USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski defends his team again following Carli Lloyd criticism

Under pressure USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski defends his team again following Carli Lloyd criticism ahead of must-win World Cup clash with Sweden

• Sweden finished atop Group G ahead of South Africa, Italy and Argentina 
• The USWNT has faced criticism from many – including its former superstar Lloyd
• DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news 

By Patrick Djordjevic For Dailymail.Com and Reuters

Updated: 14:12 BST, 5 August 2023

USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski has continued to defend his squad as it readies for a do-or-die Round of 16 game vs. Sweden Sunday morning. 

The U.S. head into their first knock-out clash in Melbourne under fire after having scraped through the group phase with draws against the Netherlands and Portugal.

Carli Lloyd led the criticism of a team which has polarized America long before the tournament. 

After already once firing back, Andonovski went back to the well Friday while speaking with reporters.

‘For someone again to question the standards …. and mindset of this team after everything that they do, I personally don’t think it’s the right time to do that,’ he said.

USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski has continued to defend his squad ahead of Sunday’s game

Megan Rapinoe will have played her final game for USWNT if the world champs are defeated

Former USWNT star Carli Lloyd was critical of the celebrations after the 0-0 tie vs. Portugal

Sweden won all of its group games to finish atop Group G ahead of the Round of 16 matchup

‘And I don’t think it’s the right thing as well. I’m very happy with where they’re at, how they hold themselves accountable and they keep raising the standards.’

Bidding for an unprecedented third consecutive world title, the U.S. nearly joined Germany, Brazil and Canada on the tournament’s scrap-heap against Portugal.

The team’s unconvincing performances have led to critiques of the on-field kind. 

This tournament, unlike those prior, the US have been unable to blow away opponents — a poor Vietnam outfit aside.

‘We want to (win) everything by five goals. Who doesn’t want to do that, right? But those results are gone,’ Andonovski added. 

The U.S. will be without suspended midfielder Rose Lavelle after she incurred a second yellow card against Portugal. 

Sweden is ranked third in the world and won its group by sweeping all three games. 

The two teams most recently met in the 2021 Olympics, with Sweden winning. Though, the US have form in this tournament; taking care of Sweden in the 2019 World Cup group stage. 

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