USWNT's Lindsey Horan cites lack of preparation as factor in early World Cup exit

One possible reason for the U.S. women's soccer team's disappointing performance at this year's World Cup was because it was not "fully prepared," co-captain Lindsey Horan said in a podcast appearance earlier this week.

Speaking with former USWNT teammates Christen Press and Tobin Heath on The RE-CAP Show, Horan said it was important to maximize the limited training time the team had with new coach Vlatko Andonovski, "but that's not what we did. We did not get the best out of every single individual."

Horan added that the players also share the blame.

"I don't think everyone was fully prepared," she said, "and that's on us as well."

The U.S. women, the two-time defending World Cup champions, were ousted in the Round of 16 by Sweden in a 5-4 penalty kick shootout.

WORLD CUP CENTRAL: 2023 Women's World Cup Live Scores, Schedules, Standings, Bracket and More

Shortly afterward, Andonovski stepped down as national team coach, leaving the U.S. with not much time to find his replacement and correct its course before the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris next summer.

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Horan said the team just didn't seem comfortable throughout the tournament, and the results showed.

"Looking at those three group stage games, and you felt it in the team," she said. "You felt this tense feeling, and people were just not enjoying their football or they weren't enjoying individually playing."

The USWNT will be back in action next month with friendlies on Sept. 21 in Cincinnati and Sept. 24 in Chicago.