USA's World Cup winner Carli Lloyd has earned an invitation to the White House following her heroics in the final against Japan.
Lloyd scored an incredible 13-minute hat-trick including the third from the halfway line as USA thumped the holders 5-2 in Vancouver, with the 32-year-old being named player of the tournament and finishing joint top scorer, though Germany's Celia Sasic took the Golden Boot having also scored six goals but in fewer minutes.
Lloyd turns 33 next week but is already targeting the next World Cup in France in four years' time. More immediately will be a trip to the White House to meet the soccer-loving family of President Barack Obama, who tweeted after the victory: "What a win for Team USA! Great game @CarliLloyd! Your country is so proud of all of you. Come visit the White House with the World Cup soon."
The midfielder has no intention of resting on her laurels however and has her sights set on defending the trophy.
She told www.fifa.com: "I know what I've got left to achieve. I'll be going for it at the next World Cup.
"I think my career has gone up a level, that's for sure. There's always room for improvement, though, and I know I have to keep on working hard."
Lloyd, who plays her club football for Houston Dash, believes this team is the greatest the USA has ever produced.
She added: "I'm convinced it is. What we've done is just legendary. It wasn't an easy road but we finished first and unbeaten in the so-called group of death.
"We weren't the best, and we came into the tournament second in the world ranking. We knew that nothing was going to be easy. What we've done is remarkable. It's a historic performance."
Lloyd had missed a spot-kick against Japan in the shoot-out in the final four years ago but erased those memories with a performance where everything went right.
"It's something that maybe just happens once in your career, when everything you try comes off and nearly every shot goes in the back of the net," she added.
"That penalty miss is a long time ago now. That's the way it is. That's what happens. I never really dwelt on it and I just turned the page and looked to keep moving forward in my career. We've spent every day trying to get better, and that's what's brought us here.
"Performances like that - and not just mine - come down to a lot of hard work and hours and hours of training and preparation for the big occasion."
Source: PA
