Brazil v USA: Olympic women’s soccer final – live updates
Important events
6 minutes: Finally some attacking possession for the US, but it ends with a weak shot on goal from Sophia Smith from the edge of the box.
5 minutes: And the streak continues… the ball is played too far for Horan.
4 minutes: Mallory Swanson gets fouled – time to call out the US’s complete incompetence at free kicks for the first time today. I believe the stat NBC is quoting is one goal in four and a half years.
2 min: SHOT ON GOAL for Brazil. For the first time, Girma is beaten in central defence, although the real problem here was Crystal Dunn keeping Ludmila offside. The US are a bit lucky that the shot from 15 yards is right at Naeher and easily saved.
1 minute: If you hate bunkers/low blocks, we have good news: Brazil is going to continue the fight.
Joe Pearson writes: “Since Rose was wearing a compression sleeve on her left leg last time, I think your second reason is more accurate.”
It’s a bit surprising that Kerolin’s absence wasn’t highlighted in the lineup announcements.
The US has pulled out some striking blue shirts with red shorts.
We are on our way…
Number of medals: If you’re obsessed with medal counts, this is a very important match for the US. At least, if you’re one of those people who would rather reward China for being unbeatable in two sports (diving, table tennis) and thus winning 13 gold medals than for being good at all levels in a large number of sports.
China has jumped up the gold medal table. The US has plenty of chances to get back, but they will have to make the most of them. This match would be a good start.
If Brazil wins this, I doubt anyone will put this match in a medal count context. Brazil is easily the best team in the history of women’s football that never claimed one of the main prizes – the World Cup or the Olympic Games. They finished second in 2004, 2007 and 2008. Since then, their best performance has been fourth place in 2016.
Brazilian line-up
Again – NWSL MVP Kerolin is not in the lineup or on the bench.
Goalkeeper: Lorena (Gremio)
Defense (left to right): Tarciane (Houston/USA), Lauren (Madrid CFF/ESP), Thais (UDG Tenerife/ESP)
Midfield (left to right, presumably): Yasmim (Corinthians), Duda Sampaio (Corinthians), Vitoria Yaya (Corinthians), Captain Adriana (Orlando/USA)
Attackers: Ludmila (Chicago), Jhennifer (Corinthians), Gabi Portilho (Corinthians)
Wow, that’s a lot of players from one club.
Lauren was originally listed as an alternate.
American setup
Rose Lavelle sits on the couch.
Replay – Rose Lavelle, one of the best playmakers the U.S. team has ever had, is on the bench. Korbin Albert and Sam Coffey have been splitting time in the No. 6 role. Both will start today.
Is this a lack of confidence from Emma Hayes? Or does Hayes think that Lavelle, whose injury history reads like a Shakespearean tragedy, is not fit enough to play 120 minutes, and that she would rather bring Lavelle on in the 60th minute?
Everything else is to be expected.
Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher (Chicago)
Defense (from left to right): Crystal Dunn (Gotham FC), Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego), Emily Fox (Arsenal/ENG)
Midfield (roles yet to be determined): Korbin Albert (PSG/FRA), Sam Coffey (Portland), captain Lindsey Horan (Lyon/FRA)
Attackers: Sophia Smith (Portland), Mallory Swanson (Chicago), Trinity Rodman (Washington)
Queuing for the Gold Medal Match in Paris, our XI 🇺🇸#VSWNT X @Visa
— United States Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) August 10, 2024
Preamble
In 2008, during the women’s soccer final at the Olympic Games, I sat next to one of my colleagues in the press gallery and declared that the US had no chance of winning.
How could they? They were facing a Brazilian team that had run them off the field in the 2007 World Cup. Abby Wambach had broken her leg and missed the Olympics. Brazil was finally going to win its first world or Olympic championship.
But the defense held, Carli Lloyd scored in overtime and the US took gold again.
This time, the US should be the favorite. Brazil failed to get out of the group stage of last year’s World Cup after a 0-0 draw with Jamaica. The US defeated them 1-0 in the Gold Cup final in March, while tinkering with their lineups under an interim coach. Brazil barely made it through the group stage of this Olympics.
Last week, Marta’s career seemed doomed to end with the ignominy of a red card. Now it could end with an elusive championship — though she’s on the bench in the just-released lineups. Kerolin, the 2023 NWSL MVP, isn’t in the lineup at all.
But is Brazil the team of destiny this time? They have beaten France and Spain. The American attack has been inefficient in the knockout rounds.
Is it time for revenge – and a long-awaited gold medal for one of the greatest players women’s football has ever seen?
Beau will be there shortly. In the meantime, Karen Carney talks about today’s game:
At the start of the Olympics, few expected Emma Hayes to lead the United States to the final in Paris, just months after starting as coach of a struggling women’s national team. But she made an immediate impact.
My former Chelsea manager will be taking on Brazil – and one of my all-time heroes, Marta – in the gold medal match on Saturday. I am privileged to witness Hayes’ quest to become an Olympic champion. Some doubted what she could achieve in such a short space of time, but when I booked my seat months ago, there was a thought in the back of my mind that Hayes and the USA would be in the final. I suspected they would face Spain, but Brazil defeated the world champions convincingly in the semi-finals, showing just how dangerous the South Americans are.
I am sure Hayes would have welcomed the opportunity to learn more about her group of young and exciting players, but she always backs herself to reach the final and has quickly given confidence to a group who are enjoying their football after turbulent times. Winning is of course very useful, but creating the right environment has always been one of Hayes’ strengths.
Hayes has worked in the United States and with many Americans, so she is not a complete outsider and knows what makes people tick. Next to her is American Denise Reddy, her assistant for the last four years at Chelsea, so they have a good understanding of what they want to create, which has accelerated the process.
Below you can read the full article: