Stone Cold Weirdo Carli Lloyd Leads U.S. Into World Cup Final

"It's all going horribly wrong here for U.S.A. in the shoot-out," Ian Darke said as his call on the ESPN broadcast edged into panicked surprise. Carli Lloyd put her left hand over her mouth, stunned. She had stepped up to the line to take the U.S.'s second penalty in the 2011 Women's World Cup final against Japan after Shannon Boxx has already failed to convert the first. Lloyd's shoulders had moved back, and then her right foot connected with the ball. But Lloyd's shot sailed over the crossbar, not even remotely on target. Moments later, Saki Kumagai finished her penalty past a diving Hope Solo, and Japan won their first World Cup.

The U.S. finally has their long-awaited rematch against Japan in today's World Cup final. And at the center of it once again is Carli Lloyd, who has scored in three consecutive games of this World Cup, twice been named player of the match, and has been placed on the shortlist for the Golden Boot. She has led her team through numerous controversies during the tournament, and has been exactly the type of leader the U.S. needed. But certainly none of it would matter for Lloyd should the U.S. once again lose to Japan.

Sure, Lloyd scored both goals in the final match of the 2012 Olympic Games against Japan to help the U.S. win gold, the second time she had scored the game-winner in an Olympic final. But an Olympic gold medal doesn't nearly feel as satisfying as a World Cup final win. This was not the rematch the U.S. wanted. While a gold medal took some of the sting out of the loss in Germany against Japan a year prior, it did not add a third star—indicating a third World Cup title—to the U.S. shirt.

While the U.S., or Lloyd for that matter, haven't had their best tournament, the opportunity to forget that 2011 nightmare is at hand. And without a doubt, Lloyd is a major factor why they have an opportunity for revenge, despite some of the team's disjointed play.

Part of the reason why Lloyd hasn't been at her best this month is because the midfield still isn't quite sure what is being asked of them by coach Jill Ellis. Lloyd and Lauren Holiday have been in the midfield in some form together since the fall of 2013, and since April 10, 2014 the two have both played in all 32 matches for the national team; chemistry should not be an issue. But it has been. The U.S. is lucky to have a reliable anchor such as Lloyd to help deal with some of the dysfunction, even though she's known to be quite a character.

The player at the heart of the U.S. offense is a stone-cold weirdo. SB Nation just declared Lloyd the weirdest world class professional athlete ever. But this goes beyond her on-the-field performances. Take a look through her Instagram or Twitter feed for a few minutes. She is a walking motivational post. She loves ice baths. Sometimes, these two interests collide.

She is earnest, in a way that should be annoying. She does not understand the purpose of artifice. Lloyd is an athlete that screams no bullshit. There is hard work, end of list. She has an uncanny ability to earn black eyes during games. There is a fan-designed t-shirt with Lloyd's face, black eye included, that simply says "No Chill."

She is either the most frustrating or most fun player to watch on the pitch. If the Nike campaign for this team is #NoMaybes, Lloyd's would be #NoInBetweens. But Lloyd is a player that, though experienced, always seems concerned about earning her starting spot for the national team. It seems ridiculous considering her stats, but the 32-year-old Lloyd enters every game intending to prove she deserves to be there.

She has 201 caps for the national team, and 66 goals—only 18 of those scored in friendlies. Lloyd saves her goals for the big matches. There is a reason why Lloyd has earned her reputation for being clutch, for coming up big in big games, which is what made her missed penalty kick in 2011 so shocking, and why it certainly must eat away at her now. Despite a rocky group stage, she's proving herself as a key cog for the U.S. once again this summer.

This World Cup has been a tournament of distractions for the U.S. Lloyd is close with Hope Solo, and she was forced to answer questions about Solo's personal life before the U.S. had even played their first game. Lloyd's non-answer at the FIFA press conference was followed by smile that clearly shut down any follow-ups. She knows the game, and she refuses to play it.

Then, Lloyd was called out by former coach Pia Sundhage in a New York Times article. Sundhage said Lloyd was "a challenge to coach," and that her performance would swing based on the confidence shown in her. Lloyd merely replied that her rebuttal would be seen on the field against Sweden, a promise that did not exactly come to pass in an unsatisfying 0-0 draw.

After the game, Lloyd didn't speak with Sundhage. But she told reporters, "2012, [Sundhage] had no faith in me, still helped her win. The comments were very confusing. I don't change my game plan for any coach, no matter what the coach is, who the coach is. Whether the coach likes me or not, I still bring it 100%."

Here is the heart of Carli Lloyd. She will claim that comments like this don't affect her, but there is no doubt that each one has been filed away and has been used to fuel her play.

The U.S.'s defense has gotten a lot of deserved attention during the World Cup. Without Becky Sauerbrunn and Julie Johnston, the United States likely wouldn't be in this final. Megan Rapinoe gets the points for creativity and flair. Hope Solo, Abby Wambach, and Alex Morgan are all bigger names, but it was Lloyd who was asked to take an important penalty against Germany in the semi-finals on Tuesday. She did not miss.

Not that Lloyd is a complete unknown either. She did earn a Sports Illustrated cover, and even better, the cover of Howler Magazine's World Cup issue. But she won't ever be the public face of this team or won't ever be considered the most beloved player.

Howler asked Lloyd about her thoughts on the world that female athletes inhabit, and perhaps why she'd never get all the adulation she deserves. Her answer was unsurprising: "I think our country prides itself, in any sport, on statistics—who's scoring goals, who's hitting home runs. But also, who's getting a million tattoos, who's dyeing their hair. For me, that stuff's not important. I want to be known as a great soccer player. I'm not into the glitz and the glamour and posting selfies of myself and getting all the attention."

Lloyd has for years been operating outside of the tidy box to which most women's soccer players are encumbered. But it doesn't matter. As the Women's World Cup final approaches, Lloyd is in her element. And now, on the biggest stage, finally comes her chance at redemption.