The manager of the US women’s national team, Emma Hayes, expressed her need for improved decision-making and execution in front of goal during the Americans’ final game before leaving for the 2024 Olympics versus Costa Rica.
Rather, she received a scoreless tie in which the USWNT took 26 shots and controlled 80% of the possession against a Ticas team that played in an extremely low block (4-2-3-1, or “Christmas tree,” as Hayes referred to it after the game), congested the channels, and required accuracy from the Americans that was never delivered. “Listen, if you play a game of percentages or law of averages, we’re creating more and more high-quality chances and we’re getting numbers into key areas, we’re getting touches in the key areas,” Hayes stated.
“The last part’s the hardest part. And I’m really patient, because I’ve coached teams that have to break blocks down, and it’s the hardest thing to do in coaching. If we didn’t create situations tonight, yeah, I might say something different, but I really love the intent of the team. We kept going with it.”
Even with the statistical advantage, the USWNT scored fewer predicted goals (1.82 against Costa Rica, according to TruMedia) than it did in the “last game” that Hayes was referring to—the 1-0 win over Mexico on Saturday.
The game on Tuesday took place in sweltering heat (106 degrees Fahrenheit was the heat index at kickoff), which is common for send-off games to elicit some unexpected performances from teams. However, the USWNT’s failure to produce a finished product during the previous 180 minutes is concerning since it serves as a reminder of issues from the past.
Before last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Americans had trouble connecting, and the problems that had been predicted in the lead-up to the competition materialized when the United States lost in the round of 16, which was its worst result at a major tournament.
