Carli Lloyd softens USWNT criticism after draw against Portugal

Carli Lloyd is walking back her criticism of the US Women’s National Team’s lackluster showing against Portugal on Tuesday. 

“I was very critical of the team last night,” Lloyd said on Fox Sports on Wednesday morning. “I’ve had some time to reflect, to sleep on it, and I want people to understand that I care deeply about this team.

“I poured my heart and soul into this team for 17 years and it was based off of a legacy that was just passed down from generation to generation — the mentality, the DNA, what makes that team so great.

“My comments were reflective on me wanting to see that legacy continue to be passed down generation to generation, and with that, it comes with hard work, it comes with focus, and so my hope is that that continues because that is what makes the U.S. so special and so deadly, and that is what ultimately has won us championships.”

On Tuesday, after the USWNT escaped with a goalless tie to advance to the World Cup knockout stage, Lloyd ripped the team for appearing to celebrate after the underwhelming performance.

“I have never witnessed something like that,” Lloyd said. “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 player of the match was that post. You were lucky to not be going home right now.”

Lloyd, who played for two World Cup championship U.S. Women’s National Teams, later doubled down on her judgment in a conversation with Fox Sports digital reporter Martin Rogers.

“I spoke up in that room, and I told them that you can’t take anything for granted — you have to work for everything that you get,” Lloyd said.

“I just talked about what the mentality of this team has been about and passed down from generation to generation. But the problem is when you win, and you get things, winning has taken on a different meaning.

“It is no longer we want to win because we want to win,” she continued. “No, we want everything that comes with winning, and we think we can just roll out and win games. And that’s not the case, and teams see that.

“They see the arrogance in the US and see that they’re not this unstoppable team. They see that they’re able to be broken down and beaten.”

USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski would later hit back at Lloyd, who played under him before she retired from the team in 2021, calling the former soccer star’s comments “insane.” 

“I’ve never seen this team step on the field and not try hard or not compete,” Andonovski said. “Everyone is entitled to their opinion, they can say whatever they want, but I just know how this team feels. It’s not like we played well by any means. We owned it. We know it’s not good enough.

“We’re not happy with our performance, but we qualified for the next round. We’re moving on.”

USWNT will play Sweden during the Round of 16 on Sunday at 5 a.m. ET.