Carli Lloyd became the topic of conversation over her criticism of the U.S. Women’s National Team. The USWNT bowed out of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in the Round of 16, failing to achieve the elusive three-peat after winning in 2015 and 2019. Lloyd didn’t like what she saw and criticized the team. On Tuesday, Richard Deitsch of The Athletic penned a column where Lloyd defended her criticism of the USWNT.
“Carli Lloyd defends harsh USWNT criticism: ‘I was the only one brave enough to say it,’ Awful Announcing posted.
Carli Lloyd defends harsh USWNT criticism: ‘I was the only one brave enough to say it.’ https://t.co/DqInBD8JVA pic.twitter.com/Ae37PoXYUr
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 15, 2023
Lloyd made her thoughts on the matter extremely loud and clear. She spoke from personal experience and feeling and believed the team hadn’t felt the same since the 2019 World Cup winner. Lloyd pointed out their underperformance at the Olympics and the bad vibes that followed them. Evidently, the USWNT couldn’t escape those vibes, as they were ousted early on in the World Cup.
Lloyd wasn’t alone with her criticism and wasn’t alone online with those who agreed with the soccer legend.
Her criticism went beyond the coaching and performance. It became a personal beef
— Me (@BrianBuckWargo) August 15, 2023
The USWNT underperformed. All criticism is warranted. When you hold the trophy all flaws are ignored. When you dont they are amplified. Deal with it
— Philip Henry Farrell (@seanjfarrell1) August 15, 2023
I actually feel truth telling re womem’s soccer is lacking. I get hyping and boosterism is needed. But her truth telling is pretty rare in the women’s game.
— Arnold deVries (@bigkeeper1313) August 15, 2023
It shouldn’t be taboo to offer objective analysis on the USWNT. Doing so is progress. They stunk. Instead of putting people like Alex Morgan on a pedestal, it’s ok to admit the star striker is actually supposed score goals / generate offense
— Dave Falvey (@Falvitus) August 15, 2023
Nevertheless, criticism or not, the USWNT didn’t meet the expectations set out for them. Could those expectations have been reconfigured based on their play? They could have, but they remained where they were because of the standard that they set. Thus, they received criticism when they didn’t meet it. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it.
