Carli Lloyd on 2015 FWWC Semifinal, USA-Germany: “It was like a Final”

MIAMI, Florida – The 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup will always be remembered for being the third World Cup title for the United States Women’s National Team and for the superb performance of U.S. MF Carli Lloyd, who won the Golden Ball, Silver Boot (6 goals) and Goal of the Tournament awards.

While most remember Lloyd for her hat-trick in the 5-2 win for the U.S. in the Final against Japan, she also enjoyed a sublime performance in a 2-0 victory against Germany in the semifinals, with a goal and an assist.

As part of their #WorldCupAtHome series, FIFA is rebroadcasting that U.S. victory against the Germans on Monday at 2 PM ET on FIFA’s YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M1Jk86RSmE – a match that brings back a lot of fond memories for Lloyd.

“We knew Germany was a quality opponent and were playing at a very high level. There was this inner sense that if we beat Germany, we would win it all. It was like a Final,” said Lloyd in an exclusive interview with Concacaf.com.

“The game was one of the biggest battles I have ever faced with the USWNT. Germany is so methodical that you cannot beat them if you don’t play at your best. I feel that we all played an amazing game,” added Lloyd.

One of the big decisions made by U.S. Head Coach Jill Ellis in the latter stages of the tournament was shifting Lloyd to a more advanced role in midfield from the defensive midfield position she had been occupying earlier in the tournament. Needless to say, Lloyd was thrilled and it paid off handsomely.

“I hadn’t played in my natural position for over a year. The coaching staff moved me around the midfield, and I started the World Cup as a defensive mid. Then the yellow card suspensions forced the coaches to move players around and place me back at Center Attacking Mid against China. I knew this was a chance for me to express myself and make a difference. When we came up against Germany it was my second game back in my favorite position, and I was comfortable and confident,” said Lloyd.

Lloyd’s goal against the German came in the second half via the penalty spot. Four years prior in the 2011 FWWC Final, Lloyd had failed to convert her attempt in the penalty shootout, and she made sure there would be no repeat in 2015 when she stepped to the spot in the 69’.

“In 2011, when I missed my penalty in the World Cup Final, I was devasted. I felt like I let my teammates down, my country down,” said Lloyd. “I practiced penalty kicks from that point on and visualized them. I stepped up to take a penalty against Colombia and I made it. Now I was faced with another really important penalty that would most likely determine who was going to advance to the final. I was laser-focused. I was prepared both from a technical standpoint and had rehearsed it in my mind. When I grabbed the ball and put it down on the spot, there were a lot of things happening behind me, but I wasn’t focused on that. In fact I had no idea until after the game when I realized all that was going on. My mind was so focused that nothing could get in the way of me not getting this ball into the back of the net. I knew exactly where I wanted to place it and just needed the referee to blow the whistle. The whistle blew and I could see the goalkeeper already diving to her right side and I knew I just needed to put it to my right and make good contact on the ball.”

With a 1-0 lead, the U.S. looked to put Germany away with a second goal and it would arrive in the 84’ when Lloyd picked out the hard-charging Kelley O’Hara for the insurance goal.

“When Kelley came onto the field as a sub, she immediately made a difference. We needed fresh legs and she is someone who will always give her best effort. I got the ball from [Meghan] Klingenberg and I found myself in between two defenders inside the box and had one to beat. I pulled a little scoop move to get around her and crossed it in. Kelley fully committed to getting herself in the box and just got her foot on which sealed the win for us,” said Lloyd.

All told, Lloyd has amassed 294 international caps and has scored 123 goals. While she calls her first cap the most memorable of her career, her unforgettable strike from midfield in the 16’ of the 2015 Final against Japan to complete her hat-trick ranks as the goal with the biggest impact.

“It is different than any other goal I have ever scored and something that I never imagined I would ever have pulled off to complete a hat trick in a World Cup Final. I don’t think it’s the best goal I ever scored, but I feel that it was the most impactful goal I have ever scored. It got people talking and increased the level of awareness for the game around the globe,” said Lloyd.

Now almost five years later, Lloyd has two Olympic gold medals (2008, 2012), two FWWC titles (2015, 2019) and two FIFA Player of the Year awards (2015, 2016) to her name. When she reflects upon all that she has accomplished, there is almost a sense of disbelief.

“I was someone who loved playing soccer and had a dream of playing professionally, but to dream of all of this…no way!  It has been amazing to have had the journey that I have had and even more amazing to be able to share this journey with my teammates and help inspire others to go after their dreams,” said Lloyd.