Tag: Carli Lloyd

Key USWNT players missing from the 2023 World Cup roster

Don’t expect to see these USWNT stars play in the World Cup this year.

The 2023 World Cup is set to begin this week, as the United States Women’s National Team prepares for its tournament debut against Vietnam on July 21.

However, there will be some key members of previous USWNT teams not present in New Zealand for this year’s World Cup. A lot of names you probably recognize if you’re a casual soccer fan.

A good number of the women on this list are struggling with various ailments, while one all-time talent retired in 2021.

Before you spend too much time wondering where somebody is, let’s run down some of athletes who won’t be competing in the World Cup this year for the United States.

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Watch: USWNT, Rutgers legend Carli Lloyd previews the FIFA World Cup

Carli Lloyd talks about the United States national team in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Now working with Fox Sports, former United States international Carli Lloyd believes that the Americans enter this FIFA World Cup with a target on their collective backs. Lloyd, born and raised in New Jersey, got her career started as a midfielder at Rutgers.

That career culminated in over 300 international appearances, three World Cup medals (won two) and three Olympics (two gold medals, one bronze).

Now working as an analyst for Fox, the broadcast partner for the tournament, Lloyd knows and understands the pressure on the United States. The Americans have won the last two World Cups. A win in this tournament would be the first-ever three-peat in World Cup history.

“It’s business as usual. The approach is always that the US is the favorite, the No. 1 team in the world. Everyone wants to go out there and beat them, there is a target on their back,” Lloyd said in a preview for Fox this week.

“They’re most likely not talking about a three-peat or really talking about the history they could potentially make. Everybody just knows that, they know in the back of their mind that history is at stake.”

The United States are the unquestioned favorites in this tournament. But there are a lot of other factors at play that could derail their plans for a parade.

This is the most balanced World Cup in the history of the women’s game as the standard of play and competition globally continues to rise. There are also time zone issues with this World Cup be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

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“Ultimately it comes down to one game at a time. You can’t get ahead of yourself. The moment you get ahead of yourself is probably the moment you get knocked out or something. It’s really important to first and foremost come out first in their group – that’s their first battle,” Lloyd said.

“Once they hopefully do that, the next challenge is going to be making sure that they get past that knockout round.”

At Rutgers, Lloyd was four times named All-Big East. While with the Scarlet Knights, she played for the United States U21 national team.

 

The USWNT has lost three straight and some legends are getting restless

Heather O’Reilly and Carli Lloyd aren’t happy with the USWNT’s mentality

The U.S. women’s national team lost 2-1 to Germany on Thursday night, the team’s third consecutive defeat.

To put it simply, the USWNT just doesn’t lose three games in a row. Before the Germany defeat, it had been 29 years since the USWNT’s last three-game losing streak. It has never lost four in a row.

That three-game streak in 1993 came well before the legendary USWNT careers of Heather O’Reilly and Carli Lloyd began. Both were dismayed by what they saw in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday and made their opinions crystal clear on Twitter.

O’Reilly and Lloyd both questioned the team’s mentality, an intangible but vital part of the USWNT becoming the most decorated women’s national team ever.

“Rewatched the match from last night and have to say I am tremendously disappointed. Simply not good enough in so many regards,” O’Reilly began in a thread.

“Let’s start with mentality. Last 30 minutes. Too many allowed crosses in the box and not dealt with well at all. On the flip side, no urgency in the last 5 mins. You are about to lose at home. Get the f—— ball down the field and fight.”

Lloyd, like O’Reilly a World Cup and Olympic champion, echoed the sentiment of her former USWNT teammate.

“The winning culture and mentality that has carried on from generation to generation within the USWNT has been fizzling away,” she said on Twitter in response to O’Reilly.

“I said it when I retired. I saw it slipping away. Players have to embody that. That’s been our DNA since the 80s, but not so much anymore.”

O’Reilly did end her thread on a positive note, putting more pressure on a USWNT side that will already be feeling the heat ahead of its final game of 2022.

“Thrilled the team has a chance for redemption in a few days to make things right,” O’Reilly said ahead of the USWNT’s rematch with Germany at Red Bull Arena on Sunday.

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Michelob World Cup commercial sees Pulisic and Lloyd square off in foosball

The USMNT star and ex-USWNT star face off in some intense foosball competition

Christian Pulisic and Carli Lloyd aren’t really able to face off on the soccer field, but the foosball table isn’t a bad alternative.

In a Michelob Ultra commercial for the 2022 World Cup, the two U.S. national team stars square off at the foosball table before a guest star enters the fray late on to call next game.

Pulisic will lead the U.S. men’s national team at the World Cup in Qatar. Lloyd, meanwhile, retired last year after a glittering career that saw her capture two Olympic gold medals and two World Cup titles with the U.S. women’s national team.

As the commercial draws to a close an errant ball is caught by Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who will be El Tri’s starter for a third straight World Cup at the tournament in Qatar.

Ochoa calls next, with the foosball competition set to continue.

Watch Michelob’s World Cup ad

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Carli Lloyd was ‘pushed past limits I never knew existed’ on upcoming Fox reality show

“Special Forces: The Ultimate Test” will air on Fox starting in January

U.S. women’s national team legend Carli Lloyd is not slowing her athletic pursuits down in her retirement.

In fact, Lloyd called her upcoming participation in the Fox reality show Special Forces: The Ultimate Test “the most physically, emotionally and mentally challenging experience I have ever endured.”

The show, which will air starting in January, follows 16 celebrities as they participate in physical challenges that are part of the actual special forces selection process.

Lloyd will join fellow athletes Danny Amendola, Dwight Howard, Gus Kenworthy, Nastia Liukin and Mike Piazza; reality TV stars Hannah Brown, Kate Gosselin, Kenya Moore and Dr. Drew Pinsky; and actors, singers and TV personalities Mel B., Tyler Florence, Montell Jordan, Beverley Mitchell, Anthony Scaramucci and Jamie Lynn Spears.

“Special Forces: The Ultimate Test puts celebrities you know and love through the most pure and authentic test of endurance that I have ever seen. In many ways, it is more about mental strength than physical strength,” said Rob Wade, president alternative entertainment and specials at Fox.

Lloyd posted about her experience on the show on her Instagram account on Thursday, saying the show was “the ultimate test in my life, one in which was the hardest thing I’ve ever faced. Words cannot express what we all had to go through.”

Ex-USWNT stars participating in physically demanding reality TV has become something of a trend now, with Heather O’Reilly making an appearance on American Ninja Warrior over the summer.

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What’s next in the fight for equitability for USWNT?

USWNT legends Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd look at what’s next in the fight for equal pay after the landmark $24 million settlement with US Soccer earlier this year.

USWNT legends Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd look at what’s next in the fight for equal pay after the landmark $24 million settlement with US Soccer earlier this year.

Realistic expectations for USMNT in World Cup? Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan weigh in

USWNT legends Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd give their take on the men’s teams prospects in the World Cup this fall. Nancy Armour believes there’s no excuse for not reaching knockout stage.

USWNT legends Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd give their take on the men’s teams prospects in the World Cup this fall. Nancy Armour believes there’s no excuse for not reaching knockout stage.

‘There’s always the potential’: Carli Lloyd believes female NFL kicker could happen

US Women’s soccer legend Carli Lloyd connected with Mackenzie Salmon on Sports Seriously and discussed the possibility of a female becoming an NFL kicker. Lloyd has been known to kick 55-yard field goals in the past.

US Women’s soccer legend Carli Lloyd connected with Mackenzie Salmon on Sports Seriously and discussed the possibility of a female becoming an NFL kicker. Lloyd has been known to kick 55-yard field goals in the past.

Rutgers alumni: Scarlet Knights’ most famous graduates and attendees

Rutgers is rich with sports history, but there are plenty of famous alumni throughout the school’s history

As an academic institution, Rutgers University has gone through a renaissance in recent years. Not only is the program certainly pointed up athletically, but the research institution and the academic standing of Rutgers has seen it become one of the elite higher learning institutions in the nation.

On the playing field, Rutgers has done well with the Olympic sports for years but has seen surges in success from the large sports such as basketball, led by head coach Steve Pikiell, and football led by head coach Greg Schiano.

What you may not realize is the rich, proud history of Rutgers’ graduates and former attendees that have made their impact felt across the country and beyond. Whether it be actors, politicians, or authors – Rutgers is well represented outside of the playing fields.

Call it pork roll or Taylor Ham…it doesn’t matter. Rutgers has put its stamp on the nation in major ways.

Check out some of the most notable alumni who have eaten at the grease trucks, spent a Friday night (and a few early Saturday morning hours) at Old Man Rafferty’s or have skipped class to go to Menlo Park Mall.