Netherlands star Lineth Beerensteyn delighted by ‘big mouth’ US’ elimination from Women’s World Cup
Netherlands star Lineth Beerensteyn says she was delighted by the US’ early elimination from the Women’s World Cup following Sunday’s penalty shootout defeat to Sweden.
The US beat the Netherlands 2-0 in the final four years ago to win a second successive title but was halted in its quest for an unprecedented ‘three-peat’ by the Swedes in the round of 16.
“The first moment when I heard that they were out, I was just thinking: ‘Yes! Bye!’” Beerensteyn told reporters ahead of the Netherlands’ quarterfinal match against Spain.
“Because from the start of this tournament, they had already a really big mouth – they were talking already about the final and stuff.
“I was just thinking: ‘You first have to show it on the pitch before you are talking.’”
Having previously finished on the podium of every Women’s World Cup, the last-16 defeat was the US’ worst ever performance at a tournament.
Two-time World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe, who has played in her last World Cup, said her penalty miss was “like a sick joke,” while teammate Julie Ertz said the defeat “absolutely sucks.”
The US squad looked well below its best from the beginning of the tournament. The hard-fought 3-0 win over Vietnam in its opener was as good as it got for a US team that failed to win another game for the rest of the World Cup, including a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands.
“I am not being rude in that way,” Beerensteyn added. “I mean, I have still a lot of respect for them, but now, they are out of the tournament.
“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.
“I hope that they will learn from that.”
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