USWNT v Japan in April 2026, pre/pbp/post

I think part of that is necessity, but part of that is also Hayes' view of sustainability and developing players at the national team level. As a former teacher, I see a lot of what Hayes is doing as if this were a school - being able to get my students to excel as seniors meant I depended on the prior teachers having the same students excel. And that goes all the way back to kindergarten. I see Hayes looking at that in terms of U17 to U19/20 to U23 to senior team. Depending on how successful she is, it may be a model that is necessary to match with other national team programs (in other countries).

 

It's not a perfect analogy, but as I said previously, I am specifically talking about the development at NATIONAL team level. And, as I also said previously, they have to get to the national team level.
If I were to expand the analogy, it would be the student's development at home which is comparable to club development. But, again, it is not a perfect analogy.

I'm looking at this in two directions.

1 - When there is a volume in competition, that always raises the bar. It doesn't matter what the area is - soccer, basketball, gymnastics, biology, chemistry, physics, teachers, programmers, etc. But the true aspect of raising the bar is access*. We can spend many years talking about that (and I have talked about that in many places). Once there is access, unencumbered as much as possible, competition arises and the best of the best will get better. I follow track and field, and Usain Bolt is definitely the best sprinter ever. But there are a new group of youngsters, notably Gout Gout out of Australia, who looks like they are going to be better than Bolt. And that is what happens. In the case of US WoSo, that means there is an advancement of players. Keep in mind this is not perfect and I'm naming players off the top of my head while doing other things, but for midfield there is Michelle Akers, Pino, Lavelle (to get current), and who ever is the future, the likes of Moultrie and Yohannes, and then who ever is in the U10 grouping. I would argue that players like Lavelle and Yohannes currently are better than Akers only because they have 40 years on her (give or take) and have the benefit both her Akers' experience but also greater competition via numbers.

2 - The development of players goes way down and is very broad. We are talking dedicated clubs, or AYSO, or rec leagues, and more. That moves on to high school, but doesn't eliminate those others. The rise of professionalism of the players is lowering by age (the Thompson sisters became Nike sponsored while still in high school, as an example), and how that effects development also varies. Moultrie, as an example, was home schooled so she could focus on soccer. Other players do take different routes. What I think an academy system will do in this aspect is make recruiting of players to a club somewhat easier. Not sure of the current cost-benefit right now, but long term it makes sense financially, both in terms of bringing in players, but also club loyalty (both players and fans). One thing academies will do, somewhere down the line, is be able to reach players that otherwise would be excluded due to some kind of money issue. Right now, the volume (and lack of other sporting options at the same level) is so great that is not something being missed. But it will be, and that is a place where NWSL teams can step in.

* - How one defines access varies and takes into account many different aspects that range from money to encouragement to policy and many more parts.

 

Missed this earlier.

The ???? will be Girma, otherwise there is no captain. Yeah, maybe PJT by age, but not really a captain, and since this is Japan, I think Hayes will want somebody captain-experienced to lead the team.

Hayes did say that for the first match, she was playing the experienced team, and inferred the second match would be much different.
For example, we know Smith will not be starting. And I think it would be a surprise to see G Thompson starting.

More like corporate/private equity piranhas spending access money on soccer for an tax right off, or scam more out of parents lol[/QUOTE]

 

Staring lineup



I was wrong. I did not expect Hutton to be captain v. Japan. Lots of faith and recognition Hayes has in her.

 

Thought Reale was out injured for that set of matches. Just checked and found I was incorrect.

 

Eww, don't like the look of that jersey on the players.

 

Gonna take a bit to find Yohannes on the pitch since she doesn't have her trademark 'fro.

 

Japan is closing down Reale quickly, and that has caused problems.

 

Nice...finally released a runner and ended up with a good look out of it.

 

Will say, in the first 15 Japan has looked crisper overall. Hutton is also looking good. Also, if we can release players like just happened with Patterson, we will get a goal or 3 out that.

 

Conditions apart, TJ doesn't look as calm/comfortable as Dickey did. I mean with the ball at her feet.

 

Not playing as high pressure defense as we did on Saturday. Japan has too many touches on the ball and too many easy looks.

 

Yup. Predictable Japan goal. And came from Reale's side. She's not playing well today.