It took less than a minute after kickoff for American fans to start chanting “I believe we will win” from the stands in Marseille. That in itself isn’t too out of the ordinary — it’s one of the usual rallying cries of those who worship the U.S. women’s national team — but there was a vigor to Wednesday night’s chant that had a valid, renewed, performance-based justification. . .
A year ago, on August 1, 2023, the USA played out a goalless draw with unknown Portugal in their final World Cup group stage game, fortunately progressing to the knockout stages with difficulty, with five points in three matches. After three group games at this 2024 Olympics, in a group that theoretically contains higher caliber opponents than 12 months ago, the USA won the group impressively, with a maximum of nine points under new coach Emma Hayes . But more than that, they topped the group with a style of play that seems unrecognizable from that fateful tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
During the turgid and nervy 0-0 draw with Portugal in 2023, it was the Portuguese who controlled the ball, with the USA having just 43.8% of possession. The contrast between that and Wednesday’s performance was as striking as the vast rows of disappointingly empty seats in the upper tiers of Marseille’s Stade Velodrome. Hayes’ fingerprints are already all over the team. The USA had 71.7% of the ball possession 2-1 victory over Australia and displayed a fluidity on the ball that was completely absent at the World Cup.
This ball dominance was in part due to Australia’s setup, of course, with the Matildas opting for a low defensive block, 5-2-3 without possession, which was never going to be easy for the USA. discrimination. But this is something Hayes is used to facing, as her former Chelsea team regularly play against weaker teams in the English Women’s Super League. The cohesion between the American midfield and the three forwards will have encouraged the North American team to claim that they have the quality to break through rigid defensive lines – and often surpass the Australians.
It was by no means perfect. Manchester City centre-back Alanna Kennedy – deployed by the Matildas as a makeshift striker for the final throw of the dice – could and probably should have leveled the game at 2-2 in second-half stoppage time. And there were times when the US seemed to be overwhelmed too easily. By the same token, however, Hayes’ team could easily have won by a wider margin; Lindsey Horan saw a header hit the post, before Sophia Smith was unlucky not to score when her deflected shot hit a post, bounced along the line and hit the far post.
Shortly after the final whistle, Eurosport television cameras, situated near the Americans’ post-match huddle, managed to capture some of what Hayes said to his players. The 47-year-old praised her players for showing “character” in seeing off an injury-time winner under late pressure, but then added audibly: “There was a gulf between the two teams.” In terms of quality, there certainly was.
In bringing their number of goals this campaign to nine, the USA have already scored more than double what they scored in their entire failed 2023 World Cup campaign (four goals), having played fewer matches. The three dynamic forwards Smith, Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson – with an average age of just 23.7 years old – will scare opponents. Smith created five chances and had eight shots on goal, a symbol of a reborn team.
Although historically the most successful women’s international team, there have often been reasons beyond tactical and technical qualities that have explained the USA’s past dominance in important honors, such as its formidable winning mentality, its greatest crop of classy players or its predecessor- superior facilities and financing, as well as what often seemed like a physical advantage. Old U.S. teams often looked faster, stronger and more athletic. Nowadays, women’s football has evolved. In Spain, the sport has world champions who are truly Technically talented throughout the cast, and a production line of skilled young talent waiting behind them, who are winning every competition going on. Beating Spain at these Olympics or the 2027 World Cup would be requires something special.
Hayes’ new era will still need more hard work, but the early signs are that they are on the right track. Before any medals will come a tough quarter-final against Japan, a team Hayes has long admired for their quality in possession. This comparison should offer an even more accurate analysis of the changes the US is making.
