Netherlands forward Lineth Beerensteyn said she was happy after reigning champions United States were knocked out early from the Women’s World Cup, adding that the team had a “really big mouth”.

The U.S. had travelled to the tournament in Australia and New Zealand aiming to capture a “three-peat” of titles after victories in 2019 in France and 2015 in Canada.

But the mighty Americans were sent home in the Round of 16 as they lost to Sweden on 5-4 penalties after the game ended 0-0 in extra time.

Having previously finished on the podium of every Women’s World Cup, the last-16 defeat was their worst-ever performance at a tournament. Their exit has also raised questions over the future of head coach Vlatko Andonovski, whose tactics have been criticized by fans and pundits.

Talking to reporters on Thursday ahead of the Netherlands’ quarter-final with Spain, Beerensteyn said she was delighted after the U.S. were sent home early.

“The first moment when I heard that they were out, I was just thinking, 'Yes! Bye!’” Beerensteyn said. “Because, I mean, from the start of this tournament they already had a really big mouth. They were talking already about the final and stuff.

“I was just thinking, 'you first have to show it on the pitch before you are talking'.”

The U.S., who defeated the Dutch in the final in 2019, had a mediocre group stage, where they finished second in Group E behind the Netherlands, winning only one game and drawing the other two.

In the opening game, they defeated tournament debutants Vietnam 3-0 – a game they could have won by a bigger margin had their attackers performed better. In the second game, they could only settle for a 1-1 with the Netherlands and in the final group game, they were held to a goalless draw by first-timers Portugal.

Against Sweden, they dominated the game until extra time before a dramatic penalty shootout determined their fate. Three U.S. players – Megan Rapinoe, Sophia Smith and Kelley O'Hara – missed with kicks from the penalty spot before Sweden’s Lina Hurtig converted to clinch the shootout.

U.S. keeper Alyssa Naeher clawed out Hurtig’s first attempt before appearing to save the second attempt, but a VAR check showed the ball had marginally crossed the goal line, awarding the goal and victory to the Swedes.

“I am not being rude in that way,” Beerensteyn added. “I mean, I have still a lot of respect for them, but now they are out of the tournament. For them, it's a thing that they have to take with them in the future - don't start to talk about something that's far away. I hope that they will learn from that.”

The World Cup exit also marked the end of USWNT star Rapinoe’s career. Rapinoe was the hero in their 2019 triumph but played very little role this year, and her final game ended with a moment of disappointment as she missed her penalty kick. She likened her miss to a “sick joke”.