The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup hasn’t disappointed the soccer fraternity the slightest bit. So far, around 22 matches have been played by the contesting teams in the group stages. Likewise, the USWNT also played their second group-stage match against the Netherlands. Interestingly, just before the match, The Gals’ skipper Lindsey Horan had some advice for her teammates.

It might not have been the result that the USWNT wanted it to be, as they played a 1-1 draw.  The Dutch were pretty impressive throughout the game. They dominated the whole game in the first half. In fact, hours before the match, the skipper had given this sort of major warning to her teammates.

Lindsey Horan had a warning for her teammates

Before facing the Netherlands, Horan sat down for a quick interview with Men in Blazers. Host Rog picked out the midfielder’s brain regarding their game plan to face the Dutch. Interestingly, the talk of her domestic side’s teammate, Danielle van de Donk, came up, whom she was in contention to face.

Hence, Rog asked if she had any lay-downs for her teammates, given they were facing Danielle and Co. Interestingly, she then came to reveal the nature of her trash-talk rivalry with the Lyon teammate, which was also a heads-up for the USWNT players. “I’d say watch out for your ankles with Dan.” While laughing she continued, “I’m just kidding. that’s more for me. Me and Dan have an ongoing joke that, like every time we’ve played against each other.”

“Before we became friends, we were just like going after each other. it was a non-stop battle in the Midfield. Every time that we played against them (The Netherlands) and I was just like ‘who is this girl?’ I’m not gonna say names here, but she’s like kicking on my ankles all the time. I’m like ‘I don’t like this player’ and I get to Lyon and I get to train with her day in day out and I think, obviously we became friends.”

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Coincidentally, moments before Horan put the ball into the net, she received a tackle from Danielle. Nevertheless, it was an on-point warning from the skipper. Eventually, she knows what kind of challenges her teammates may face while facing Danielle. But the most important thing is that she gave the USWNT a major lifeline.

A lifeline for USWNT

It surely comes as a surprise to many to see the match end in a draw. The Netherlands unexpectedly dominated the USWNT throughout the first half. Jill Roord’s opening strike broke their deadlock as they ended the first half with a narrow lead. However, the control of the game didn’t last longer in the hands of the Dutch. A perfect header from the USWNT skipper gave Vlatko Andonovski’s side a much-needed lifeline.

In the end, neither side could find a winner, which forced both nations to split the points. Looking at the group table’s standings, both sides share four points in Group E. Perhaps in the fixture, both may try to pip the standings and cement their chances of qualifying for the next round.

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