Paris: A rejuvenated United States team under new coach Emma Hayes is aiming for a record fifth soccer gold medal at the Paris Olympics but faces stiff competition, not least from World Cup holders Spain and their star-studded squad. .
The U.S. almost remains the biggest draw in women’s soccer despite disappointing recent results and the departure of several veteran stars.
They won gold when women’s football was introduced to the Olympics in 1996 and won three in a row in 2004, 2008 and 2012.
But they made the quarterfinals in 2016 and settled for bronze three years ago in Tokyo after losing to eventual champion Canada in the semifinals.
This was followed by a shock exit in the round of 16 at the World Cup a year ago in Australia and New Zealand, a disappointing end to the international career of the iconic Megan Rapinoe and a result that precipitated the departure of coach Vlatek Andonovský.
They arrive in Paris under the guidance of former England boss Chelsea Hayes, arguably the best coach in the sport.
In naming her squad for the Games, she made an impressive decision to leave out Alex Morgan, one of the leading players in the 2015 and 2019 World Cup-winning squads but now in his twilight years at the age of 35.
“Obviously it was a tough decision … especially with Alex’s history and record with this team, but I felt I wanted to go in a different direction and chose other players,” Hayes said.
It’s a younger USA team now, though players like Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith will benefit from experience gained at the World Cup.
The experience is still there, notably in the form of Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle, members of the team that won the World Cup in France in 2019.
The USA is in a difficult Group B with Germany, Australia and Team Zambia who are outsiders but boast exciting forwards Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji.
The format – with 12 teams in three groups of four – means the two best third-placed teams advance to the quarter-finals, providing a safety net in the event of a slip-up.
2016 gold medalists Germany will be looking to bounce back from their World Cup group stage exit but have lost key midfielder Lena Oberdorf to injury.
Australia will be hoping to build on their semi-final run at this World Cup on home soil, but they are without captain Sam Kerr, who is recovering from an ACL injury.
Spain, in Group C with Japan, Nigeria and Brazil, will be the ones to beat when they arrive in Paris with the stars who led them to World Cup glory 11 months ago.
Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, Alexia Putellas and Salma Paralluelo are outstanding stars who also won the UEFA Women’s Nations League this year and are now making their Olympic debuts.
“I’m sure a lot of people and teams see us as favourites, but this competition is a bit different,” Bonmati told Marca.
“We play a lot of games in a short time and against good sides, so it will be very difficult. But of course we have maximum ambition and we are going for the gold.”
Spain take on 2012 silver medalists Japan, who have World Cup top scorer Hinata Miyazawa in their side.
Nigeria are the highest-ranked African nation, while Brazil are two-time silver medalists and will be hoping to challenge legendary striker Marta again at the age of 38 in her sixth Olympics.
Meanwhile, France are aiming for big goals at home when they face reigning Olympic champions Canada, New Zealand and teenage sensation Linda Caicedo’s Colombia in Group A.
“The goal, like the goal of every French athlete, is to win a medal. It won’t be easy, but it has to be the goal,” said coach Herve Renard, who will leave after the tournament, which starts on Thursday and runs until August 10. The games will be played in France, the semi-finals in Lyon and Marseille. However, the match for the gold will be in Paris.
