Lloyd: France will be an ideal stage - FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
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As the world of football counts down to the reveal of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™ official emblem and slogan – in Paris on 19 September – we are interviewing major figures from the women’s game about the history, the present and the future of the Women’s World Cup.
- Carli Lloyd has been a mainstay for the USA since 2005
- Scored a hat-trick in Women's World Cup Final in 2015
- The Best FIFA Women's Player in 2016 is nominated again
No name looms larger in women's football than Carli Lloyd. At the end of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, she had lifted the trophy, the best player award and scored an unforgettable goal. But the midfield dynamo is still hungry for more at the age of 35, and few would count out the ultimate big-game player from tasting more glory in France.
FIFA.com sat down with Lloyd to get her thoughts about the past and present of the US women's national team and to look ahead to the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™.
FIFA.com sat down with Lloyd to get her thoughts about the past and present of the US women's national team and to look ahead to the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™.
France ready for the world
"The 2015 World Cup in Canada was pretty spectacular and pretty amazing, and I expect France to be even more so. Great pitches, incredible competition, it should be an ideal stage to show how far women’s football has come. Hopefully I’ll be a part of the team at France 2019 as it would be a dream come true to play in my fourth World Cup."
The French team is dangerous
"France are a very good side. I’ve played against them many times. Very good on the ball, very technical and tactically they play well. They have struggled a little bit to get to the next level, but playing on their own pitch will work to their advantage. It’s a tough side, and a team that should pose a threat at the World Cup."
"The 2015 World Cup in Canada was pretty spectacular and pretty amazing, and I expect France to be even more so. Great pitches, incredible competition, it should be an ideal stage to show how far women’s football has come. Hopefully I’ll be a part of the team at France 2019 as it would be a dream come true to play in my fourth World Cup."
The French team is dangerous
"France are a very good side. I’ve played against them many times. Very good on the ball, very technical and tactically they play well. They have struggled a little bit to get to the next level, but playing on their own pitch will work to their advantage. It’s a tough side, and a team that should pose a threat at the World Cup."
USA driven by Olympic failure
“We’ll still have the motivation heading into 2019. We didn’t do well at the 2016 Olympics, so we’re driven to win another medal. If you can’t get motivated to compete in a World Cup and get that trophy at the end of the tournament, then you shouldn’t be playing. It will be tough because as champions there will be a target on our backs. We’ll have our work cut out for us, but nothing worthwhile in life ever comes easy, so we’ll just have to work to make sure we’re ready for the task."
“We’ll still have the motivation heading into 2019. We didn’t do well at the 2016 Olympics, so we’re driven to win another medal. If you can’t get motivated to compete in a World Cup and get that trophy at the end of the tournament, then you shouldn’t be playing. It will be tough because as champions there will be a target on our backs. We’ll have our work cut out for us, but nothing worthwhile in life ever comes easy, so we’ll just have to work to make sure we’re ready for the task."
The power of inspiration
"I remember when I was a little girl watching the 1999 World Cup. I actually went to a few of the matches. It was the start of a dream, the start of something special for me and many others. Watching those women play and compete and win, I told myself I wanted to be out there playing for my country. They paved the way for us. They really helped the growth of women’s soccer, especially winning the way they did."
"I am forever grateful for what they did on and off the pitch, and I know my job as a player and leader is to continue to pave the way and make it better. I know what they wanted to do is to leave the sport better than when they came in, and that is my goal too. Hopefully in 20 years time, it will be even better in the same way.”
"I remember when I was a little girl watching the 1999 World Cup. I actually went to a few of the matches. It was the start of a dream, the start of something special for me and many others. Watching those women play and compete and win, I told myself I wanted to be out there playing for my country. They paved the way for us. They really helped the growth of women’s soccer, especially winning the way they did."
"I am forever grateful for what they did on and off the pitch, and I know my job as a player and leader is to continue to pave the way and make it better. I know what they wanted to do is to leave the sport better than when they came in, and that is my goal too. Hopefully in 20 years time, it will be even better in the same way.”