Paris 2024™ Match Preview: Australia v USA
Win and you’re in! That’s what the Matildas must do against the USA if they are to make sure they advance to the women’s football quarter-finals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
They’ll be back at Stade de Marseille for the clash, at 3 am AEST Thursday 1 August, for their final pool match in Group B.
“I think we've always been a never-say-die team,” Matildas winger Hayley Raso said.
The Matildas enter the contest with three points on the board thanks to a nail-biting 6-5 comeback against Zambia in the second group match.
Meanwhile, the four-time Olympic gold medallists, the United States, sit atop the group with maximum points from their opening two fixtures.
Any result other than a win will have the Matildas sweating on the results of matches from the other two groups, A and C.
Moving past the Americans will be no easy feat with Emma Hayes’ side currently prolific in attack with seven goals and stingy in defence, conceding just one goal.
“They're obviously one of the teams that are in the best form in the world right now, and not just in this tournament but the games leading into as well,” Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said.
Like Australia, the USA have one of the quickest forward lines in the tournament with Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman all in stellar form.
The midfield has been steered by captain Lindsay Horan alongside the technically gifted Rose Lavelle, while Naomi Girma has marshalled the defence with maturity beyond her first Olympic appearance.
For Australia, one of the contests to watch will be the battle between Horan and Kyra Cooney-Cross. Kyra has quietly gone about her business in the Australian engine room with two consistent performances.
While this game is certainly to be more controlled and less transitional than the one against Zambia,, both teams still possess the ability to rapidly turn defence into attack with strong pressing and running games.
The wings will also prove an interesting theatre of battle with the USA and the Matildas blessed with some of the best-attacking fullbacks in the game in Steph Catley and Ellie Carpenter for the Aussies and Emily Fox and Crystal Dunn for the US.
Australia is also determined to re-find the defensive resolve and steel that has served them so well across the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. That will start from the front.
All in all, this is set to be a gripping contest due to the strong connection and knowledge these two nations have in relation to one another.
Tokyo 2020 was the last Olympic meeting between Australia and the USA with the Americans claiming a coveted bronze medal 4-3.
WHAT THEY SAID
Hayley Raso: It was a lot, as I'm sure everybody saw. But for us, it was just always about coming back. I don't think there was a moment in the game where I didn't doubt that we would come back. It's in our nature to come back the way we do and we showed that. Everybody's recovered well. With such a short turnaround, it's just about making sure you get your body right and your mind right. You have to move on pretty quickly to the next game so all our focus is on that now.
Cortnee Vine: I think it's just that we're Australian, right? That’s a pretty Australian way to put it. I think we've always been a Never Say Die team. You look at that history with last-minute winners as well. I think it's just the Australian way to be honest.
Kaitlyn Torpey: They [USA] are a really quality team and their attack is really in form at the moment but I think that game against Zambia, it was really good for us. Showed our heart and kind of reminded us all how much we want it.
Tony Gustavsson: They're obviously one of the teams that is in the best form in the world right now, and not just in this tournament but the games leading into as well. I think Emma [Hayes] has put the players in the right position. I've said that before, in the job as a national team coach our job is to put the right players, in the right position, in the right mindset and I think she has got all three of those ticked, which means they are on fire. Then if you see the pace that they have, in the running game, and the pressing game that they have, they're playing on their best foot right now, and it's difficult to stop. But we have a plan and we're going to try to do it.
HOW TO WATCH
Australia v United StatesDate: Wednesday 31 July 2024 (local) / Thursday 1 August 2024 (AEST)Kick-off: 7.00pm (local) / 3.00am AESTVenue: Stade de Marseille, Marseille, FranceBroadcast: Channel 9, 9Now & Stan Sport (Australia)
