After disappointing on the final two Olympics, the USA girls wish to redeem themselves in Paris, and that begins in opposition to Zambia. The USWNT has solely failed to seem within the gold medal sport twice. It simply so occurs to have been their two most up-to-date Olympics.
So as to add to the poor leads to main tournaments, the USWNT was a catastrophe on the Ladies’s World Cup final yr. They turned of their worst-ever efficiency, falling within the Spherical of 16.
However they’ve the very best coach on the earth now, following the hiring of Emma Hayes. With a brand new coach and a few new blood within the staff, the US appears to be like to redeem itself at this Olympics. They get began in opposition to Zambia.
Notable USWNT stars omitted from the squad
Emma Hayes has definitely shaken issues up since taking the US job. A number of of the most important names for the USWNT are usually not going to the Olympics.
Becky Sauerbrunn just isn’t going to Paris, regardless of having 219 caps. Catarina Macario performed for Emma Hayes at Chelsea however didn’t make the ultimate 18 because of damage. And largest of all, Alex Morgan who amassed 123 targets in 224 appearances, won’t be competing on the Video games in France.
However there may be nonetheless loads of expertise and expertise on the roster. Alyssa Naeher in aim has 106 caps. 4 of the six defenders have 50 or extra caps (Emily Sonnett leads the best way with 93). Within the midfield, the duo of Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle every have over 100 caps and greater than 20 targets. And up entrance, there may be nearly a humiliation of riches between Crystal Dunn, Lynn Williams, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson making her main match return after she missed the Ladies’s World Cup with an damage.
Current outcomes
Whereas they could not have gotten a send-off collection final yr, the USWNT obtained one thing akin to at least one this yr. Since Emma Hayes took over the staff, they’ve performed 4 friendlies. Two of them had been in wins in opposition to South Korea in June: 4-0 in Denver and 3-0 in St. Paul.
Extra not too long ago was a pair of friendlies this month. These two had been considerably extra regarding. The US struggled to search out the web in each. First was a 1-0 win in opposition to Mexico in New York that noticed Sophia Smith rating the winner within the sixty fourth minute. Their final outing was a 0-0 draw in opposition to Costa Rica in Washington DC that noticed the US with all of the possession and all the probabilities, however nothing to indicate for it.
Is Zambia a simple opponent for the USA on the Olympics?
Zambia involves the Olympics boasting their highest world rating in historical past at sixty fourth. They sealed their qualification earlier this yr with a pair of two-legged wins, first in opposition to Ghana after which in opposition to Morocco.
The Copper Queens are beginning to construct themselves into an everyday fixture at main worldwide tournaments. Earlier than 2020, they’d by no means been to at least one. They made their main match debut on the Olympics in Tokyo three years in the past and completed third of their group, forward of China on aim distinction. Eventually yr’s Ladies’s World Cup, they once more completed third of their group. However this time they received a sport, 3-1 within the group finale in opposition to Costa Rica.
Zambia does even have two gamers who ply their commerce within the US for groups within the NWSL. Each are forwards. Barbra Banda, who has a staggering 22 targets in simply 10 caps, performs for the Orlando Pleasure. Rachael Kundananji, with 6 caps in 7 appearances, performs for enlargement facet Bay FC.
It is a essential sport for the USA to arrange for future success. Emma Hayes’ facet should face Germany and Australia within the different two group-stage video games. Every of these two is much more difficult. The Germany sport is on Sunday, July 28. Then, the USWNT rounds out the group stage in opposition to Australia on July 31.
Thursday’s sport on the Olympics between the USA Ladies’s Nationwide Group and Zambia kicks off at 3 p.m. ET. Protection is obtainable on USA and Universo for Spanish-language protection.
PHOTOS: IMAGO
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