Brazil vs USA: Olympic Women’s Football Final – Live Updates | Olympic Games Paris 2024
Important events
US lineup
Rose Lavelle sits on the bench.
Replay – Rose Lavelle, one of the best playmakers the US team has ever had, is on the bench. Korbin Albert and Sam Coffey have been splitting time in the No. 6 role. They are both in the starting lineup today.
Is this a lack of confidence on Emma Hayes’ part? Or does Hayes believe that Lavelle, whose injury history reads like a Shakespearean tragedy, is not fit enough to last 120 minutes and she would prefer to bring Lavelle on in the 60th minute?
Everything else is to be expected.
Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naheher (Chicago)
defense (from left to right): Crystal Dunn (Gotham FC), Tierna Davidson (Gotham FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego), Emily Fox (Arsenal/ENG)
midfield (Roles to be determined): Korbin Albert (PSG/FRA), Sam Coffey (Portland), Captain Lindsey Horan (Lyon/FRA)
Forward: Sophia Smith (Portland), Mallory Swanson (Chicago), Trinity Rodman (Washington)
Our eleven is lining up for the gold medal match in Paris 🇺🇸#USWNT X @Visa
— United States Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) 10 August 2024
preamble
Sitting in the press box next to one of my colleagues at the 2008 Olympic women’s soccer final, I announced that the United States had no chance of winning.
How could they? They were facing a Brazilian team that had swept them at the 2007 World Cup. Abby Wambach had broken her leg and missed the Olympics. Brazil would finally win its first World or Olympic title.
But the defense held firm, Carli Lloyd scored a spectacular goal in overtime and the USA won gold again.
This time, the USA will likely be the favorite. Brazil failed to advance from its group at last year’s World Cup after a 0-0 draw with Jamaica. The USA beat that team 1-0 in the Gold Cup final in March while tinkering with lineups under an interim coach. Brazil barely made it through the group stage at this Olympics.
Last week, Marta’s career seemed doomed with the ignominy of a red card. Now it could end with an elusive championship title – despite being on the bench in the just-released rosters. Kerolin, the 2023 NWSL MVP, is not on the roster at all.
But is Brazil the team of destiny this time? They beat France and Spain. The US attack was ineffective in the knockout rounds.
Is it time for revenge – and a long-awaited gold medal for one of the best players women’s football has ever seen?
Beau will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s Karen Carney on today’s game:
At the start of the Olympics, few would have expected Emma Hayes to lead the USA to the final in Paris, just months after taking over as coach of the struggling women’s national team – but she made an immediate impression.
My former Chelsea coach will face Brazil – and one of my all-time heroes, Marta – in the gold medal match on Saturday. I have the privilege of witnessing Hayes’ quest to become an Olympic champion in person. Some doubted what she could achieve in such a short time, but when I booked my place months ago, I secretly thought Hayes and the USA would be in the final. I suspected they would face Spain, but Brazil would beat the world champions handily in the semi-finals, showing just how dangerous the South Americans are.
I’m sure Hayes would have liked to hear more about her group of young and exciting players, but she is always confident of making it to the finals and has quickly instilled confidence in a group that is enjoying football again after a turbulent period. Winning obviously helps a lot, but creating the right atmosphere has always been one of Hayes’ strengths.
Hayes has worked in the US and with many Americans, so she is not a total outsider and knows what makes people tick. At her side is American Denise Reddy, her assistant for her last four years at Chelsea, so they have a good understanding of what they want to create, which has helped speed up the process.
You can read the full article below:
