Lindsey Horan, the captain of the U.S. women’s soccer team, believes most American fans of the sport are “not that smart.”
Speak with The AthleticsHoran opened up about dealing with the criticism and criticism heaped on the U.S. team given their successes over the past decade, including two World Cup victories before falling to Sweden in the round of 16 in last year’s tournament.
“American football fans, most of them are not smart,” she said. ‘They don’t know the game. They don’t understand. (But) it’s getting better.
“I’m going to rip some people off, but the game is growing in the US. People are more and more knowledgeable, but people often take what the commentators say, right? My mother does it!’
Horan, 29, plays for Lyon in France and believes football is viewed differently there.
Lindsey Horan was a starter on last year’s U.S. World Cup team that lost in the last 16
Horan converted her penalty in the shootout vs. Sweden, but the team lost 5-4
“From what I’ve heard, people understand my game a little bit more, a feeling for my football and the way I play,” she told The Athletic. ‘It’s French culture. Everyone watches football. People know football.’
Horan, who has played a staggering 139 games for the USWNT, was a starter in last year’s World Cup, which fell far short of expectations for the Stars and Stripes.
The midfielder scored two goals in the tournament and also converted her penalty in the team’s shootout against Sweden, which the US lost 5–4.
The only woman missed was Megan Rapinoe, whose laughing reaction afterwards stunned some fans.
Explaining her initial reaction, she said, “That’s like a sick, sick joke. It’s never happened to me, if I miss, they’re saved. That’s why I had that smile on my face.
“I’m like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ Am I going to miss a penalty? I mean, honestly, I can’t remember the last time I missed.”
Horan may sometimes disagree with experts’ opinions, but regardless, American legend Carli Lloyd was full of criticism of the team during the tournament.
After the US drew 0-0 against Portugal to advance to the knockout round, the team was captured laughing and dancing afterwards despite their disappointing performance.
And Lloyd wasn’t a fan of that.
Carli Lloyd did not back down from her criticism of the USWNT during the Women’s World Cup
Megan Rapinoe laughed to herself after missing a crucial penalty for the United States during their last-16 elimination from the Women’s World Cup to Sweden
‘I’ve never experienced anything like this before. There’s a difference between respecting the fans and saying hello to your family,” Lloyd told Fox Sports.
‘But to dance, to smile. I mean, the player of the match was that post. You were lucky you weren’t going home now.’
Later, Lloyd emphasized that she was baffled by the behavior of some players, both on and off the field.
“I spoke in that room and told them you can’t take anything for granted; you have to work for everything you get,” said the two-time World Cup champion.
“I just talked about the mentality of this team, which has been passed down from generation to generation. But the problem is that when you win, and you get things, winning has taken on a different meaning.
‘It is no longer the case that we want to win because we want to win. No, we want everything that comes with winning, and we think we can just coast on that and win games. And that’s not the case, and teams see that.”
Emma Hayes, currently manager of Chelsea Women, will take over the US job this summer
After the team’s World Cup disappointment, it moved on from coach Vlatko Andonovski and hired Chelsea women’s Emma Hayes.
Hayes has won 14 major trophies at Chelsea, including six WSL titles.
And following the appointment, Fox Sports’ Alexi Lalas hinted that the team needed to focus less on activism and more on results.
“I hope Emma Hayes gets the keys and the opportunity to do what she thinks is appropriate,” Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast.
“Now she has a reputation for not suffering fools, and I think this team and this particular moment needs to get back to the focus and the priority of winning football matches and winning World Cups.”
Horan and Co. will try to get back on track this summer at the Olympic Games in Paris.