. There’s a difference between being respectful of the fans and saying hello to your family, but to be dancing, to be smiling... I mean, the best player of that match was the post! You are lucky to be not going home right now,” said the former player, who is working as a pundit for Fox Sports during the tournament.
The USWNT have appeared at all nine editions of the Women’s World Cup and have never been knocked out at the group stage. They are the most successful nation in tournament history with four titles and ended as runners-up in 2011. They will face the