USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski getting all of the stress after floundering World Cup begin

The U.S. Ladies’s Nationwide Group has been underwhelming on the World Cup and supervisor Vlatko Andonovski is catching the brunt of the blame. 

Andonovski, 46, is in his fourth 12 months on the helm of the USWNT and all of his choices — or lack thereof — have been below scrutiny as this system enters a brand new period. 

“The second I sat on this chair in 2019 is when the stress began,” Andonovski mentioned throughout a Monday press convention, according to Fox Sports. 

“It’s not like that is one thing new or one thing that I wasn’t conscious of. I knew that is the way it’s going to be, and I do know what the expectations are.”

The USWNT is on its quest for a three-peat within the 2023 World Cup after successful back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2019. 

Nevertheless, this 12 months’s group play efficiency has revealed holes within the squad’s depth, and extra alarmingly, the supervisor’s skill to arrange his gamers.

Tuesday morning’s 0-0 draw with Portugal simply barely snuck the USWNT into the Spherical of 16 after a lackluster 90-plus minutes of soccer. 

“And it’s not like we performed nicely, however we personal it,” Andonovski mentioned postgame.

“We all know it’s not adequate. We all know we’re not pleased with our efficiency, but it surely’s, you realize, we certified for the following spherical. We’re shifting on.”

Andonovski up to date his beginning 11 on Tuesday, placing Lynn Williams in for Trinity Rodman and swapping Savannah DeMelo for Rose Lavelle after failing to make in-match changes in opposition to the Netherlands within the 1-1 draw, the place he used solely one in all his 5 accessible subs.

The USWNT completed second in Group E with 5 factors –– their worst-ever efficiency in a World Cup group stage –– and has confronted criticism for wanting disjointed and and not using a recreation plan on the sphere. 

Andonovski appears to have the ability to ignore it, although. 

“I don’t have any social media,” he advised reporters earlier within the event.  “I don’t learn something.”

Veteran Kelley O’Hara took over within the group huddle after the Portugal match and confirmed the hearth and urgency that followers have been clamoring for.

“Kelley O’Hara mentioned Vlatko had his likelihood and now she’s going to educate this crew,” a Twitter user wrote alongside the video of O’Hara yelling within the circle. 

“I simply advised the crew, ‘Pay attention, we did what we needed to do, we’re shifting on, the group stage is finished, that is over, it’s within the rearview, now we have our subsequent recreation in entrance of us and that’s the one one which issues,’” O’Hara mentioned, according to ESPN.

“Perhaps we didn’t do it the way in which we needed to, or deliberate on doing it, however we’re advancing and that is the World Cup and that’s all that issues.”

Amongst the critics on Tuesday was former USWNT star Carli Lloyd, who’s now a commentator on the Fox Sports activities broadcast of the World Cup. 

“I’m seeing a really lackluster, uninspiring, taking it with no consideration. Profitable and coaching and doing all you could to be the very best particular person participant is just not occurring,” Lloyd said following the draw. 

Andonovski rebutted Lloyd’s feedback and reaffirmed the aggressive stage of his group. 

“To query the mentality of this crew, to query the willingness, the willingness to win, I feel it’s insane,” Andonovski said.

“I’ve by no means seen this crew step on the sphere and never strive more durable and never compete. Everyone seems to be entitled to an opinion and so they can say no matter they need, however I simply understand how this crew feels.” 

Till the USWNT places collectively a cohesive, team-oriented match, it appears Andonovski will proceed to obtain the pointing fingers, whether or not he is aware of it or not.