Former US women's national team star and current Angel City FC player Sydney Leroux has hit back at Netherlands women's national team Lineth Beerensteyn for her comments regarding the US' exit from the World Cup.
Heading into the 2023 World Cup, the USWNT were favorites - but many predicted that they had taken a step back when compared to their 2015 and 2019 championship squads.
But many didn't predict the USA, who were aiming to win the World Cup for a third consecutive time, to be dumped out of the tournament in the round of 16, as they fell to Sweden 0-0 (5-4 on penalties).
It was the worst finish for the USWNT at the World Cup, and one person in particular was delighted: Lineth Beerensteyn, especially considering that the two countries played to a 1-1 draw in the group stage.
"From the first moment I heard they were out, I was just like, 'Yes! Bye!" she said. "From the start of the tournament, they had really big mouths and were already talking about the final."
Beerensteyn does have a point, as there was one television commercial that was circulating portraying the USWNT as the clear-cut favorites, and that it would be difficult for everyone else in the World Cup to stop them.
"I was thinking you first have to show it on the pitch before you talk [big]. I'm not being rude in that way, I still have a lot of respect for them, but now they're out of the tournament, and for me, it's a relief, and for them, it's something they will have to take with them in the future," she said.
"Don't start to talk about something that is far away. I hope they will learn from that."
However, the Netherlands would get booted from the tournament after their 2-1 loss to Spain in extra-time in the quarter-finals, and Sydney Leroux made sure that Beerensteyn knew about it.
"One thing we've learned is wait to talk s--- until after you're on the podium with a gold medal because now ... you're bye too," Leroux said on Twitter.
This article was originally published on 90min as Former USWNT figure Sydney Leroux responds to Lineth Beerensteyn's World Cup dig .
