Carli Lloyd called out the U.S. Women’s National Team on Wednesday over their “flat” first-half performance against the Netherlands during the Women’s World Cup.
When breaking down the USWNT and their 1-0 deficit in the Group E matchup in New Zealand, Lloyd — a two-time World Cup champion and New Jersey native — questioned the “heart” of her former team.
“I’m going to bring my Jersey bluntness,” the 41-year-old Lloyd said, according to USA Today.
“They look flat… I’m questioning their heart.”
Lloyd also implored “more urgency” from the USWNT, who shut out Vietnam, 3-0, in their opener on Friday.
“I want to see more fight, more urgency. They started off the game really well, they were high-pressing, but now you’re getting picked apart by this Dutch team. It’s gotta be better, need a better response,” she said in a Fox Sports video posted on Twitter.
The USWNT did respond in the second half, thanks to midfielder Lindsey Horan, who scored an equalizing goal in the 62nd minute following a heated moment with her French club teammate, Danielle van de Donk.
“I don’t think you ever want to get me mad because I don’t react in a good way. Usually I just go and I want something more — I want to win more, I want to score more, I want to do more for my team,” Horan said, according to ESPN.
The 29-year-old Horan went down in the 60th minute after being knocked over by van de Donk.
The Lyon teammates then had a fiery exchange and were spoken to by the referee before Horan put the U.S. on the board.
“That moment, that little tackle — big tackle — changed a shift in my head because I want to do everything for my team and to win these games,” Horan said.
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The match concluded in a 1-1 draw, breaking the USWNT’s 13-match World Cup winning streak.
As for Horan and van de Donk, 31, the competitors embraced one another after the match and shared a few words on the pitch.
The USWNT will next face Portugal on Tuesday, Aug. 1 in the final game of the group stage.
