The United States women’s soccer team has yet to deliver their best performance at the Women’s World Cup, according to coach Vlatko Andonovski. This statement comes after the team’s frustrating 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in their second match of the tournament. In the second half, co-captain Lindsey Horan scored a powerful header to save the team from embarrassment. This draw marks the first time the United States has experienced a World Cup draw since their 0-0 match against Sweden in 2015.
Andonovski expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance in the first half, stating that they allowed the Netherlands to control the tempo and slow down the game more than desired. He attributed the early struggles to the lack of experience among the starting players, who have not had much time to play together. However, he remains optimistic that the team will improve as they continue to play together.
Despite the relative inexperience of the U.S. team, with 14 World Cup newcomers in the squad, Andonovski had to make adjustments to the starting lineup due to injuries. Julie Ertz moved to center back after Becky Sauerbrunn’s injury, and Savannah DeMelo took on a larger role in midfield with Rose Lavelle’s limited minutes. Andonovski praised the young players for their growth throughout the game and emphasized that the team is not only young but also fresh.
Looking ahead, Andonovski believes that the team will continue to improve and become more efficient with each game. The United States will face Portugal in their final Group E match on Tuesday.
Reporting by Amy Tennery in Wellington; Editing by Stephen Coates
