It was a miserable result for the team many expect to win the tournament, but players were seen laughing, dancing, and taking photos with fans in Auckland despite the performance.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:<\/strong> Chappell whacks down burning Ashes conspiracy<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Matildas' round of 16 opponent revealed<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Doctor issues grim warning to record-breaking NRL star<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Lloyd – who won two World Cups and two Olympic gold medals during 316 appearances for the US – could not believe what she was seeing.<\/p>\n "I have never witnessed something like that," Lloyd told America's Fox Sports broadcast.<\/p>\n "There's a difference between being respectful of the fans and saying hello to your family… But to be dancing, to be smiling. I mean, the player of the match was that (goal)post. You were lucky to not be going home right now.<\/p>\n "We saw before the game, the dancing. There's a difference between confidence and arrogance, and I think that's a fine line of where is the direction going with that.<\/p>\n "It's OK to be confident, but you never want to cross that line of becoming arrogant and this is exactly what can come and bite you."<\/p>\n Lloyd has previously been critical of the culture under coach Vlatko Andonovski, who took the reins at the end of 2019, shortly before Lloyd retired.<\/p>\n \ufeffOn a podcast following her retirement in 2021, Lloyd claimed "the culture within the team was the worst I've ever seen it" before she decided to walk away.<\/p>\n She doubled down on those criticisms following Tuesday's draw.<\/p>\n "Every time you step on the pitch, it's not a guarantee you're going to win. It's not a guarantee you're going to win a World Cup," she said.<\/p>\n "Today was just simply uninspiring, disappointing. They don't look fit. They're playing as individuals. And the tactics are just too predictable."<\/p>\n \ufeffAndonovski was made aware of Lloyd's comments post-game and had a chance to respond.<\/p>\n "To question the mentality of this team, to question the willingness to win, to compete… I think that's insane," he said.<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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