Carli Lloyd warns USA ahead of Women’s World Cup, saying team won’t ‘steamroll’ opponents

Carli Lloyd believes the rest of the world has ‘caught up’ with the US women’s national team and warned the Americans it won’t be a straightforward path to a third straight World Cup win.

The USWNT was victorious in Canada and France the last two tournaments, and made headlines in 2019 with an astounding 13-0 win over Thailand in the group stage.

And while the Americans have often been a heavy favorite in the women’s game – and have won half of the World Cups in women’s history – Lloyd sees a much more even playing field at the moment.

‘The world has caught up. We definitely had more support and more investment earlier on in US Soccer’s history. Now teams are having that,’ Lloyd said from a Fox Sports press event on Tuesday in Manhattan.

‘Long gone are the days of us steamrolling through teams and the team dominating and all of that… you can have all the talent in the world, that doesn’t mean you’re gonna win a championship.

Lloyd and the USA had to settle for a bronze medal in Tokyo during the 2020 Olympics

While the US women would go on to beat the Netherlands 2-0 in the 2019 final, Lloyd – who will cover the tournament for Fox this summer – highlighted the fine margins of that year’s tournament, as two questionable penalty calls vs. Spain helped the USA advance in the Round of 16.

Two years later, the USWNT looked even more vulnerable at the Tokyo Olympics, losing to Canada in the semifinal.

‘That allowed the world to say, ‘hey, the US is beatable,” Lloyd said. 

‘It just gave teams more confidence to know that they’re not that far off.’

Aside from the USA, England and Spain are among the favorites with a possible rematch vs. the latter in play for the semifinals. 

In the group stage, the USA will face the Netherlands, Portugal and Vietnam, and the team’s injury situation is complicating matters this time around.

The USA will face 2019 World Cup runners-up in the group stage of this summer’s tournament

Catarina Macario and Mallory Swanson have both been ruled out for this summer with injuries, while midfielders Sam Mewis and Julie Ertz appear to be doubts for the tournament.

Another would-be starter, Rose Lavelle, hasn’t played since the USWNT’s friendly vs. Ireland in April. 

Still, there are younger talents capable of stepping up in Australia/New Zealand.

For one, Sophia Smith has six goals and an NWSL-leading five assists through 11 games this season. 

‘Sophia Smith, we’ve seen her evolve her game,’ Lloyd said of the 22-year-old. ‘We’ve seen her just be able to score from so many different positions and spots on the field. She’s really kinda taking the game in her own hand and making things happen for club and country.’

Lloyd also complimented 21-year-old Trinity Rodman – the daughter of Bulls great Dennis Rodman – as someone who ‘thriv[es] under pressure’ while also singling out defender Naomi Girma for praise.

Sophia Smith could play a vital role for the USA women this summer in the World Cup

‘She’s threading balls through the center of the park, picking out forwards’ feet,’ Lloyd said. 

‘Her whole range of passing is really good, and just her confidence. And I feel she’s playing kind of beyond her years.

On the other side of the coin, viewers will be familiar with 37-year-old Megan Rapinoe and 38-year old Becky Sauerbrunn.

Like Lloyd’s disappointing Olympics in 2019, this could be the last tournament for the pair. And the USA great knows they’ll be added motivation for Rapinoe and Sauerbrunn to potentially end on a high.

‘There’s not necessarily storybook endings to anybody’s career,’ Lloyd said. ‘You never know what’s gonna happen.’