‘Lucky to not be going home’: Former national soccer star blasts USWNT after celebrating scoreless draw

The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team has endured its share of troubles during this year’s World Cup and just squeaked into the knockout round via a scoreless draw with Portugal Tuesday morning.

Now, Cali Lloyd. a retired USWNT player and Fox Sports analyst, publicly took her former teammates to task after celebrating the draw after nearly allowing what would have been the game-winning goal in extra time, according to a Sports Illustrated.com report.

“I have never witnessed … and just seeing these images for the first time right now on the desk, 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, smiling? I mean, the player of the match was that post. You are lucky to not be going home right now,” Lloyd said.

A shot in the 91st minute by Portugal’s Ana Capeta got past the U.S. goalkeeper and clanked off the post. Highlights of the match can be seen here.

Lloyd helped lead the U.S. women to Olympic gold medals in 2018 and 2012 and consecutive World Cup championships in 2015 and 2019. She retired in 2021 after playing 316 games.

The USWNT has been under fire for its lackluster play in the group round, where it posted a 1-0-2 record, with the lone victory a 3-0 win over Vietnam. The team clinched a second place finish in its group to move on to the knockout round,

The team has also come under for its behavior during the playing of the national anthem.

The U.S. women’s team, plays Sunday in the Round of 16. Their opponent iwill be the Group G winner, who is likely to be Sweden.

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