USA Captain, Lindsey Horan, has responded to the harsh criticisms that the American team has been facing since the start of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
As the defending champions, the US players have been targeted for their performances, which came close to elimination in the group stage, as well as for their demeanor on the field. This aspect of the issue was raised by Carli Lloyd, former legend of the team and now a consultant on Fox Sports.
“Dancing? Smiling? The player of the match is the post. They don’t look fit. They play as individuals and the tactics are too predictable. The team is lucky not to be going home. I am for positivity, but at the same time, the cheers, the dancing, I have a problem with that,” she had said.
On Thursday, US captain Lindsey Horan stepped up to defend her team. “It’s just noise. It’s a bit frustrating to hear. We will try to keep the noise away as much as possible, but also use it to our advantage because we will fight and do everything we have done in previous World Cups to win this match,” she said, as reported by RMC Sport.
She continued, “I always want to defend my team and say that you have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes. You have no idea about every training session, what we do individually, collectively, etc., so for anyone questioning our mentality, it hurts a bit. But in the end, it doesn’t really matter. I don’t care. It’s about what’s happening inside the team and preparing for the next match. It’s a new tournament starting now.”
To conclude, she stated, “Once we find some of that joy again, things will go a bit better on the field. The only thing I have often said to this team is that pressure is a privilege. We have still achieved a lot and obviously, we want to perform better and entertain our fans more. Expectations are always high, we will always be scrutinized, and we love it.” The USA will face Sweden in the Round of 16 this Sunday.
