When Netherlands forward Lineth Beerensteyn heard the U.S. women’s national team was eliminated from the World Cup, she wasn’t shedding any tears.
“Yes! Bye!” Beerensteyn claimed was her reaction upon heading of the USWNT’s shootout loss to Sweden in the round of 16.
According to Beerensteyn, the reason she was so happy to see the USWNT have their worst World Cup ever was the team’s overconfidence heading into the tournament.
“From the first moment I heard they were out, I was just like, ‘Yes! Bye!” Beerensteyn told the media on Thursday. “From the start of the tournament, they had really big mouths and were already talking about the final.
“I was thinking you first have to show it on the pitch before you talk [big]. I’m not being rude in that way, I still have a lot of respect for them, but now they’re out of the tournament, and for me, it’s a relief, and for them, it’s something they will have to take with them in the future.
“Don’t start to talk about something that is far away. I hope they will learn from that.”
It wasn’t immediately clear exactly which comments Beerensteyn was referencing, though the USWNT was of course criticized for various other elements of its behavior at the World Cup, from not signing the national anthem to Carli Lloyd slamming the team for its perceived over-exuberant celebrations after narrowly avoiding defeat against Portugal.
Beerensteyn and the Netherlands drew the USWNT 1-1 in Group E, helping them to a first-place finish that saw them face South Africa in the last 16. After defeating South Africa, the Dutch will take on Spain in a quarterfinal starting at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday.
[lawrence-related id=23410,18420,24048]