NEW YORK (Reuters) - Few of the 24 women's World Cup teams arriving in France for next month's tournament will bear the weight of expectation quite like reigning champions the United States. But if the pressure on the squad in the build-up to the World Cup is beginning to grate on the players at all, 36-year-old co-captain Carli Lloyd is not showing it. "I feel at ease, I feel calm, I feel hungry, I feel motivated and I just feel excited." Much is expected of 21-year-old forward Mallory Pugh, while 26-year-old defender Crystal Dunn has plenty to prove, having been the last player cut from the 2015 World Cup squad. The World Cup kicks off on June 7 when hosts France face South Korea at the Parc des Princes in Paris.

Source: The Star May 24, 2019 21:33 UTC