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Netherlands forward Lineth Beerensteyn didn’t hold back when she was asked about the United States women’s national team being eliminated from the 2023 Women’s World Cup in the Round of 16.
The U.S. women’s defeat to Sweden on Sunday was the earliest exit from a World Cup in the team’s history.
Beerensteyn, who was out with an ankle injury when the USWNT and Dutch played each other in the group stage, was elated with the Americans being eliminated.
“The first moment when I heard that they were out, I was just thinking, ‘Yes! Bye!’” Beerensteyn said in an interview prior the Dutch’s quarterfinal vs. Spain.
The 26-year-old forward wasn’t a fan of the USWNT’s confidence coming into the tournament.
“Because from the start of this tournament, they had already a really big mouth – they were talking already about the final and stuff. For them, it’s a thing that they have to take with them in the future – don’t start to talk about something that’s far away.” Beerensteyn said.
Netherlands forward Lineth Beerenstyen reacted to the USWNT's early World Cup exit. pic.twitter.com/4ClsAkZmwu
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 10, 2023
She didn’t hold back.
One example of the USWNT’s overconfidence that seriously rubbed fans and players from other countries the wrong way was the ‘USA vs. The World’ advertisement that FOX ran. This commercial really came back to bite them in the ass.
This summer on FOX, it’s the USA vs The World as the @USWNT goes for a three-peat in the @FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/Jr2NXQV453
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 9, 2023
The demeanor of the USWNT during the tournament was another element opposing fans disliked. One viral clip was Megan Rapine’s strut out onto the field prior to one of the games.
I can promise you this…any athlete competing against this team is motivated by this video. “Bulletin Board Material” as they say. #USWNT pic.twitter.com/wLimXJh24S
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) August 6, 2023
I’d argue that you’re allowed to have this level of coolness when your team won the last two editions of the tournament. The thing that comes with that is having that same high level on the field which was rarely on display throughout the USWNT's four games.
Beerensteyn and the Netherlands will face off against mighty Spain at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday. If anyone needs me, I will be the biggest Spain fan for that day.
