MARSEILLE, France — Two days before taking charge of her first major tournament match as coach of the United States women’s national team, Emma Hayes said the age-old presumption of American dominance in this sport that many casual fans may still have is “disrespectful” and outdated.
While Hayes agreed that ambition is good, she added there needs to be a recalibration of expectations for these Olympics due to the rise of women’s soccer around the world.
The quality of opponents the U.S. faced in last year’s Women’s World Cup — when it crashed out against Sweden in the round of 16 for its earliest-ever exit — wasn’t an anomaly.
“I think one of the biggest problems is that too often is that we talk about what we’re going to do in Paris or what happens when we get to the semis and finals — I think it’s disrespectful to the rest of the world to talk like that,” Hayes said as the U.S. prepares to face Zambia in its first group stage game Thursday.
She added, “I think the game has moved to a point where that isn’t the case. It isn’t a shoo-in to get somewhere. It has to be earned and there’s no given right [to anything] … There’s top footballing nations in…
