Sun. Nov 24th, 2024
USWNT Costa Rica USWNT Germany
Photo Credit: John Babiak

PREVIEW – The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) is poised to play its final match before the Paris Olympics tomorrow when they take on FIFA 44th-ranked Costa Rica at MLS Audi Field in Washington D.C. 

The match will complete a four-game Olympic preparatory campaign that was led by the new head coach, Emma Hayes. Her first match with the team was played in Dicks Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado against South Korea. The Lady Yanks were guided by another Coloradoan, Mallory Swanson, who scored two of the host team’s four goals.

The Yanks are coming off of an earned 1-0 victory over a pesky and downright determined Mexico side in steamy Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey on Sunday.

Colorado’s Sophia Smith scored the lone goal after she combined with Mallory Swanson inside Mexico’s box at the 64th-minute mark. 

The Real Colorado product now has 20 career goals and at 23 years, 337 days old, is the 11th player in USWNT history to reach 20 goals before turning 24/ She is only the second in the last decade after Mallory Swanson did so in 2022 at 23 years of age.

Tuesday’s match in Washington, D.C. will kick off at 5:30 p.m. MT. Broadcast coverage will be available on TNT, truTV, Universo, Max and Peacock.

During today’s press conference in Washington, DC. Hayes raised the “excessive heat warning” that has been issued by NOAA for tomorrow. Weather forecasters believe that the high will be 100 F and may only drop down to the mid-nineties at kickoff. 

“It’s perfect preparation for Marseille, it’s pretty hot down there,” Hayes said. “So this is a great opportunity for us to experience what we’re going to face. For me, that’s added value.” The weather in coastal France has been humid and stifling hot since July 1. 

The upbeat skipper also commented on Sunday’s performance in New Jersey. “Knowing the amount of possession the team had in the last game, the amount of control the team had — doing more with it, particularly in the final third was critical.” She added, “But we will face a different threat tomorrow, a different challenge, so adapting to that and just keep building the connections between each other are the main things.”

Costa Rica brings in an exceptional team. They played in last summer’s World Cup Tournament. Drawn into Group C in 2023, Costa Rica played the entirety of its group stage in Australia and finished fourth in its group, which featured Zambia, Japan and defending World Cup champion Spain.

Heading into tomorrow’s game, Captain Lindsey Horan is the top U.S. scorer with 35 international goals. She was followed by forward Mallory Swansonath at 34, Dunn at 25, and Lavelleath at 24.

Horan also leads the U.S. with 848 total minutes played in 2024, followed by Sam Coffey (767), Alyssa Naeher (750), Emily Fox (725,) and Tierna Davidson (720).

Soon after the game, the entire team and staff will jettison to the France, where they’ll open up their training camp.

They will embark on their journey to win a medal on July 25, one day before the Olympic Opening Ceremonies in Paris. They will open against Group B rival, Zambia, at Stade de Nice in Nice. 

Zambia defeated Morocco 3-2 on aggregate in the two-leg playoff in CAF Qualifying in April to secure the 12th and final spot in the Olympic field and recently tied New Zealand 1-1 in a Pre-Olympic friendly.

After opening the tournament in Nice, the Americans will play in Marseille for their second match at Stade de Marseille. They will face FIFA 4th-ranked Germany on July 28. The USA will finish group play against Australia on July 31 at Stade de Marseille. The Aussie’s rank 12th in the FIFA table.

Located near the Mediterranean Sea, Nice is nearly 600 miles from Paris near France’s border with Monaco and Italy. Marseille, located 125 miles west of Nice, is the second-largest city in France. It is also located on the Mediterranean.

The top two teams from each group along with the two best third-place finishers will advance to the knockout rounds.

U.S. OLYMPIC WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM ROSTER:

GOALKEEPERS (2): 18-Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), 1-Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (6): 12-Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC), 2-Emily Fox (Arsenal FC, ENG), 4-Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), 6-Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), 13-Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC), 14-Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

MIDFIELDERS (4): 3-Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), 17-Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), 10-Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA), 16-Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

FORWARDS (6): 7-Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC), 5-Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), 15-Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), 11-Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), 9-Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars), 8-Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)

ALTERNATES (4): 20-Croix Bethune (Washington Spirit), 22-Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), 19-Hal Hershfelt (Washington Spirit), 21-Emily Sams (Orlando Pride)

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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