(Photo credit score: Jenna Watson-USA TODAY Sports)
Women’s World Cup mainstays Brazil and Germany packed their baggage because the elimination rounds arrive with the defending champion United States nonetheless standing.
A scoreless draw with Portugal sparked criticism at residence and overseas of the USWNT not taking part in to its traditional dominant commonplace. It was the firsttime since 2011 that the Americans didn’t win the group stage.
But gamers mentioned Thursday they don’t seem to be centered on “outside noise” or media measurement of the workforce’s prospects for an additional World Cup win as they put together to face rival Sweden on Sunday in Melbourne, Australia.
“It’s no secret that we feel like we could play better,” Lynn Williams mentioned Thursday. “Having that experience, feeling like — first of all, being joyful that we made it to the Round of 16 and not diminishing that accomplishment, that was the name of the game the whole time … get out of the group stage. And that’s exactly what we did. Of course, we want to be playing better, but tournaments are about getting results and we’re getting the results.”
Captain Lindsay Horan mentioned the sharp edges round commentary in regards to the workforce developing quick or being a disappointment — all whereas shifting on to the Round of 16 — has hit a nerve.
Former USWNT captain Carli Lloyd’s phrases from the FOX Sports studio questioning why gamers can be dancing and joyful after the draw with Portugal remained a sizzling subject.
Horan mentioned listening to the feedback was “kind of frustrating.”
“In this game you can’t question that we didn’t want to win the game. You can’t question we weren’t working as hard as we possibly could. We know we could have done better,” Horan mentioned.
Better will doubtless be required Sunday. Williams is certainly one of 14 USWNT gamers experiencing the World Cup for the primary time. Horan mentioned her message to the workforce will not be about elevated stress or efficiency, reasonably discovering pleasure within the challenges forward.
“I think once we get that, once we get a little bit more of that joy back and that feeling, things are going to move a little bit better on the field,” Horan mentioned. “We’re gonna have more rhythm. We’re gonna have more confidence, and things will come. More and more chances will come.”
There was loads of pleasure for Sweden within the group stage with a 3-0 run via Italy, South Africa and Argentina to arrange a shot at taking down the rival U.S.
The U.S. has gained 4 of the earlier six World Cup conferences between the nations, however Sweden gained the newest conflict 3-0 within the Tokyo Olympics group stage in July 2021.
Sweden has scored on 9 of 16 photographs on purpose within the 2023 World Cup.
“We’re playing for these big matches. We’re playing for these big moments, these pressure cookers,” Horan mentioned. “And that’s what we want to be a part of. And being the US national team, we’re always going to have that. You guys always want to talk about us and we’re going to take that pressure. We’re going to go with it, but we’re going to focus on ourselves and look at everything internally and try to keep the noise out as much as possible.”
–Field Level Media