HARRISON, NJ -- The USWNT has failed to win the World Cup or Olympic Games since 2019, but they could soon claim victory in a major tournament: the Paris 2024 Olympics.
That is if they are more ruthless than they were against Mexico on Saturday during a 1-0 win.
The USWNT played their first of two matches ahead of the tournament, one they enter with high hopes. They controlled possession (71%) and outshot Mexico 17-3, but nine of their looks came from outside the box.
Eventually, forward Sophia Smith scored the game-winning goal in the 64th minute. But they will probably need to create and finish better looks to win gold in Paris.
“Maybe it was one touch too many, one pass too many, and overthinking it a little bit,” Smith said. “That comes from our first game with the national team in a while. The transition from club to national team is a little different. Sometimes, it takes a few games to get into that flow.
We don't lose confidence in each other. I'm going to keep passing to them every single time and vice versa. We believe in each other, and I know that the balls will eventually go in.”
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The group, led by manager Emma Hayes, is looking to return to tournament-winning ways following their most recent major tournament, which featured an early exit from the 2023 World Cup in the Round of 16 after losing to Sweden.
Following the World Cup, U.S. Soccer made a significant change, firing coach Vlatko Andonovski and replacing him with Chelsea manager Hayes.
However, the renowned manager arrived in late May, leaving her with a short run-up to the tournament. Also, Gotham forward Lynn Williams replaced Chelsea’s Catarina Macario on the Olympic roster. Macario experienced irritation in her right knee, making her unable to prepare physically for the tournament.
Despite Macario’s absence, the USWNT has plenty of firepower in the attack.
World Cup winner Rose Lavelle fills Macario’s role, bringing her creativity to the starting lineup. The forwards in front of Lavelle, Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, and Smith add tremendous skill and goal-scoring prowess.
But they have work to do.
“We were really dynamic with our movement in the first 15 [minutes] and second half. “Good rotations. Good decision-making. It's the execution, around the penalty box, and just a small details,” Hayes said.
Check to see where the goalkeeper is or check to see where you are in relation to the goal. And maybe just take an extra minute, an extra second. But I was really happy for Soph[ia Smith].”
Swanson returned to the USWNT lineup in June after missing the World Cup due to injury. She scored two goals in her first match against South Korea and had an assist.
The USWNT failed to find similar ruthlessness in the attack on Sunday but still found enough to claim victory. Lavelle, Rodman, Swanson, and Smith combined on the USWNT’s first goal.
Williams shared Smith’s faith that the goals would come soon.
“It is gonna take a little bit of time for us to click, but at the same time, we have world-class players and our ability to be immersed, 24/7,” Williams said.
Our job is to be on the same page and get the tactics down. So it's going to be great that we are going into a little bit of a bubble. We can do a lot of learning right now.
Sophia Smith makes it look easy 😮💨
— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 13, 2024
USWNT break the deadlock against Mexico!
Watch live on TNT, truTV and Max 📺 pic.twitter.com/8z3IkhpRBn
The USWNT plays again on Tuesday against Costa Rica. They will look to calm any potential concerns about goal-scoring before the Olympics.
Before Williams’ addition, the overall Olympic squad's average age was 26.8, making it the youngest team for the tournament since 2008.
A 22-year-old Tierna Davidson was the youngest player at the 2020 Olympics. The Paris squad has three players aged 22 and younger, including Rodman, who regularly starts on the wing.
The USWNT was shut out in their final two matches of the 2023 World Cup, arguably the two most important due to the potential for elimination. Against Mexico on Saturday, they created enough chances but missed the target.
The USWNT could struggle again if they fail to score like that in the Olympics.
“For the chances we created, we are not hitting the frame enough,” Hayes said.” That is something to add, but the momentum difference from the first to the second half was even bigger for us, much more control.
But I think we are only scratching the surface level.”