The U.S. women’s national team of a summer ago is gone. The current group has found its scoring shoes.
At the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the USWNT scored four goals in 390 minutes and was eliminated on penalties in the round of 16 against Sweden. On Sunday, the team scored four — the first to do so against Germany in a competitive match since 2008 when Brazil did it in the Olympics semifinals, according to Opta. Forward Sophia Smith scored a brace, while forwards Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams added a goal each as the U.S. took down Germany 4-1 to guarantee a place in the quarter-finals.
Jeff Rueter and Steph Yang dissect how the U.S. took the top spot in Group B with one game to go.
What is the key to the USWNT’s front-line success?
If there’s only one thing you can write down in a tactical binder, it should be, “Make sure Swanson and Smith look connected and you’ll profit.”
Swanson and Smith looked like a dynamic duo again on Sunday, reading each other’s movement and providing opportunities for each other in front of goal. Swanson crashed the box for the second U.S. goal, catching Smith’s rebounding shot off Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. Then Swanson almost put Smith through a few minutes later, picking her out through traffic in front of goal….
