Quarter-Finals Preview: Who is in the best shape for gold?
The Paris 2024 group stage has left us with possibly the eight strongest teams on paper, meaning it's going to be a fierce battle to see who gets the gold come next Saturday in the capital...
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After 18 quickfire group stage games, we’ve lost four of the 12 protagonists searching for a medal in the women’s football at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Australia, Nigeria, Zambia and New Zealand are heading home, leaving eight of the best national teams the world has to offer to fight it out over the course of the next week, with one taking home a set of gold medals.
Spain, USA and Canada all progressed with three wins from three despite tough groups, while they’re joined by Japan, Brazil, Germany, France and Colombia, with the quarter-finals to take place on Saturday, with anyone who goes through assured of a shot at a medal.
1
Spain
Ticking along nicely
As I’ve mentioned in a couple of pieces so far, the world champions have managed to fly somewhat under the radar, doing exactly what they’ve needed to do through a tough group to progress with maximum points.
While you could argue the nature of this twelve team tournament lends itself to three groups of death, Group C did feel like just about the strongest on paper, with Spain drawn against Japan, Brazil and Nigeria.
To come through it with nine points and just one conceded - from a free-kick rather than open play - will be a big confidence booster for a team who stuttered against Japan last summer.
Their defensive record is impressive, a world away from the one which allowed too many counter attacks twelve months ago, and to not concede from open play in the toughest group is an impressive feat.
The one blot and minor concern may be the goals aren’t exactly flowing, and at times they’ve struggled to get Salma Paralluelo into games, with just five goals scored across their three games.
One was a free-kick with minutes to go against Nigeria and another was in the dying seconds against Brazil as the opposition pushed forward, but they have been clinical when required and their control over games has meant that even when things haven’t quite clicked, they’ve not been chasing their tails as they were in a couple of games of late.
They still look the strongest bet for gold at the moment.
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2
USA
Clicked quicker than expected
Even Emma Hayes would perhaps admit going into a brand new job a world away from everything she’s been used to for the past twelve years she wouldn’t have expected to come away from Zambia, Germany and Australia with nine points and nine goals, but here we are.
It’s been a statement group stage for a nation who had a lot of question marks left hanging over them after a disastrous World Cup, but Hayes seems to have got things working well early doors, with only four warm-up friendlies behind her before heading to the French Riviera.
In terms of what’s gone well, just about everything. The goal-shy nature of both the World Cup and their last few friends seems to have dissipated, with the front four of Rose Lavelle, Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson working wonders, while they’ve been relatively solid at the back.
They did look a little fragile as Australia threw everything at them late on in the final group game, but the bigger concern may be the loss of midfielder Sam Coffey for their quarter-final against Japan due to the yellow card accumulation rule.
It will mean Hayes has to change a midfield she’s rarely tinkered with, and while Korbin Albert came on and scored a superb goal against the Matilds, it’s not a like for like switch in terms of what Coffey adds and the protection she gives to the back four.
All in all, they look good to make it to a medal match.
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