USWNT Makes Statement in 4-1 Win
Emma Hayes Side Show Early Signs of Revival
If I were to choose one word to describe how the USWNT performed yesterday it would be this.
Professional.
Clear, succinct, to the point, and exactly how I felt after watching them boss fellow gold medal contenders Germany 4-1. It was not a perfect performance. There were a few sloppy giveaways in the midfield, and clearances were also found wanting from time to time. And of course, Germany did score from outside the box on a ball that Naeher probably should have done better with. But these are the high standards we have for the USWNT, and so even a 4-1 drumming of a top 5 opponent has room for scrutiny.
Front 3 Magic
I’m not sure what the nickname should be for Smith, Swanson, and Rodman, but what I do know is that in these first two Olympic matches they have been dynamic. Mallory has 3 goals, Sophia has 2, and Trinity’s 1 was the most impressive of them all. The way Emma allows these three to interchange in the final 3rd while causing defenses to run around in knots is a genuine joy to witness. What’s better is the fact that they are now scoring great goals when in the buildup to the games there was reasonable skepticism about finishing. For those of us deep into USWNT lore and following we knew it wouldn’t be a matter of if, but when they started to click. And so, they did.
Also, shout out to Lynn Williams, coming on in the final moments and putting the game truly to bed with her finish. She’s a player that has always been floating around the national team and when she was called upon with the unfortunate injury to Cat Marcario, Williams was ready.
Rose All Over the Pitch
The title may be a bit misleading, but what I am saying is that Rose Lavelle was everywhere in this game and continues to be instrumental in connecting the midfield to our deadly front 3. Her back and forth with Trinity was key to the goal that opened up the scoring. Much like the players in front of her, she’s comfortable getting into any of those positions and driving defenses mad. She’s also a great midfielder to break up defensive blocks.
Speaking of defense, she was incremental there too. She had more than her fair share of timely tackles to make sure that Germany didn’t get off good shots or even get into the final third. It won’t show up on the score sheet, but what Rose was doing yesterday was beautiful to watch.
I have always said, she can come to the cookout.
Solid Defense Once Again
While Germany still had more than their fair share of chances at goal, there were really only a handful that were truly threatening other than the one that found the back of the net. Otherwise, the German wingers were well contained by the USWNT back line. Midfielders tracking back also helped and Trinity Rodman walking the ball off the line after a fantastic save by Naeher helped pave the way towards the 4-1 win.
What was also noticed on Twitter and other social media was the stark difference between what the USWNT did against Zambia compared to Australia. The Matildas did win the game, but it was a 6-5 goal fest and they needed extra time to do so. Barbara Banda had a hat trick and this 5 goal onslaught came from a team the USWNT held scoreless. Yes, they were a man down for much of the match, but it does not take away from keeping the most in form striker in check. Tierna Davidson and Naomi Girma were brilliant.
Emma Ball Taking Shape
As a Chelsea supporter, I have been keeping tabs on Emma Hayes for quite some time. Even rivals have to admit that what she did at Chelsea benefited not only the women playing for the Blues, but English football specifically as a whole. Tactically, and something that has been repeated on the broadcasts repeatedly, is her call for patience. Yes, patience with the team learning her system, but that system of patience as well.
Prior iterations of this team could see the US women overpower, outpace, and bully their opponents into submission. As the women’s game around the globe has evolved, this has become more difficult. Rather than always being in a rush to score, more methodical slicing up of defenses and picking those perfect moments are becoming staples. In the build up with Mexico and especially Costa Rica is it understandable how this could be frustrating, however with this sound defeat of Germany, we can start to see the vision Emma Hayes has.
Rose Lavelle is someone who can thrive in Emma’s system because of her ability to unlock defenses. While Smith, Swanson, and Rodman all have the ability to blow past defenders, picking their spots to unleash is starting to take shape. A player like Crystal Dunn who can play almost any position on the pitch or Girma with her ability to break through 2 lines with a direct pass are also great ways in which patience allows for brilliance.
I don’t want to overreact, but Emma Hayes and the USWNT seems to be a match made in heaven, especially with this group of players. I’ll just be a little sad she had to leave Chelsea behind to do so but work life balance has also improved for her. And I think we all could benefit from that.
Moving Forward
The team has already locked in their position for the next round, it’s just a matter of where they will place. Conventional wisdom says they should top the group, and after seeing how Australia has performed at the Olympics, this seems like a no brainer. However, we can’t assume all will be easy moving forward.
There are still teams like Japan, Spain, France, Brazil, and somehow Canada still lurking who won’t fear the US. As the team continues to evolve under Emma Hayes their competition will significantly increase in difficulty. As I said, their performance was not perfect yesterday. They can still be more clinical in front of goal, and the defense can be a little less Helter Skelter as it was in moments against Germany. But I haven’t felt this good about this team in a long time. It’s nice to see the players playing so freely.
For the Olympics, and more tournaments moving forward, the growth of this team will be a joy to watch. I don’t think they’ll ever be as dominant as they once were, but I do expect to start to enjoy the way they play again. I was smiling most of the match yesterday. I didn’t REALLY feel all that nervous even when Germany scored. This team is rebuilding what could be seen as lost confidence from fans, and that’s not something we should take lightly.
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