WELLINGTON, Aug 10 – Lineth Beerensteyn, the Netherlands forward, did not hold back in expressing her views on the missing United States squad at the Women’s World Cup. She asserted that the reigning champions, with a history of boasting, should have let their performance on the field do the talking.
In a closely contested match, the Dutch managed a 1-1 draw against the U.S., securing the top spot in Group E. The tournament took an unexpected turn as the Americans faced elimination in the last-16 stage, a situation they had never encountered before the semi-finals.
“Upon hearing the news of their elimination, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of affirmation. Right from the beginning of the tournament, they were already making grand claims, confidently discussing their place in the final and more,” Beerensteyn remarked. She further added, “In my opinion, actions should precede words. This isn’t meant to be disrespectful, as I still hold them in high regard. But they needed to validate their claims on the field before vocalizing them. And now, they find themselves out of the tournament.”
It’s worth noting that in the previous Women’s World Cup, the Netherlands had been knocked out by the U.S. in the semi-finals.
Beerensteyn, a striker for Juventus, expressed her relief at the outcome, observing, “For me, it’s a weight off my shoulders, whereas for them, it’s a lesson they need to take into the future. It’s imperative not to fixate on distant goals without backing them up with actual performance. My hope is that they internalize this experience.”
The American team has been grappling with criticism since their shocking elimination. An advertisement by U.S. World Cup broadcaster Fox Sports, which aired prior to the tournament, has been widely criticized by fans for its perceived arrogance. The ad commenced with the line, “The whole world is wondering, what’s it going to take to stop this US team?” It then proceeded to portray various national stereotypes, including a Londoner on a rainy bus ride and an Italian with binoculars and a leather jacket, implying, “Maybe we can steal their plays” as an Italian flag-adorned drone hovered over a USA training session.
