The visual that remains for me more than others, from Carli Lloyd’s for the ages performance in the USWNT’s W over Japan for the World Cup title, is not from any of her once, twice, thrice hat trick in the game’s first sixteen minutes.
Though those are magnificent visions.
It is the head shot of Lloyd, the look on her face, after she missed what could have been, should have been her fourth goal of the final’s opening half.
Lloyd had a relatively unimpeded, just about point blank header. Which she knocked wide.
The camera caught Lloyd, mouth agape, eyes bright but quizzical, with a look of how did that not net?
So, in the zone was Lloyd, it was as if she couldn’t conceptualize missing such a chance.
Her performance, arguably one of the greatest in sports on such a world stage, was, but for that miss, just as she planned. During training, Lloyd continually visualized tallying four goals in the final. Continue reading Praise the Lloyd: U.S. Women Reign