Photo Copyright Nir Elias for Reuters via USA TODAY Sports
“I’m paid to do this job. What I’m interested in is what we do in-house. I’ve been coaching football matches [for] a long time. I’ve said it from the beginning: connections help. I don’t believe we’d have gone through if we’d have made too many changes.”
These were the words of Emma Hayes on the eve of the Olympic semifinal against Germany in Lyon. With games scheduled every two days, it’s little wonder that fatigue has been a topic of interest in almost every game. Still, you’d be inclined to allow Hayes’ management some leniency given the way they’ve progressed to the gold medal match.
Notably, Hayes heeded warning signs from her players’ on-pitch performances and made relatively early substitutions to manage recovery and consistency. This was reflected in the game’s state, being both cagey and more open than first anticipated. After the 4-1 battering in the group stages, Germany would have been forgiven for looking to play a bit more…
