USWNT Germany Preview: Rematch in the Olympics Semifinal

LYON, France – Following a nail-biting quarterfinals victory against Japan, Coloradans Lindsey Horan, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson are two wins from earning Olympic gold medals.

The United States advanced by besting Japan 1-0 in Saturday’s semifinal game. The win took 107 minutes to achieve. “They’re exceptional,” head coach Emma Hayes said after the grueling match. “Their block is the best in the world at doing that, in terms of the way they shift, the way they step, the way they read the rotations. They work their socks off.”

On the other side of the bracket, Brazil will face off with 2023 World Cup Champion Spain. Brazil upset tournament favorite France in their quarterfinal match, while Spain came back from a 0-2 deficit, then went on to outscore the Columbians 4-2 in a penalty shootout.

The undefeated Yanks will face Germany again on Tuesday in historic Lyon, where they hope to pick up where they left off. On July 28th, they handed Germany’s National Eleven a stinging 4-1 slap in the face.

The scoring trio of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson led the U.S. to a rather easy win. Each contributed either an assist or a goal. Meanwhile, Horan anchored the midfield. She more than adequately controlled the area between the boxes, and when her side was on attack, she fed Smith, Swanson, and Rodman, who went on to perform their per usual wizardry.

The hyped matchup between FIFA’s number 4 and 5 was the best that the Americans played in months. They had their way with the overwhelmed Germans right from the first whistle. 

Post-game, the can-do-it-all Smith said, “This is probably only game six or seven of us playing up front together. We’re clicking well, really fast. I think this is only like 70 percent of what we can do.” 

Germany ousted Canada 4-2 on penalty kicks in their quarterfinal match.

The U.S. leads the overall series with Germany 24W-5L-7D, including a 5W-1L-0D advantage in meetings at the World Cup and Olympics. 

The USA and Germany played in two friendlies at the end of 2022, splitting the matches in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. and Harrison, N.J. Germany won the first of the two meetings 2-1 in November 2022. The U.S. closed out the 2022 campaign with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory.

Regardless of the outcome of the semifinal showdown, the U.S. will continue to play. A loss will send the Americans to the bronze medal game on the 9th. More so, another win over send the Stars and Stripes to Parc des Princes to play the winner of Brazil and Spain on August 10 and a chance to return stateside with much sought-after gold medals around their necks.

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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