Holders the United States began their defence of the women's World Cup by crushing Thailand 13-0 but their joyous celebrations of the tournament's record win triggered a backlash on Wednesday. The US team scored 10 goals in the second half in Reims on Tuesday as they bettered Germany's 11-0 win over Argentina in 2007 and shattered their own previous tournament best of 7-0.
American star Alex Morgan grabbed five goals while Rose Lavelle and Samantha Mewis netted twice each and Lindsey Horan, Megan Rapinoe, Mallory Pugh and Carli Lloyd also got on the scoresheet in the Group F encounter watched by more than 18,000. But the Americans' wild goal celebrations in such a one-sided game were not to everyone's taste. Former Canadian international player Kaylyn Kyle, working as an analyst for Canada's TSN at the tournament, said on air: "As a Canadian we would just never ever think of doing something like that ... For me it's disrespectful, it's disgraceful."
Kyle said later on social media she had received death threats for her comments, but repeated that she felt the Americans' celebrations were "excessive and disrespectful". Many Twitter users also criticised the show of joy with the hashtag "UglyAmericans". "A classless winner is worse than a sore loser, regardless of gender," said one tweet.
USA Today columnist Nancy Armour was unapologetic. "Take the pearl clutching and righteous indignation somewhere else. This is the World Cup, not a rec league tournament," she wrote. Norway's Scandinavian neighbours Sweden started their campaign with a 2-0 win over Chile in Rennes on Tuesday in a match that was held up by a violent storm. The players went off for around 40 minutes in the second half with the game goalless before Sweden secured victory thanks to late goals by Kosovare Asllani and substitute Madelen Janogy.
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