Pre Match Notes

After an underwhelming performance against Japan in the Olympic Quarterfinals, the U.S. Women’s National Team still managed to come away with the win, thanks to Trinity Rodman’s goal in extra time. Now, the USWNT is set to face Germany again in the Olympic Semifinals. The U.S. has already played Germany in the group stage, and were able to come away with a 4-1 win.

Likewise, Germany was also able to win their quarterfinal match against Canada. The match would go into extra time, with both sides failing to score any goals. Germany would eventually win 4-2 on penalties. Much like the the U.S.-Japan match, Germany’s performance against Canada, while exciting and hopeful at times, was still underwhelming and lacking.

U.S. Women’s National Team

Many fans found the U.S.’s match against Japan frustrating to say the least. Despite the U.S. having most of the possession, the team failed to do anything with it. It appeared as though the U.S. was playing it too safe, mainly passing the ball around the backline and struggling to progress the game (this would lead to boos being heard throughout the stadium). There was a lack of control in the midfield, with Japan appearing to overwhelm the U.S. in the central midfield. Lindsey Horan, instead of dropping back to support and reclaim control, was more concerned with getting involved in the attack.

When it comes to this match against Germany, some fans are questioning the U.S.’s ability to face Germany this time around, given their questionable performance against Japan. Truthfully, the U.S. may still fair better than this German side, since the midfield is something Germany has been struggling with. If the U.S. is more aggressive in this match, they will be able to control and dominate the midfield. In their first meeting, the U.S, had no problem getting forward, and breaking through the German backline. The team was able to take advantage of many gaps in the German defense. As long as the U.S. can maintain control and keep up their attack, the team should have no issue finding the back of the net.

Sam Coffey will also return to the midfield after her one game suspension due to yellow card accumulation. Coffey will be able to provide better stability in the midfield; however, it’s still important for Horan to drop back and support the midfield, especially if the U.S. finds themselves getting overwhelmed, and not able to progress or get forward. While Germany’s midfield may have struggled against Canada in the second half, and in extra time, the German midfield is still very dangerous, and not something this U.S. team can take lightly.

Germany Women’s National Team

Germany, in their match against Canada, did well at the start, able to maintain control, and get their attack forward. They created a few good chances here and there, but at times the attacking players struggled to connect and finish. On the upside, Germany’s defense was on point with the team being able to hold off Canada’s attack until the very end.

However, what hurts this German side the most is their inconsistency. It’s hard to get a read on this team. In one game, the team can connect, score and dominate a match. In another game, the attack is struggling to connect and put away their chances. Germany could defend really well in one game, but the backline could completely fall apart in the next. If Germany wants to be successful in this match, there needs to be more consistency in the backline, midfield and attack.

For this match, Germany may need to rotate the backline. The team needs to defend their wings and make sure to close down any gaps in the defense. In their first meeting with the U.S., the German backline struggled to keep up with the U.S. attack. Starting Sara Doorsoun or Bibiane Schulze Solano, in place of Marina Hegering and Kathrin Hendich, could help in shutting down attacking players like Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson.

When it comes to Germany’s midfield and attack, while the team has plenty of strong attacking options, it’s going to come down to whether the midfield and attack will be able to create better plays, and connect better in the attacking third. Additionally, there needs to be good movement and control in the midfield, as well as good connection and support in the box. Germany in this game, has a lot of challenges ahead of them, but whether they’ll be able to take them down as a team, is still up in the air.

Line Up Notes

Germany Women’s National Team

Starting Eleven: We have Ann-Katrin Berger in the goal. For defenders Kathrin Hendrich, Marina Hegering, Felicitas Rauch, and Guilia Gwinn. In the midfield and attack: Janina Minge, Sjoeke Nüsken, Sydney Lohmann, Jule Brand, Klara Bühl, and Nicole Anyomi.

Alexandra Popp and Lea Schüller are both unavailable for this match. Popp is out due to an illness, and Schüller is out due to an injury. It goes to show how important rest and rotations are. Popp and Schüller have started in every game since the Olympics and now both of these players are out for this game. It should not take players getting sick or injured in order for there to be rotations, especially given that there are other players on Germany’s bench who are fit and can play.

It’s going to be interesting to see what Anyomi brings to this German attack, and how well she’ll connect with attacking players like Brand, Bühl, and Lohmann. Additionally, with Lohmann starting along side Nüsken, Minge, and Brand, we could see more forward movement from the midfield. It will still come down to whether the team will be able to maintain control.

When it comes to backline, no changes at all. It’s the exact same one from Germany’s first meeting with the U.S. in the group stage. This is the same backline that struggled to keep up with the U.S. attack. The same one the U.S. was able to break through without much challenge. One of the main things Germany needed to change for this match (and there was a lot) was the backline. Sara Doorsoun and Bibiane Schulze Solano might’ve been able to keep up with the U.S. attack a lot better than Hegering and Hedrich. Sarai Linder is also back from injury and could’ve managed the left wing, while also creating better chances for the attack. The question for this German side is: how can this backline and defense hold off the U.S. attack this time around after failing to do so the first time?

U.S. Women’s National Team

Starting Eleven: We have Alyssa Naeher in the goal. For defenders Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Crystal Dunn and Tierna Davidson. For midfielders Lindsey Horan, Sam Coffey, and Rose Lavelle. For forwards Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Mallory Swanson.

Substitutes: Korbin Albert, Casey Krueger, Lynn Williams, Jenna Nighswonger, Emily Sonnett, Jaedyn Shaw, and Casey Murphy.

Overall, it’s a good line up depending on how fit and healthy the team is. There are no changes to the midfield or attack, except for Coffey, who’s coming back from her one game suspension. Coffey has been solid in the midfield and will be able to provide good support and stability there. It’s great to see Davidson and Fox back with the team, but maybe these were two players that should be rested more. Davidson is coming back from a small injury, and there was some concern for Fox in the match against Japan where she down in extra time holding her knee.

The U.S. may face some challenge from the German attack, but it’s still likely that this U.S. side will have no problem maintaining control and possession. The attack will be able to get forward, and break through Germany’s backline. Germany’s backline is still the same from the group stage with Rauch, Hendrich, Hegering, and Gwinn. Germany’s left wing is where Rodman will be able to create multiple crosses and services. Germany also tends to leave too much space in their box, and if the defenders and midfielders are too focused on marking one player, like Rodman, it will allow other players like Swanson, Smith, or Lavelle to make runs into the box. Quick services, crosses, and touches will also benefit the U.S. as well.

First Half Notes

Germany Women’s National Team

Germany 0-0.

Germany is doing better than expected. The backline has been solid in this first half, with Hegering and Hendrich appearing to be on top of things. They’ve been doing well keeping up with the U.S. attack, and recovering possession. Berger also had some good saves as well.

For the most part there appears to be good back-and-forth between both sides. Possession and control is about even. Germany has been able to get their attack forward. There is good movement in the midfield with Brand and Lohmann, and they, in addition to the rest of the attack, were able to get behind the U.S. backline. Breaking through the U.S. backline hasn’t been easy for this German side, and despite getting forward they haven’t had many chances on goal.

Going into the second half, Germany needs to create more crosses, services and chances. Long balls and passes behind the U.S. backline could work well for the German attack. Connection in the box still isn’t there yet. The team also needs to maintain a strong defense. So far they have been solid in the defending department.

U.S. Women’s National Team

USWNT 0-0.

The U.S. is doing well. This is a much better performance from the U.S., when compared to their match against Japan. Coffey returning to the midfield is definitely noticeable. She’s recovering possession, getting forward, and connecting on build up plays. Both sides are split when it comes to possession; however, it appears as though the U.S. had more of it, and were creating more crosses and services. Rodman, Smith and Swanson were able to get forward, however, they are facing more of a challenge from the German backline. It doesn’t seem like Germany is going to allow them through as easily as before. Germany may have the U.S. attack figured out to some extent.

Going into the second half, the U.S. may need to up their pressure on the German backline. They were able to break through a few times in this first half, and as long as the U.S. can keep up their pace and attack, they should eventually be able to score.

Second Half Notes

Germany Women’s National Team

Germany 0-0.

Germany in this second half were doing well. They’re seeing more of the ball and creating plays, but unfortunately the attack falls apart once they reach the U.S. penalty area. They want to cross it all the time instead of taking shots on goal. This always leads to the U.S. defense being able to recover possession and get it out. Germany needs to make attempts on goal. The team needs to put more pressure on the U.S. backline.

U.S. Women’s National Team

USWNT 0-0.

The U.S. is doing all right. They need to maintain their pressure on the German backline. Control and possession is still almost even between both sides; however, the U.S. needs to keep getting forward, and creating more chances. Putting in Jaedyn Shaw could help the attack even more.

First Round of Extra Time Notes

Germany Women’s National Team

Germany 1-0.

The German defense must be getting tired. The U.S. was able to open them up in this first round of extra time. If Germany wants to tie things up, and take this game into penalties, the defense needs to hang in there. The attack has been getting forward but they’re still falling apart in the U.S. penalty area. There’s not enough connection or finishing. Even if the defense manages to keep it together long enough, the German attack is still unlikely to score.

U.S. Women’s National Team

USWNT 1-0

Goal Scorers for the U.S.: Smith (1).

Swanson would touch it up to Smith. Berger would come off her line to challenge Smith. Smith would chip it over Berger and the ball would go into the goal.

That was a great goal from Smith. The U.S. has been able to find openings in the Germany box. If the U.S. maintains their attack, they can continue to expose those openings, and try to get a safety goal. At the same time, the U.S. needs to defend in order to protect their lead.

Second Round of Extra Time and Closing Notes

Germany Women’s National Team

Germany lose 1-0.

This was a tough match and loss for Germany. Still, it wasn’t a totally bad performance from this German side. Compared to their group stage match against the U.S., Germany performed better in this meeting. There were a handful of good takeaways from this match. Germany’s backline and defense did better; they were able to keep up with the U.S. attack and recover possession. Hegering and Hendrich, who struggled in the earlier meeting with the U.S., performed well in this match.

As for Germany’s midfield and attack, they were able to control the midfield and get forward; however, the team was falling apart in the attacking third. This was either due to slow or questionable decision making. The team weren’t creating enough plays or chances, nor were they making attempts on goal, despite having goal scorers like Brand, Bühl, Anyomi, and Freigang. These attacking players need to be more confident.

Germany still has a chance to go for bronze, but they need to sort out their attack, and figure out what to do when they get into the box, as it’s still lacking when it comes to connection and finishing.

U.S. Women’s National Team

USWNT Wins 1-0

Goal Scorers for the U.S.: Smith (1).

Germany was definitely more challenging in this game. The U.S. had a much harder time breaking through the German backline. This was likely because Germany knew what to expect, and was more prepared. Despite possession being almost even, the U.S. still had the better chances. They were still getting forward and creating plays. The connection between Rodman, Smith and Swanson appeared to get better in extra time, as the German backline started to open up more, and the U.S. attack was able to create more chances. When compared to their match against Japan, this was a significantly better performance from the U.S. This is likely due to Coffey returning to the midfield, and providing good control and stability.

The U.S. will now head to the Olympic Finals where they will compete for a gold medal against either Spain or Brazil.