With one group stage match remaining, the U.S. Women’s National Team advanced to the 2024 Olympic quarterfinals courtesy to their thrilling 4-1 victory against Germany in Marseille on Sunday.
The highly anticipated Group B matchup between the two most decorated countries in women’s soccer was largely determined by the American front three of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson, who each scored a goal or provided an assist for the second straight game.
In the first-round matchup with Australia, the USA (2W-0L-0D; 6 points) will know that they have advanced to the quarterfinals on August 3. To advance to the knockout stages are the top two teams from each four-team group as well as the top two finishers in third.
First to guarantee their place in the knockout stage are the United States and Spain, the reigning World Cup champions, who defeated Nigeria 1-0 today. The United States enters the match with a plus-6 goal differential, Germany is at even, and Australia is at minus-2. This means that even if they lose, they might still win the group and proceed to Paris. A win or a draw against the Australians will secure first place in the group.
There aren’t many more difficult group stage matches than the one at the Stade de Marseille, where the fifth-ranked Americans and fourth-ranked Germans faced each other for the sixth time in an Olympics or Women’s World Cup. Each of the previous five games took place in the knockout stages, with the winner of the most recent one being the USA in the 2015 Women’s World Cup semifinal. Both teams were hoping to capitalize on their first-round triumphs and maybe guarantee their spot in the quarterfinals on Sunday in the south of France.
In light of this, U.S. head coach Emma Hayes started with the same lineup that against Zambia 3-0 on July 25, but with Lindsey Horan positioned a little bit deeper in midfield next to Sam Coffey. In the fourth minute, Germany came dangerously close to taking the lead when their explosive forward Jule Brand intercepted a misdirected back ball. Then, she found a wide-open Lea Schüller, whose point-blank attempt was stopped by a vigilant Alyssa Naeher. It was the first of the American goalkeeper’s multiple crucial saves of the game.
The USA will now try to lead the group. The USA will play Australia, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup host and semifinalist, at the Stade de Marseille on Wednesday, July 31 at 1 p.m. ET on USA Network, Universo, and Peacock to wrap up the group stage. In a crazy game earlier on Sunday in Nice, the 12th-ranked Matildas (1W-1L-0D) upset Zambia, 6-5, to remain in the tournament.
Author: Quique Lopez
Quique Lopez doesn’t just cover soccer—he deconstructs it with the precision of a veteran and the wit of a storyteller. A former player who sees the pitch as both a tactical chessboard and a cultural stage, Quique balances sharp critiques with a genuine love for the game’s soul. He’s as quick to call out the ego of a superstar as he is to find the hidden beauty in a local derby.