USWNT give one other lifeless efficiency of The Star-Spangled Banner earlier than World Cup sport in opposition to Holland

The US Girls’s soccer group gave one other uninspiring efficiency of their nationwide anthem earlier than their World Cup sport in opposition to Holland on Wednesday. 

Solely six gamers held their arms to their chest when The Star-Spangled Banner was enjoying and never all had been singing. 

Those that did – comparable to Alex Morgan, Julie Ertz and Lindsey Horan – appeared to mumble the phrases slightly than sing loudly alongside.

By comparability, the Dutch group sang loudly alongside to their anthem earlier than the sport started in Wellington, New Zealand.

‘All 11 Dutch ladies sang their anthem. Too dangerous we will not match them,’ one fan stated on Twitter. 

A big portion of the USWNT had been silent through the nationwide anthem earlier than enjoying Holland

Crystal Dunn and Andi Sullivan had been silent and didn’t have their arms to their chests 

Alex Morgan (left) sang alongside however Sophia Smith (centre) did not maintain her hand to her chest

Savannah Demelo and Julie Ertz had their arms to their chest, with the latter singing alongside

One other supporter stated: ‘Why would you play for USA however not even take part within the nationwide anthem? Embarrassing and disrespectful.’ 

A unique fan wrote: Thanks USWNT gamers: Julie Ertz, Alyssa Naeher and Lindsey Horan for being happy with your nation & representing it properly by singing the nationwide anthem on the World Cup.

Disgrace on the remainder of you…’ 

It comes after the opening sport in opposition to Vietnam final Friday, the place six of the 11 beginning gamers opted in opposition to inserting their arms over their hearts, as a substitute maintaining their arms at their sides or behind their backs. 

In the meantime, 5 others did put their arms on their hearts, together with three — Julie Ertz, Alyssa Naeher and Lindsey Horan — who additionally sang the nationwide anthem lyrics.

Critics have continued to regulate the US ladies’s conduct through the anthem after former group captain Megan Rapinoe knelt in protest of racist police brutality starting in 2016. 

Rapinoe, now enjoying in her last World Cup, additionally stated in 2019 that she would ‘by no means put my hand over my coronary heart’ and ‘by no means sing the nationwide anthem once more.’

Rapinoe shouldn’t be within the beginning line up for this sport – she is as a substitute named as an alternative. 

Some followers had been livid at their group and stated they had been ’embarrassing and disrespectful’

All however one participant knelt in protest earlier than a 2021 sport in opposition to Australia, however the group was falsely accused of turning its again on the flag and a World Struggle II veteran earlier than one other sport that yr.

The reigning World Cup champions had been seen standing at consideration earlier than their 4-0 Olympic-sendoff win in Hartford, Connecticut in July of 2021 as 98-year-old Pete DuPré performed a rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner.

This USA group is bidding for soccer historical past – trying to develop into the primary group within the women and men’s sport to win the World Cup in three straight tournaments.