Andonovski on Portugal game: ‘The performance was crap’

The coach knows his side needs to improve a whole lot heading into the knockouts

U.S. women’s national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski has evaluated his team’s display against Portugal in succinct fashion, saying bluntly: “The performance was crap.”

Andonovski’s side struggled in its Group E finale against the World Cup debutants, as it was pushed all the way in a nerve-shredding 0-0 draw that barely secured qualification to the knockout round.

The USWNT failed to generate many scoring opportunities against the underdogs, and was nearly sent home when Ana Capeta hit the post deep into stoppage time.

The match against Portugal was the latest underwhelming display as the U.S. set all-time program lows for wins (one) and points (five) in a World Cup group stage.

After beating Vietnam and drawing the Netherlands and Portugal, the USWNT could only manage a second-place finish in Group E, representing just the second time in nine World Cups the team has failed to win its group.

Ahead of a difficult last-16 game against Sweden, Andonovski said he was heartened by his team’s reaction after an admittedly poor display against the Portuguese.

“I think it’s been great actually,” the coach told Fox Sports. “I was a little bit worried after the Portugal game [about] how they’re going to feel and where they stand, but the group has been incredible.

“Some of the more experienced players actually from the get go were very energetic and very positive about the fact that we have [another] game. Nothing changed — like, yes, the performance was crap. We all know that. We have to own it. We have to take accountability. And we have to focus for the next game. Let’s make sure that we don’t have the same performance again.”

Watch Andonovski’s Portugal assessment

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