Carli Lloyd scored three goals, appeared in all seven games and left her fourth World Cup with her second champions medal. All this sounds great on paper, and there were moments of great joy last summer, but it was never exactly what she had in mind.
Lloyd thinks of herself as a starter. She is certain she is good enough to be in the lineup for the world's best national team. She told Sporting News, emphatically, in advance of last June's FIFA Women's World Cup that she had not adjusted to the role of super-sub and had no intention to make that her identity. After the tournament, she told ESPN's Julie Foudy of her displeasure at starting only one game in France. She said, "It sucked."
If she continues on her current track, though, the 2020 Summer Olympics will be much different.
MORE: Why Lloyd is Sporting News' soccer Athlete of the Decade
Following a training camp this month, new U.S women's national team coach Vlatko Andonovski announced his roster Friday for the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament that begins Jan. 28. Lloyd is on it. And, figuratively, her name is very near to the top of the list.
Lloyd will turn 38 a week before the Olympics begin. To open qualifying, the U.S. will face Haiti on Jan. 28, Panama on Jan. 31 and Costa Rica on Feb. 3. The tournament's top two finishers will advance.
"Carli did very well, and I was very happy with her performance," Andonovski told Sporting News. "I just wish that she continues to perform at that level. If she does, I see no reason for her not to be a starter."
Andonovski told SN during a national teleconference with reporters that every player who entered the January camp had the opportunity to earn a starting position, intimating that World Cup winners from last summer were in the same position as those who aspired to join the team.
There are only 18 spots in the Olympics and the qualifier, so five players automatically were going to lose their spots. One of those was taken care of by the pregnancy of forward Alex Morgan, who has said she is hoping to return for the Olympics, which begin July 22. Her baby is due in April.
The most notable World Cup player who missed the cut for this tournament was young forward Mallory Pugh, 21, who played as a teenager in the 2016 Olympics. Midfielders Allie Long and Morgan Brian also were excluded, along with defender Tierna Davidson.
Midfielder Andi Sullivan and forward Lynn Williams made the team despite not being a part of last summer's World Cup. This roster need not be the same one that travels to Japan in the summer. Andonovski even invited Pugh to continue training with the players who did make it, and she accepted the offer.
Lloyd is attempting to make the Olympics for a fourth time and win a third gold medal. She scored the winning goals at both Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. She has eight career Olympic goals (121 total in international competition), which ranks fourth in USWNT history and sixth in the world.
She clarified in her podcast interview with Foudy that she worked hard to be a great teammate at the World Cup despite her certainty she should be starting. Other coaches have left such players — all-time greats who no longer figured to be starters — out of such tournaments for fear they might be disruptive. Ellis trusted that Lloyd would comport herself like a champion and aid the team with her skill and professionalism. She was correct.
"When it comes down to any player, not just Carli Lloyd, in constructing this roster I didn't want to look at the age, whether they're old or young. It's whether they could do it or not, whether they were good enough or not," Andonovski said. "Carli Lloyd certainly proved she was good enough."
The coach, who replaced Jill Ellis after she won her second World Cup title and chose to step down from the position, called Lloyd "a true example" for other players because of her work ethic.
"First to the field, last off the field, and she performed at her best every minute she spent on the field," he said. "I think that her performance is extremely valuable, and her experience is extremely valuable. She has played under pressure. Scored big goals. Hopefully we qualify, and I think she will be important for the Olympics as well."
2020 USWNT Olympic qualifying roster
Goalkeepers: Adrianna French, Portland Thorns; Ashlyn Harris, Orlando Pride; Alyssa Naeher, Chicago Red Stars
Defenders: Abby Dahlkemper, North Carolina Courage; Crystal Dunn, North Carolina Courage; Ali Krieger, Orlando Pride; Kelley O’Hara, Utah Royals; Becky Sauerbrunn, Utah Royals; Emily Sonnett, Orlando Pride
Midfielders: Julie Ertz, Chicago Red Stars; Lindsey Horan, Portland Thorns; Rose Lavelle, Washington Spirit; Samantha Mewis, North Carolina Courage; Andi Sullivan, Washington Spirit
Forwards: Tobi Heath, Portland Thorns; Carli Lloyd, Sky Blue FC; Jessica McDonald, North Carolina Courage; Christen Press, Utah Royals; Megan Rapinoe, Reign FC; Lynn Williams, North Carolina Courage