Vlatko Andonovski, Carli Lloyd Shutterstock(2)
The US ladies’s nationwide soccer coach Vlatko Andonovski responded to former participant Carli Lloyd’s criticism after the staff’s final recreation resulted in a tie.
“The one factor I need to say is that this staff needed to win this recreation greater than anything,” Andonovski, 46, mentioned on Tuesday, August 1, in a post-game press convention. “They’ve put the whole lot they might in preparation for this event and each recreation that they go into, so to query the mentality of this staff, to query the willingness to win, to compete, I feel it’s insane.”
He continued: “I’ve by no means seen this staff step on the sphere and never strive onerous or not compete. Everyone seems to be entitled to their opinion, they will say no matter they need, however I simply know the way this staff feels. It’s not like we performed nicely by any means. We owned it. We all know it’s not ok. We’re not pleased with our efficiency, however we certified for the following spherical. We’re shifting on.”
Andonovski’s feedback got here shortly after Lloyd, 41, referred to as out the staff for his or her lackluster efficiency towards Portugal in the course of the post-game present. (After retiring from the game in 2021, Lloyd has turn into an analyst on Fox Sports activities.)
“You by no means need to take something as a right. You placed on that jersey and also you need to give it the whole lot you’ve, for the individuals who got here earlier than you, for the individuals who come after you,” she mentioned. “I’m simply not seeing that keenness. I’m simply seeing a lackluster, uninspiring, taking it as a right [attitude], the place profitable and coaching and doing all that you could to be the very best particular person participant isn’t occurring.”
Lloyd then shared her disappointment in her former staff for celebrating after the match regardless of not securing the win.
Vlatko Andonovski and Megan Rapinoe Masatoshi Okauchi/Shutterstock
“I’m all for positivity — they’ve superior out of the group,” she mentioned. “However on the identical time the cheering, the dancing — I’ve acquired an issue with that as a result of I wouldn’t be comfortable. I do know a number of of their gamers, former gamers, ’99ers [champions] — they wouldn’t be pleased with that tie. It hasn’t been good general in these first three video games.”
Earlier than the Portugal match, the USWNT additionally tied towards the Netherlands in July. Within the match, Andonovski made the controversial choice to not sub in any gamers which led to criticism from followers and commentators. Following the sport, Andonovski defended his choice as a result of he believed the staff on the sphere was enjoying “nicely.”
“We had been across the objective the entire time, and I simply didn’t need to disrupt the rhythm at that time as a result of generally a substitute is available in and it would take a minute or two to get right into a rhythm,” he defined on the time. “We simply didn’t need to jeopardize something as a result of I believed all three of our forwards had been superb immediately, harmful, created alternatives and had been a handful.”
