The U.S. ladies’s nationwide group kicks off their closing preparations for the Olympics on Saturday after they face Mexico at Purple Bull Area. The assembly marks a rematch from the group levels of the Concacaf W Gold Cup, when Mexico beat the USWNT 2-0. Although the sport was simply 5 months in the past, this model of the U.S. group feels very completely different from the one which misplaced in Southern California, each when it comes to personnel and confidence.
Head coach Emma Hayes, who was ending up her 12-year spell with Chelsea on the time, described that match as a wake-up name that helped the USWNT greater than it hindered the group as they proceed their quest to place the frustration of final yr’s Ladies’s World Cup behind them.
“In a lot of methods, I used to be all the time grateful for that outcome and efficiency, personally,” Hayes stated in her pre-match remarks on Friday. “Might interject and put in the best issues again into place. There is no shedding, there’s solely studying and I see there’s been plenty of that since then.”
Whereas assistant coach Twila Kilgore referred to as on a gaggle of veterans that day in what in the end grew to become a sink-or-swim check, Hayes will head to the Olympics with one of many USWNT’s youngest squads for a significant match ever. It’s that youthful however skilled squad who will probably be tasked with backing up the off-field optimism in latest months with on-field outcomes, the primary of which might come on Saturday.
This is what you want to know earlier than tuning in.
Easy methods to watch and odds
- Date: Saturday, July 13 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Purple Bull Area — Harrison, N.J.
- TV: TNT, Telemundo | Stay stream: Max, Peacock
- Odds: USWNT -800; Draw +650; Mexico +1600
Group information
Hayes introduced on Friday that midfielder Catarina Macario can be faraway from the Olympics roster with “minor knee irritation,” which she had coming into the pre-tournament coaching camp this week in New Jersey however worsened after the very fact. She will probably be changed by winger Lynn Williams, who was initially named as an alternate, whereas Emily Sams will be a part of the group as an alternate. The 25-year-old Sams has been within the NWSL for 2 years and at the moment performs for the Orlando Pleasure, and acquired her first call-up to the nationwide group for this camp. Hayes stated she is going to supply the group choices at middle again and out of doors again.
In any other case, Hayes has her full squad obtainable to her within the penultimate match earlier than the Olympics start. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is predicted to play her first match for Hayes after lacking the pinnacle coach’s first camp in June with a thigh damage however after that, it’s unclear how a lot experimentation Hayes will go for in opposition to Mexico. Hayes opted to rotate via her choices in June with roster spots on the road however could desire to land on a beginning lineup earlier than play in France begins on July 25 in opposition to Zambia.
Macario’s absence makes her attacking midfield position a battle between Rose Lavelle and Jaedyn Shaw, the latter of which is flexible sufficient to play as a large ahead. The USWNT are stacked within the latter place, with Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman arguably the frontrunners to start out there whereas Williams and Crystal Dunn are additionally choices. Mallory Swanson appears like the focus of the USWNT’s assault, although, and can little question get some enjoying time earlier than the group crosses the Atlantic.
Connecting the previous and current
Saturday’s match additionally doubles as a celebration of the 1999 group that gained the Ladies’s World Cup, who had been one of many first ladies’s sports activities groups to catch nationwide consideration and sometimes function a reference level for the group’s historical past of success. There will probably be a ceremony to have fun them at Purple Bull Area as a part of the ship off festivities for the present iteration of the USWNT.
Projected lineup
Alyssa Naeher, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Tierna Davidson, Jenna Nighswonger, Lindsey Horan, Sam Coffey, Trinity Rodman, Rose Lavelle, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson
Prediction
It feels as if the USWNT are in as sturdy a place as they are often earlier than the Olympics, so count on them to reveal simply that whatever the group Hayes selects in opposition to Mexico. Fluidity in assault continues to be one of many U.S.’ most blatant areas of enchancment however even when that’s nonetheless a piece in progress, there are undoubtedly sufficient targets on this group to maintain Mexico at bay. Choose: USWNT 3, Mexico 0
