Alexi Lalas says it’s NO surprise USWNT lost to Sweden at the World Cup: ‘Why did it take three games for this team to finally show up?’

Alexi Lalas has claimed not to have been surprised by the US women’s national team loss to Sweden in the World’s Cup Round of 16 – the Star and Stripes’ first exit in tournament history – on Sunday.

Appearing on the post-game Fox Sports panel alongside two-time World Cup champion Carli Lloyd, the former US defender praised goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher’s ‘great’ performance in the 5-4 defeat on penalties after a 0-0 draw towards the end of the game . regulation.

Alyssa Naeher saves, scores the penalty, saves the penalty. I mean, she played a great, great game,” Lalas said. And again we keep talking about great play, great play, great play and finally why did it take three games for this team to finally show up at this World Cup..,

“And ultimately, if you look at this team… I just think that this team, if you look at the past two World Cup winning teams, was the weakest American team of the three… and that’s also a surprise. that they go out? Not necessary.

‘Yes, it’s the number 1 team in the world. But like I said before this game, before this game in Sweden, a lot of people said that’s when they go out because we just hadn’t seen anything.

And credit to them and credit to Vladko for doing, at least at this point, the things that were necessary to fix the problem and come out with a much, much better performance.

But again, overall, this wasn’t good enough for this team, and ultimately, I think what really comes down to it, they just weren’t good enough to win that historic third in a row, never did. unprecedented in men and women.

“And that sucks. But that’s the reality for this team right now.”

More to follow…