Sun. Nov 24th, 2024
USWNT Zambia preview
Photo Credit: John Babiak

PREVIEW – During a day-long media event on the 8th of July in midtown Manhattan, New York, USWNT (United States Women’s National Soccer Team) captain, Lindsey Horan, focused her eyes on a sizable gaggle of reporters. She spoke clearly about her team’s intentions at the 2024 Summer Olympics, “We want a gold medal at the end of the day and that’s what we’re striving to do. This is a team that strives for excellence.”

Horan and her teammates have plenty to accomplish in order to bring home solid gold from Paris.

“We always want to be at the top of the podium at the end of the day. After the World Cup, we really regrouped and we’ve been working extremely hard over this past year and especially these last few months.”

“With Emma Hayes coming in and everything that she’s done and contributed, it’s a very exciting time. You look at the young players coming in, the leaders on this team, the big mesh of what we have, what you’re going to see and what’s in store for us is incredible.”

Horan is the top scorer on this roster with 35 international goals, followed by forward Mallory Swanson with 34, Dunn with 25 and Lavelle with 24.

During the 2020-2021 pandemic-delayed Olympics in Toyko, USWNT packed bronze medals in their are personalized carry on luggage. The team and staff then set out to redeem themselves at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia. The outcome was once again under welling, as the team recorded its first ever early exit from the tournament.

Today, with a younger roster, a new coach and associates, they embark on being crowned the world’s best.

Their Olympic opener in Nice will be the first meeting. Zambia ranks 64th in the FIFA woman’s table. This will be their second appearance in the Olympics. The Copper Queens also played in last year’s World Cup Tournament.

Zambia is led by striker Barbra Banda of the North American Women’s Soccer League Orlando Pride. Emma Hayes calls her, “The most in-formed striker in world football.”

During a training session in Marseille, Hayes reflected on the opportunity to coach the Lady Yanks and face Zambia.

https://twitter.com/USWNT/status/1816141902850449862

Colorado’s Sophia Smith was recently interviewed ESPN FC. She shared her preview of tomorrow’s match and preparing for the balance of win-or-go-home tournament.

The French Riviera’s Stade de Nice is the site of the ooening match. It was dedicated in 2016 and is home to French Ligue 1 club OGC Nice.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. MT. The USA Network, Telemundo and Peacock will broadcast the game.

After opening the tournament against Zambia in Nice, the USA will face Germany on July 28 (9 p.m. local / 1 p.m. MT). The USA will finish group play against Australia on July 31 (7 p.m. local / 11 a.m. MT) also at Stade de Marseille.

Germany and Australia will open Group B action on Thursday at Stade de Marseille (11 a.m MT) with the Matildas then traveling to Nice for a July 28 meeting with Zambia (11 a.m. MT). 

The Group B finale on July 31 features Germany vs. Zambia in Saint-Étienne kicking off simultaneously with USA-Australia. The top two teams from each group along with the two best third-place finishers will advance to the knockout rounds. 

Group A is comprised of hosts France, defending gold medalists Canada, Colombia and New Zealand while Group C features 2023 World Cup champions Spain, Brazil, Japan and Nigeria.

https://twitter.com/USWNT/status/1814643220573290787

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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