The US will play Germany in the semifinal on this Tuesday, August 6. The game will be at 12 pm ET (6 pm local time) in Lyon at Stade de Lyon. It will be shown on USA Network, Telemundo, and Peacock. The US and Germany have already played each other once this tournament, with the US beating Germany 4-1. I wouldn't expect a similar scoreline this time. Before this tournament, the last time the US had played Germany was in 2 home friendlies at the end of 2022, with the US losing one of those 1-2 and winning the other 2-1. While they've faced each other multiple times in WWC's, in the Olympics, the US has played Germany only one other time in previous Games: in the 2004 semifinal with the US winning 2-1 in extra time. (As a bit of trivia, in 2004, the US beat Japan in the quarterfinal, beat Germany in the semifinal, and then won gold by beating Brazil. I don't want to look too far ahead, but we could see a repeat of opponents.)
Shaw was available for this last game, but didn't come in (nor did I ever see her warming up with the subs during the game). Davidson apparently was almost back for the quarterfinal game. I expect to see them both available for the semifinal. I haven't seen an update on Fox.
I assumed Shaw was rostered because the US was out of alternates and Coffey was suspended. So might as well sit with the team even if she can’t physically go instead of an empty chair in the bench. Was that not right? Good to hear about Davidson.
No, Bethune was the alternate who was rostered on previous matches when Shaw was out, and Bethune could have continued on the roster if Shaw couldn't play at all. Instead, Bethune went back to the alternate list and Shaw was rostered. Also we're not out of alternates: Hershfelt hasn't been named to a game-day roster yet (nor has the alternate goalkeeper, Campbell, but that's not a surprise).
Speaking of Hershfelt and Campbell, if we medal, normally alternates don't receive one. However, with the different roster rules in this tournament, I would think every player who has been on a game-day roster would receive one. But what about an alternate who is never named to a game-day roster? Some of the journalists reporting on the rule change made it sound like they would, but I don't remember the document about the roster rule change saying anything about it.
Wow also wouldn’t that 2004 Olympics have been Marta’s debut on the Brazilian national team when she was a teen? If Brazil upset Spain and make it to the gold medal match, that would be some fascinating bookend to her career.
I'm just thankful that GER beat CAN in the QF's so that we can avoid our northern rivals and all of their spying controversy, and play a team that we've already beat once in this tourney and who didn't exactly look super powerful. That said, my main concern is that our quality level may have gone down a notch, largely due to collective fatigue (physical & mental), since Emma has barely rotated at all to combat this fatigue. The one area of the pitch were you could've argued it makes sense to not rotate is the back 4. But as luck would have it, we seem to have lost 2 stalwarts there. Assuming that Fox is out for this tourney and probably Arsenal too (pray I'm wrong) and that Davidson, even if she plays, won't be 100%.
If Fox, TD, and Shaw are out .... Smith ----------Mal------------Trin ----------Rose--------Lindsey -------------------Coffey Dunn----Naomi--------Sonnett---------Casey We can sub in Nighswonger at LB, or AM. We can sub in Korbin at DM or AM. Lynn at any of the forward spots I Also We're not playing a 4-4-3. Crystal sets up way higher than Fox. It's more like ----------Smith ----------Mal------------Trin ----------Rose-------------Lindsey Dunn ----------------------Coffey ---Davidson--------Naomi------------Fox Trin is playing way wider than Smith. Dunn is doing close to the same thing Trin is. Dunn doesn't get up to the endline the way Trin does, but she provides offensive width. And, Trin is doing a ton of defending back. Dunn and Trin are playing damn near the same position. Like, compare the number of times Trin has been in our box defending compared to Smith. That's not a knock on Smith, just pointing out that her role and Trin's role are different.
If Emma wants to continue to build out of the back with three seems like you need nighswonger for that. Can nighswonger play RB?
Nighswonger is a lefty whose game is predicated on her left footed service. I do not think she is a fit for right back. Kruger is a much better 1v1 defender too and Germany has a very good left winger. I would go with Kruger all day at right back. Personally I think Kruger is the best true defender on the team.
Will she build out of the back line? I thought she was a little susceptible to the press. Maybe coffey’s return helps so that she doesn’t have to.
Of one thing I am certain, and that is that Germany will not play a low block strategy. I love the Germans, because they like to play an open game. They will make adjustments; it won't be another 4-1 match. I could see a 2-1 or 3-2 result with these two teams. It will be exciting football at the very least.
I follow the Germans and my intuition would be they’ll bunker down time & try to go more for the PK shootout(they’re really good at it as 4 out 5 hit their target vs Canada). But bunker style didn’t really suit them as they got completely out played by Canada as well; twice Ashley Lawrence took them on 1v4, got passed them but alas, her final shot failed her—-the US sharpshooting trio would most likely would of scored on those chances given(especially on Leon’s ridiculous easy chances). So you could be right in thinking that ‘a good offense is the best defense’(but gamble with Las Vegas style offense failed miserably the first time around as their back was completely exposed) One thing they’ll do is try & be way more physical out there—something that(if I go by live game posts) the US can get squirmish about it & thus could turn in their favor the battle of attrition. Watch out for their icon. Popp, one of the best divers in woso. Perhaps not the quality of Ariel Robben’s slowly, machined gunned to death, dives—but still dramatic, blown sky high by a grenade—and as you well know refs tend to show their best I-rather-an figure skating judge, and reward brilliant performances by handing an yellow or red to whoever standing closest to them. the penalty box is especially minefield territory for Popp. My avatar gal. Jule Brand, got the tireless & endless legs to keep on running upfield all 120 minutes if needed & will try & get as many corners as possible, where they’ve looked a bit more dangerous. Whatever style Germany uses, Hayes should try for an early goal as it would unhinge their cleverly, but the ever more pacing Emma probably will probably conserve energy till later when the other side leaves their guard down
Is any team in this tournament comfortable letting our attacking threesome roam free?? In the post above about Kruger better able to handle the left winger of Germany... Well, who on Germany's team, can handle Mal, or Smith or Trin one on one right now?
they’ve got two crafty, attacking FB’s, but they’re defending skills is generally subpar even when low blocking So I don’t think Germany’s going to win either by low blocking or more adventurous high lining. What they’ll probably will attempt to is frustrate US with a lot of fouls and/or lure the refs into calling fouls against us…par Popp’s excellence diving skills
From Meg Linehan in The Athletic, a few minutes ago: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5681488/2024/08/05/uswnt-emma-hayes-players-training/ USWNT’s Emma Hayes says all players trained ahead of Olympics semifinal: ‘It’s a great sign’ "The U.S. women’s national team has been weathering the wear and tear of the Olympics, but ahead of a semifinal match against Germany on Tuesday, everyone was in training."
Focus, focus, I hope they keep the focus. France can be distracting. Furthermore Germany wants to win very badly.
And where will she be playing? If they stick her in the middle again, she won't have much opportunity to dive. I thought Nusken looked terrible up front (yeah, she got an assist, but still...). I figure they will move her back to the middle for this match and Popp will go back to the front.
Popp’s taken over the injured Oberdorf’s defensive mid job. . Schuller is currently their starting striker