On Sunday evening, the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) continued their Olympic journey with an emphatic 4-1 win against Germany at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille.
Sophia Smith’s two first-half goals and another Mallory Swanson goal had the USWNT in a comfortable position by half-time after a tentative and cagey opening 10 minutes. While Smith’s second goal had a bit of fortune involved, her first had resulted from an excellent interchange down USWNT’s right flank. Lynn Williams’ goal sealed what was an excellent performance overall in the second half from Emma Hayes’ side, and one that was arguably their best in two years.
This was Hayes’ first big test against elite opposition. The performance was enough to satisfy the coach, but it wasn’t without its flaws.
In contrast to the USWNT’s initial match against Zambia, this game was rich with tactical elements. Key features included a back-three system, fluid interchanging play, and effective wing play. However, here were still several questions regarding the midfield’s…
