via Imago
August 6, 2023, Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia: USA midfielder LINDSEY HORAN 10 during the overtime of the 2023 FIFA Womens World Cup Round Of 16 match against Sweden at Melbourne Rectangle Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. The regular time of the match was Sweden 0:0 USA. Sweden won the match in penalty kicks Sweden 0-5:0-4 USA. Sweden advances to the quarterfinals. Melbourne Australia – ZUMAb240 20230806_zsp_b240_127 Copyright: xIraxL.xBlackx
via Imago
August 6, 2023, Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia: USA midfielder LINDSEY HORAN 10 during the overtime of the 2023 FIFA Womens World Cup Round Of 16 match against Sweden at Melbourne Rectangle Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. The regular time of the match was Sweden 0:0 USA. Sweden won the match in penalty kicks Sweden 0-5:0-4 USA. Sweden advances to the quarterfinals. Melbourne Australia – ZUMAb240 20230806_zsp_b240_127 Copyright: xIraxL.xBlackx
The FIFA World Cup is the biggest tournament for any soccer player. And emotions are bound to run high. The same happened with USNWT star Lindsey Horan. Explaining the incident in a Netflix documentary in detail, Horan revealed that she wanted to punch her opponent in frustration.
The second group game for the US Women’s national team against the Netherlands was an opportunity. It was the opportunity to get revenge against the Dutch for their 2019 defeat.
Lindsey Horan shrugged off by van de Donk, angers midfielder
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In the second half of the game, as the US were trailing 1-0, Dutch star Daniëlle van de Donk made a robust tackle on Lindsey Horan. This tackle angered the US midfielder. In the docuseries, Under Pressure, chronicling their 2023 World Campaign, she reveals, “I could have punched her in her face. That tackle sent me over the top.”
She highlighted her bewilderment, stating “I am just like, What in the– How? I was so mad and I needed that anger. The fans would have seen me mouth a couple of things on live TV. I was so, so angry and so I go up to her and I’m talking crap. I also pushed her”.
In the end, multiple players had to step in and stop the argument, with Julie Ertz using her experience to calm things down. After the game, the US midfielder acknowledged the funny side of the argument. When asked about the conversation with her Dutch counterpart, she joked that she told van de Donk to watch her ankles.
Horan also clarified that this is a regular occurrence between the two, who are club teammates at Olympique Lyonnais Féminin. Van de Donk, who thought she had the last laugh, did not know what was coming next. After a few minutes, Horan responded in the best possible way, channeling the advice of her teammate, Julie Ertz.
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Horan reveals how Julie Ertz helped her during the game
Julie Ertz was the one to separate her US national teammate from the altercation. Horan revealed that the veteran calmed her down. Ertz pleaded, “Linds, please, don’t get another yellow card. Just score this goal to shut everyone up.” And the midfielder did exactly the same. She scored a brilliant header from a corner. This proved to be an important goal, with the game finishing 1-1.
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In the end, both the teams underperformed at the World Cup. The USA were knocked out by Sweden on penalties. The Netherlands, on the other hand, were defeated by eventual winners Spain in the quarter-final.
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