And to think Crystal Dunn was seen by many as a player that was no longer a starter, or dare I say "past it"! Shes arguably been just as critical as Girma to the teams success and should probably be on the team of the tournament when its all said and done....give CD her 💐
Horan has been absent in this tournament. Our set pieces are very poor. midfield is slow, lots of turnovers, rare pass throughs. Swanson, Girma, Alyssa has saved this team. Had hoped for us to play Spain because they beat us 2-0. But it's such a fairytale scenario to see Marta not only guaranteed a medal, but try for gold against a historically titan USWNT
Horan is too slow now with no first step quickness. That is why she lost possession all the time. Bethune should start in her place. But that won’t happen in the final.
Germany was tactically smart and tried to use our high press against us by pulling attackers towards berger, then she'd blast it up to try and catch us off numbers. that led to almost every one of their opportunities and I think we were pretty lucky that Brand got switched over to the right around the same time Davidson came out.. I love sonnett's spirit, endurance, and willingness to do anything for the team, but *especially* against Portilho I would prefer to Krueger with her one-on-one defending skills subbed into that CB spot
Swanson, Smith, Rodman and our back line and goalie are going to bring home the gold! USA doesn't even have a midfield. It's amazing goalie, amazing back line, absent midfield, amazing frontline.
So torn over this approaching Final, Brasil is my heart's desire for Marta and the long term effect it has on women sports in South and Central America. Our USA team is great but the social ripples in countries seeking funding and respect for a Brasil win..... so torn on this outcome. Still miss Debinha on the roster.
Great analysis!!!... I'm here in France and have attended every USWNT game. I got my ticket to the Gold Medal Match for Saturday, and I'm excited. Was also able to get to the CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Brazil, and I'm looking forward to this rematch on the Olympic stage. It will be a tough contest for our USWNT.
The midfield is messy, but due only to poor play from our 10. Coffey is solid imo. Rose is great but only so much she can do when you don't get fluid and consistent play from Horan. Love her, but this has been her worst tournament with the USWNT. I wanna see Rose at the 10.
Brazil will be fascinating test Hayes coached team hasn’t faced. They will press US hard and high, forcing fast decisions and accurate passes. How we handle that high pressure will decide the game.
Horan's time with this team is running out. Honestly, she needs to be benched and Girma must get the captain's arm band. Emma Hayes must expand the player pool after this tournament : our midfield is in shambles.
Horgan looked pretty good in group stage, but by the elimination rounds she was spent. She may be back to form in the Gold medal match since there is a longer break between matches
Your analysis & delivery are improving every single video, and you’ve now replaced a few of my previous go-to’s for smart postgame analysis. Keep up the awesome work! As for the game, the fatigue is sooo obvious, and these last 2 games show the folly of not subbing for Australia. We haven’t looked the same sine the 1st Germany match. That Naeher jump save at the end was jaw-dropping good, but it would’ve been called offsides had it gone in.
Hello Claire. I so wanted to see a USA v Spain final. Brazil spoiled Spain's party. I reckon with the determination that brought Brazil to the final, they could be the harder opponent, what with it being a farewell party for them. Good luck USA and Emma Hayes once again. I have been so frustrated with UEFA changing the rules, which ended up denying Team GB a place. I reckon they would have done well as some of the other teams have looked like they are rebuilding for the World Cup, which was supposed to be what US was doing.
The Us isnt developing players correctly but we have these incredible women in spite of that- listen to Soph’s story or Trins story or Claire Hutton talkinh about driving 5 hours a day to play soccer with adults who could actually challenge her as a teen
What would be your druthers for the midfield? They were conceding the midfield a bit but were making it up on the wings. Girma is brilliant, the whole back line has been great.
Brazil doesn't have quite the fitness advantage, they played against France and Spain basically 1 overtime worth of time in stoppage time (18min40s against France and about 16 min against Spain) just in the second half of each game.
Naomi and Rodman are the two best players in the USWNT. Naomi is superb, calm, solid, and full of confidence when you watch her play. Her soccer IQ is very high. Solid defender ! 👍🏽
Really Folks.. all these kids are just getting together. Hayes is New and they all have come from Club teams.. really they are HUMANS.. Get positive, supportive and STOP the SIDE LINE arm chair nit picking.. please PLEASE.. This team is in the gold medal match.. the refs have let some bad tackles go. these kids are all banged up and exhausted.. Lets fraking GO
When players like Jaeden Shaw is injured, Catarina Macario was a late injury scratch for the Olympics, and Lily Yohannes isn't yet ready to commit to the USWNT this is what you get. It's also weird to me that a player like Ashley Sanchez has been dropped from the pool seemingly for no reason, meaning their is absolutely no dynamism in the midfield whatsoever
USA will take the gold. People are too hard on the mid field. They are playing box to box. This team needs veteran leadership and in interviews people mention her unaided. This is a grueling tournament without subbing. You can argue for 90 minutes the US attacking third was extremely poor. They only picked it up in extra time. The backline and goalie are the only two that have played solid wire to wire. But that’s all nitpicking. They are in the gold medal game. They are the #1 team. They will find a way as a team to do it. That’s the 2024 team. Grit, determination, and tenacity. Go USA!
Imagine if they had a midfield, how better they could get lol I'm really curious to see what the midfield is gonna look like in the future because it's clearly the team's biggest weakness. I hope more players get tested in the position post Olympics.
I think what happened to Horan is exactly what happened to the Spanisg team, they are exhausted from playing league, Champions, Home cups, uefa league…. They are exhausted and need a break.
There is a lot going on. People love to hate on the World Cup team but they forget how decimated by injuries that team was. Losing Sam, Press and especially Swanson was massive. Horan has been playing way too long and for a long time. I have never believed in playing your players to exhaustion when you have fresh legs sitting on the bench. The US has not been good at set pieces since Abby retired. This all said I like our chances and I hope they play Marta, even GOATs get old and she is way past her prime. Father Time is cruel and always wins.
It was very obvious in the warm up friendlies and training sessions that Lilly Yohannes was ready and we played entirely different when Horan was on the bench. Why does Emma have a blind spot on #10. It is not even an occasional matter….. Yohannes has vision and knows where she’s sending the ball before it arrives. She has very accurate middle and long distance passing - which also means dangerous from the 30 Vs the low block! And we know bringing Rose Lavelle was borderline at best. Gurma and her back line and having the 3 or 4 best forwards in the world has saved the tournament! If 10 is on the field, Brazil will attack us down the gut with Marta. Emma made some bad roster decisions! Especially with Horan and Rose. She didn’t believe her eyes in the pre tournament friendlies - and her staff apparently insisted on bringing Horan.
This tournament just shows people overreact on the ups and downs. Spain has showed it is not ssooo "dominant" - their backline was a mess, including their keeper. The USWNY was aging out some players from a dominant class of players - but they never fell that far. A new core is starting to gel - and they are one of the top teams in the world.
USA vs Germany was a great watch, until they put camera on Megan Rapinoe. USA is now worth watching, they are there to play football, not a left-wing parade by MP.
Kudos to Hayes for doing the right thing taking Horan out of the game; regrettably, Lindsey has been oddly sluggish and sloppily inaccurate throughout the tournament. Indeed I suggest that replacing her with Shaw on Saturday is worthy of serious consideration. The Brazilians will be faster than either the Germans or Japanese and Shaw has the wheels to compete with that.
If they keep playing the way they’re playing they will not beat Brazil the three scoring powers up in the front and not producing. Yes, they’re in the finals, but did not finishing the very poor at that.
Can't believe I m saying this ....but horan may need to join Alex Morgan or at least moved to the bench....Rose is becoming a liability as well ...maybe time for the team to move on from them and truly move on from the previous generation.
The US team were dominating Germany in this Olympic. But it s evident that the European teams are prioritizing The World Cup and the Euro Championship a head of the Olympic. It s pretty understandable when you see their schedule. They were actually playing Euro Championship quali game before this Olympic. And not to mention domestic/champions League games. Also the Olympic is more of a second tier game for them when you know that teams like Sweden, Netherlands, England (or actually UK since there is no english team in the Olympic) are not in. While the US seems to be serious about the Olympic, their only main event beside the WC. I m also wondering how long until FIFA will change the olympic tournament to U23 format like in mens game.
Horan needs to go, I'm sooo sorry. Shes a turnover machine and other teams have honed into that. Just press her and she'll cough up the ball is probably #1 on their scouting report 💯
And to think Crystal Dunn was seen by many as a player that was no longer a starter, or dare I say "past it"! Shes arguably been just as critical as Girma to the teams success and should probably be on the team of the tournament when its all said and done....give CD her 💐
Absolutely!
CD rocks and without her we would be hurting.. She is all over the field..She doesn’t get enough kudos..
Just love the way Claire presents the video. Very focused and knowledgable on the subject. This soccer dad gives a big 👍.
Horan has been absent in this tournament. Our set pieces are very poor. midfield is slow, lots of turnovers, rare pass throughs. Swanson, Girma, Alyssa has saved this team. Had hoped for us to play Spain because they beat us 2-0. But it's such a fairytale scenario to see Marta not only guaranteed a medal, but try for gold against a historically titan USWNT
Horan is too slow now with no first step quickness. That is why she lost possession all the time. Bethune should start in her place. But that won’t happen in the final.
I hope we see Shaw at the 10 this game. Emma is clearly missing Cat but her knee wasn’t up to this type of tournament.
Brazil is also playing with an emotional purpose for Marta and that can be really tough to overcome
Germany was tactically smart and tried to use our high press against us by pulling attackers towards berger, then she'd blast it up to try and catch us off numbers. that led to almost every one of their opportunities and I think we were pretty lucky that Brand got switched over to the right around the same time Davidson came out.. I love sonnett's spirit, endurance, and willingness to do anything for the team, but *especially* against Portilho I would prefer to Krueger with her one-on-one defending skills subbed into that CB spot
Swanson, Smith, Rodman and our back line and goalie are going to bring home the gold! USA doesn't even have a midfield. It's amazing goalie, amazing back line, absent midfield, amazing frontline.
We should talk about the fact that Trin is literally playing line to line. She is as good tracking back as she is attacking. Amazing footballer.
So torn over this approaching Final, Brasil is my heart's desire for Marta and the long term effect it has on women sports in South and Central America. Our USA team is great but the social ripples in countries seeking funding and respect for a Brasil win..... so torn on this outcome. Still miss Debinha on the roster.
What a great analysis, thank you!
💯on the "vibe shift" -- you nailed it, Claire!
Great analysis!!!... I'm here in France and have attended every USWNT game. I got my ticket to the Gold Medal Match for Saturday, and I'm excited. Was also able to get to the CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Brazil, and I'm looking forward to this rematch on the Olympic stage. It will be a tough contest for our USWNT.
Spot on, excellent analysis.
Girma is prime vvd. I'm a liverpool fan and can support girma as the great great woman's center back.
Gorman is the best women center back in the world right now.
Girma is the best women center back in the world right now.
The midfield is messy, but due only to poor play from our 10. Coffey is solid imo. Rose is great but only so much she can do when you don't get fluid and consistent play from Horan. Love her, but this has been her worst tournament with the USWNT. I wanna see Rose at the 10.
Rose is playing too deep. Horan is lost.
Brazil will be fascinating test Hayes coached team hasn’t faced. They will press US hard and high, forcing fast decisions and accurate passes. How we handle that high pressure will decide the game.
Horan's time with this team is running out. Honestly, she needs to be benched and Girma must get the captain's arm band. Emma Hayes must expand the player pool after this tournament : our midfield is in shambles.
Should be over
Horgan looked pretty good in group stage, but by the elimination rounds she was spent. She may be back to form in the Gold medal match since there is a longer break between matches
@jesseellis5433 the only game she looked good in was Zambia, she's been our worst player in every game after that.
Totally agree!
I’ve been saying horan is done and Emma delivered
Your analysis & delivery are improving every single video, and you’ve now replaced a few of my previous go-to’s for smart postgame analysis. Keep up the awesome work! As for the game, the fatigue is sooo obvious, and these last 2 games show the folly of not subbing for Australia. We haven’t looked the same sine the 1st Germany match. That Naeher jump save at the end was jaw-dropping good, but it would’ve been called offsides had it gone in.
I wondered about play being offside.
Also I forgot to add how much I enjoy your commentary, always. Smart, clean, never mean. Great.
Its crazy that the front "trident" all have 3 goals a piece
Still the best USWNT analyses anywhere on the Tubes! Interesting take about what "tactical fear" looks like. Fun commentary, Claire!
Best commentary on Olympic and US Women’s NT Soccer. Thanks!
SO PROUD OF USA HOPEFULLY WE CAN STEP UP AND BEAT BRAZIL!!!
This is the good stuff right here. Stellar analysis and stellar pacing. Love your stuff ❤
bring Sanchez back and let Emma work with her. I think she is definitely going to retool the midfield.
Really smart commentary!
No one breaks it down better than Claire.
Hello Claire. I so wanted to see a USA v Spain final. Brazil spoiled Spain's party. I reckon with the determination that brought Brazil to the final, they could be the harder opponent, what with it being a farewell party for them. Good luck USA and Emma Hayes once again.
I have been so frustrated with UEFA changing the rules, which ended up denying Team GB a place. I reckon they would have done well as some of the other teams have looked like they are rebuilding for the World Cup, which was supposed to be what US was doing.
The Us isnt developing players correctly but we have these incredible women in spite of that- listen to Soph’s story or Trins story or Claire Hutton talkinh about driving 5 hours a day to play soccer with adults who could actually challenge her as a teen
What would be your druthers for the midfield? They were conceding the midfield a bit but were making it up on the wings. Girma is brilliant, the whole back line has been great.
fox is scary 1 v 1 defensively
Brazil doesn't have quite the fitness advantage, they played against France and Spain basically 1 overtime worth of time in stoppage time (18min40s against France and about 16 min against Spain) just in the second half of each game.
Naomi and Rodman are the two best players in the USWNT.
Naomi is superb, calm, solid, and full of confidence when you watch her play. Her soccer IQ is very high.
Solid defender ! 👍🏽
Really Folks.. all these kids are just getting together. Hayes is New and they all have come from Club teams.. really they are HUMANS.. Get positive, supportive and STOP the SIDE LINE arm chair nit picking.. please PLEASE.. This team is in the gold medal match.. the refs have let some bad tackles go. these kids are all banged up and exhausted..
Lets fraking GO
👍
How does our midfield stink so much given the depth of players we get to choose from in the US?
When players like Jaeden Shaw is injured, Catarina Macario was a late injury scratch for the Olympics, and Lily Yohannes isn't yet ready to commit to the USWNT this is what you get. It's also weird to me that a player like Ashley Sanchez has been dropped from the pool seemingly for no reason, meaning their is absolutely no dynamism in the midfield whatsoever
we don't have a true #10.
@@justayankhouston741 I think one hasn't been developed, which is frustrating for everyone, I'm sure.
Coffey and Lavelle are pretty solid, and Albert’s been improving each game.
Brazil played better without Marta. I wonder if she’ll start and if she does if that will be an advantage for the US.
USA will take the gold. People are too hard on the mid field. They are playing box to box. This team needs veteran leadership and in interviews people mention her unaided. This is a grueling tournament without subbing. You can argue for 90 minutes the US attacking third was extremely poor. They only picked it up in extra time. The backline and goalie are the only two that have played solid wire to wire. But that’s all nitpicking. They are in the gold medal game. They are the #1 team. They will find a way as a team to do it. That’s the 2024 team. Grit, determination, and tenacity. Go USA!
Imagine if they had a midfield, how better they could get lol I'm really curious to see what the midfield is gonna look like in the future because it's clearly the team's biggest weakness. I hope more players get tested in the position post Olympics.
I think what happened to Horan is exactly what happened to the Spanisg team, they are exhausted from playing league, Champions, Home cups, uefa league…. They are exhausted and need a break.
There is a lot going on. People love to hate on the World Cup team but they forget how decimated by injuries that team was. Losing Sam, Press and especially Swanson was massive. Horan has been playing way too long and for a long time. I have never believed in playing your players to exhaustion when you have fresh legs sitting on the bench. The US has not been good at set pieces since Abby retired. This all said I like our chances and I hope they play Marta, even GOATs get old and she is way past her prime. Father Time is cruel and always wins.
It was very obvious in the warm up friendlies and training sessions that Lilly Yohannes was ready and we played entirely different when Horan was on the bench.
Why does Emma have a blind spot on #10. It is not even an occasional matter….. Yohannes has vision and knows where she’s sending the ball before it arrives. She has very accurate middle and long distance passing - which also means dangerous from the 30 Vs the low block!
And we know bringing Rose Lavelle was borderline at best.
Gurma and her back line and having the 3 or 4 best forwards in the world has saved the tournament!
If 10 is on the field, Brazil will attack us down the gut with Marta.
Emma made some bad roster decisions! Especially with Horan and Rose. She didn’t believe her eyes in the pre tournament friendlies - and her staff apparently insisted on bringing Horan.
Yohannes was not ready to commit to US. She was NOT an option
This tournament just shows people overreact on the ups and downs. Spain has showed it is not ssooo "dominant" - their backline was a mess, including their keeper.
The USWNY was aging out some players from a dominant class of players - but they never fell that far. A new core is starting to gel - and they are one of the top teams in the world.
I think germany played very well this time round..it was quite an interesting all round game from both sides..say 52 48 to the u.s
Please say ' One nil' . One to nothing is so weird. Thank you :)
USA vs Germany was a great watch, until they put camera on Megan Rapinoe. USA is now worth watching, they are there to play football, not a left-wing parade by MP.
Kudos to Hayes for doing the right thing taking Horan out of the game; regrettably, Lindsey has been oddly sluggish and sloppily inaccurate throughout the tournament. Indeed I suggest that replacing her with Shaw on Saturday is worthy of serious consideration. The Brazilians will be faster than either the Germans or Japanese and Shaw has the wheels to compete with that.
Brazil made sure to keep Spain off the World Champs then Olympic Champs list…which includes no one.
???????? explain please
@@richard6440 No Women’s World Cup winner has won the Olympic Women’s football Gold the next year. None.
If they keep playing the way they’re playing they will not beat Brazil the three scoring powers up in the front and not producing. Yes, they’re in the finals, but did not finishing the very poor at that.
USA 😊
USWNT is not sharp near goal. But I did pick Sophja to come thru, shouydl of had 3 goals tho...
Can't believe I m saying this ....but horan may need to join Alex Morgan or at least moved to the bench....Rose is becoming a liability as well ...maybe time for the team to move on from them and truly move on from the previous generation.
Horan needs to be benched
The US team were dominating Germany in this Olympic. But it s evident that the European teams are prioritizing The World Cup and the Euro Championship a head of the Olympic. It s pretty understandable when you see their schedule. They were actually playing Euro Championship quali game before this Olympic. And not to mention domestic/champions League games. Also the Olympic is more of a second tier game for them when you know that teams like Sweden, Netherlands, England (or actually UK since there is no english team in the Olympic) are not in.
While the US seems to be serious about the Olympic, their only main event beside the WC.
I m also wondering how long until FIFA will change the olympic tournament to U23 format like in mens game.
Horan needs to go, I'm sooo sorry. Shes a turnover machine and other teams have honed into that. Just press her and she'll cough up the ball is probably #1 on their scouting report 💯
Even though Spain’s defense was atrocious, hopefully the US won’t underestimate Brazil, and bring home gold!! ❤️🤍💙⚽️🥅🥇
I don’t think Emma underestimates anything.. she is known for her tactical acumen..