Knockout Stage Preview: The Best is Yet to Come!
With four highly anticipated games playing out tomorrow, here’s a snapshot of what to expect.
Gird your loins, folks! It’s officially time for some knockout stage soccer! Now that we’ve paid our respects to the group stage, it’s time to look ahead at what tomorrow’s quarterfinal games have in store.
USA vs. Australia
The USWNT took care of business in Wednesday’s final group stage game against Australia, coming away with a win and securing the top spot in Group B! Here’s a quick rundown of the game as it relates to what’s next in the tournament.
USA 2, Australia 1
USA:
Rodman (Smith) 43’
Albert 77’
AUS:
Kennedy 90+1’
Risk in Rotation
With the USWNT already through to the knockout stage before kickoff, Emma Hayes had the opportunity to rotate her starting XI for this one. But she didn’t!
There are two key factors that make this choice so surprising:
The Olympics’ particularly grueling tournament schedule takes a toll on players’ fitness. Finding appropriate games to mix up the lineup and rest key players is considered critical for knockout stage prep.
Both defensive center midfielder Sam Coffey and winger Trinity Rodman came into the game having each received a yellow card a piece in prior games. This meant if either received a yellow against Australia, they’d head to sit out the quarterfinal match due to card accumulation.
Hayes explained this call by emphasizing the importance of continuing to build connection and cohesion through consistency. This decision shows how much she values every minute this team has to build together, especially key players.
As fans, this mindset is encouraging in the long-term, but frustrating when it comes to strategy around this tournament. Coffey did, in fact, receive the dreaded yellow we were all worried about, just three minutes into the game. She will now have to miss the quarterfinal game, which is a major loss to our midfield. Luckily Trinity made it out unscathed. THANK GOD.
Player of the Match
Trinity Rodman – Rodman is very clearly the main spark in the US attack. She once again was the catalyst for our early momentum, driving at the Australian defense early and often. While not the most gorgeous goal she’s ever scored, her hunger to get her foot on the end of Sophia Smith’s header and power it over the line was essential. Scoring at the end of the first half after the frustration of playing against a parked bus, gave the US a chance to breathe and patiently control the game.
Game Highlights
Scoring a set piece goal – This is critical for tournament soccer, especially when it’s just not happening against a team that’s sitting back in a low block as Australia was.
Croix Bethune’s first minutes – We’re so happy for this rising talent who’s Olympics journey has been exciting to behold; from alternate, to the bench, to finally getting on the field. Not to mention her first pass was a beauty!
Rodman’s french braids – Putting her long pink braids into two french braids was a total power move— especially because it worked!
Emma’s Red Nails – Emma Hayes went full athleisure for game three, and, as we know from this very endearing video, is fully leaning into her American patriotism with those red nails, red USA zip-up, and blue pants.
Milestone Group Stage
We have to give a massive shoutout to this team, who (let’s be honest!) we worried a bit about going into this tournament. They not only did what they needed to do to get through the group stage, but they did so in historic fashion:
Scored 9 goals! The most in an Olympic group stage in program history.
Won all three group games for only the second time (2012) in program history.
Their +7 goal difference is the best for the USWNT in an Olympic group stage, ever!
Quarterfinal Preview
USA vs. Japan
Japan is So Julia
We said it in our tournament preview, and we’ll say it again: Japan is so Julia! They’re agents of chaos who can beat any team on any day, but historically have struggled to remain consistent throughout an entire major tournament. They come into this game with the wind at their backs, having won their last two games and scored six goals in the group stage. Their only loss so far was to Spain (1-2), however their win against Brazil required some extra time heroics. They were down 0-1 until the 92nd minute when they scored a PK to tie it up, followed by a long-range wonder goal for the win in the 96th.
Japan is a tactically sophisticated and clinical team, who are sure to have a solid game plan. We should expect them to target shutting down the USWNT’s attacking trio, and exploit our now Sam Coffey-less midfield. We might see them start in a “low block” just as Australia did, inviting the US to find space to play in their congested defensive half, and then pouncing on any errors to find attacking opportunities in transition.
The Sam Coffey Question
It’s ridiculous that we’re all expected to watch such an early game without any Coffey… (Sorry, we had to!) But the great thing about the Emma Hayes Era, is we know she’ll have a plan. What that plan is, exactly, remains to be seen. It’s possible the USWNT will be without the potentially still injured center back Tierna Davidson in addition to defensive center midfielder Sam Coffey. The issue here is both of these players have the same backup: veteran swiss army knife Emily Sonnett.
Davidson returning to the starting lineup following her knock against Germany would solve this problem, as it would enable Sonnett (who replaced Davidson in the back against Germany and Australia) to slot into Coffey’s role against Japan. But if she’s still sidelined, we’ll likely see Korbin Albert at holding mid (as disappointing as that would be).
It’s worth noting that while the USWNT’s midfield of Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, and Sam Coffey has been solid so far this tournament, they haven’t necessarily gelled as effectively as other players have. Even prior to this impending shuffle, many would have already considered the midfield to be US’s weakest spot on the field. Our fingers are crossed that Davidson is healthy, and that team leaders Horan and Lavelle are able to win that all-important midfield battle.
Head to Head
The USWNT last faced Japan on April 6th of this year in the SheBelieves Cup semifinal, coming away with a big 2-1 win. Japan scored in just the first minute of play, but the USWNT responded with goals from Jaedyn Shaw (we miss you, Jaedyn!) and a penalty from Horan late in the game to get the dub.
France vs. Brazil
France has been almost equally as shaky in the back as they’ve been prolific in their attack— scoring six goals and conceding four in the group stage. They’re clearly not infallible, which is what Brazil will be looking to exploit. Alas, they’ll have to do so without their all-time leading goal scorer and captain, Marta, who is serving a red card suspension.
We’ll be watching to see:
If France’s Marie-Antionette Katoto can add to her goal tally! The striker is on fire this tournament, scoring all but one of her team’s goals.
If Brazil is up to the challenge! Which one of their talented attackers will put the team on their shoulders and kickstart their attack?
Spain vs. Colombia
Colombia will come into this quarterfinal as the clear underdogs, facing up against the World Cup champs. That said, there’s no such thing as a sure thing in this tournament, and Spain will have to work for a win. While Colombia’s physical style of play is familiar to teams in our region, it’s more rarely seen in Europe, and has the potential to frustrate Spain’s beautiful Barcelona Ball.
We’ll be watching to see:
The incredible Mayra Ramirez back up top after serving a two game suspension for a red card in Colombia’s first game of the tournament.
Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas ball out for Spain in the midfield.
Canada vs. Germany
Get your popcorn out! This is the quarterfinal we’re most curious to watch. Will Canada have the energy to sustain their emotionally charged, point deduction-inspired run? Will Germany find the spark they need to compete with a top team in this tournament? These teams are equally matched and have a lot to prove. Either could come out on top!
We’ll be watching to see:
If Canada can get their attack back in scoring form. In the last two games they’ve relied on late-stage set piece heroics from center back Vanessa Gilles.
Which of these towering teams will win the battle of the set pieces!