Any match between the fourth (Germany) and fifth (USA) ranked teams in the world would be expected to produce a close, entertaining spectacle.
On Sunday in Marseille, we got the latter but not so much the former as the U.S. women’s national team took sole possession of the top spot in their Olympic group with a convincing 4-1 victory.
Soon after a big early save from goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher to deny what was likely Germany’s best chance of the entire match, the USWNT quickly took control of the game led by their world-class attacking trio. Within ten minutes, Sophia Smith opened the scoring at the back post from a Trinity Rodman cross.
The woman donning eye-catching pink braids who German magazine Kicker described as an “American pop star” caused their country issues throughout the first half with her pace down the right flank while Smith’s opener made her the sixth USWNT player to score a goal in both the Olympics and World Cup before the age of 24.
Under mounting pressure, the Germans found a release through fullback Giulia Gwinn pushing forward to score a wonderful long-range goal to equalize in the 22nd minute. Naeher would have wished to do better, getting little push-off on her attempted diving save, but it should take nothing away from Gwinn’s strike.
Regardless, the USWNT generated an immediate response through Swanson who tapped in a rebound off the save following Smith’s top-of-the-box shot. Give credit to Swanson for continuing her run by crashing the goal, which her defender did not, ensuring she would be first to the loose ball. Of course, none of it would have occurred without the initial fight from Smith, pushing off her German defenders to get off the shot attempt.
With the goal, Swanson became the second player in USWNT history to score three goals in the group stage of a single Olympics tournament alongside Abby Wambach in 2012.
Before the half ended, and immediately following an injury to center-back Tierna Davidson, the USWNT was given a gift by the soccer gods after being recently punished.
As Smith took another shot from the top of the area, the ball took a wicked, looping deflection over German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger for a 3-1 halftime lead.
Still getting credit for the goal, Smith became the third USWNT player to score multiple goals in a competitive match against Germany with both previous women (Carin Gabarda and April Heinrichs) doing so in the 1991 World Cup semifinal – ironically the same stage at which the USWNT last faced Germany in a competitive match back in 2015.
Just three halves into the Olympics, the USWNT’s six goals were already tied for the second-most in an Olympic group stage ever for the team (eight in 2012).
For most of the second half, manager Emma Hayes trusted her starting lineup (bar Davidson) to see out the three points but eventually substitute Lynn Williams made it seven group stage goals — becoming the first team to put four past Germany in a competitive match since the 2008 Olympics semifinal — to put a bow on the USWNT win.
In turn, the new USWNT boss passed her first major test at the helm with flying colors, reminding fans of what a dominant team feels like against fellow global powerhouses. A good omen for their chances moving forward; the winner of each of the last five tournament meetings between the USWNT and Germany has gone on to win the entire tournament. Needing a draw to win Group B, the USWNT will now aim to get the job done on Wednesday in their final group stage match against Australia.
I don’t think it’s a big mystery as to why the USWNT suddenly look so much better than they did… it seems like the same cast of players but it really hasn’t been that often that Smith, Swanson and Rodman have gotten long stretches of playing time together. Until recently Morgan regularly started and they’ve been testing lots of different options out…Shaw, Ashley Sanchez, Alyssa Thompson, Macario, Williams, Midge Purce, not to mention the changing cast of characters in the midfield. Barely a year ago they were still regularly running out Rapinoe. And on the tactics side, they finally seemed to embrace the idea that it’s ok to be direct when opportunities arise. Now if they can just keep the pendulum from swinging too far in the direction of full-time kick and chase. Finally, the back line seems to have gelled somewhat with Girma, Davidson and Sonnett working well together.
and I love the pic of Coach above!! oh yeah
great comments, super fun match to watch, loving Coach Hayes
would add hats off to Rodman for not picking up a yellow. Horst wanted it badly, baiting her, seemed he truly believed she’d crack and pick it up, but she didn’t and she played great
Swanson is the difference in so many ways. she is that dynamic presence imho that unlocks in the continuous situation solving in all phases just like she was doing before, and it’s wonderful to see her expressing herself so freely again. subtle side effect is how Lavelle can use more energy defending and positionally defensively in the midfield, and she did that vs. Germany very well I thought
they are getting around the flanks and delivering more accurate service as opposed to whacking hopeful balls in. they are also varying the runs in width and depth or dummying the ball where we’re not just passively standing in lines waiting, and you can’t just collapse on the 9.
if you noticed, horan wasn’t playing 10, she was playing more like a DM. i thought she was vulnerable and sometimes caught in possession but if you want you can trade that off for her ability to hit a home run pass. i personally think that’s big chunk of it magically seems like this moves faster. i said a year ago why have fast wings but a slow as molasses 10 to bring it up.
we have had some issues with footspeed on counters but they recover ok, we’ve allowed 1 and the other game in the group went 6-5.
a wonderful game to watch! Our USWNT is rolling right now led by that attacking 3 up front in Swanson, Smith and Rodman. The pace, strength on the ball to hold off defenders and how relentless they are has been really impressive!
This team looks great! The movement off the ball is where I see the biggest change from the WC. It’s just not as stale and predictable. Whether it’s the system finaling settling in or maybe it’s the weight of games that count but the team is playing with more focus and enthusiasm while both games have been played to higher level than the previous games under Hayes and even during the Twila era. The players have been more on point with passes and touches and decisions (than I remember for years!) which will make any system look better than when those basics are not being done well. Spain and England I’m sure took notice of this result and how it was accomplished.
if you want to flank the team with speed it’s different if you let the defense get back or not. i have been advocating get back and counter for the men, along similar lines. we have weah and some 9s who can get behind a defense but if you bring up the ball slowly the defense gets well back. so to me, like the women, sit back more, egg opponents forward, then counter into the space behind them.
Haven’t seen the team attack like that since 2019. So much pace in attack matched with skill. Keep working hard ladies.
Trying to reserve judgement and opinion until after the tourney but wow was that an impressive game from the USWNT. They were under fire in the first 10 minutes, but that first goal changed everything, and it was a beauty. The kind of perfectly executed counter I have been dreaming about for the men. And most of the players out there are the exact same ones that have been strugging to score for the last couple years. Mal Swanson instead of Morgan is the only real player change, and her runs definitely made a difference. If changing coaches can make this kind of difference, it brings me hope for the men’s side.
A healthy Lavelle makes a difference too. Just think if Macario hadn’t gone done pre-Olympics
The crazy thing is we haven’t even seen Jaeden Shaw yet, and if they would have integrated Croix Bethune sooner the midfield and attacking options would be even scarier. Croix has been suiting up the last 2 games but has yet to any minutes, maybe we get to see her vs Australia where changes will have to be made to rest the starters!
The USWNT has such a confident demeanor, from the players, and now this coach, she is very good, and probably besides herself that she gets to coach such an amazing group of women.
The expectations are nice, because it’s all about winning. Winning the next game, and then going on to win the whole thing, every time out. It’s a little ironic, and excuse the metaphor, but there is no pussy footing around with this women’s team. They are smart, they play hard, and they look to be ruthless in this tournament.
If these traits start rubbing off on the men’s side, the USMNT can do amazing things as well, in this Olympics. It does start by winning tomorrow, and putting pressure on France, for top spot in the group. As a bonus, USA get to see who places where in group B before our game even starts. Morocco, looks primed to take the top spot in group B, and Argentina looks a little susceptible against Ukraine. Either way, we are well positioned to advance, and make our own history. Hopefully the men are taking note of the women’s games.