The U.S. women’s football team’s last warm-up match before the Paris Olympics is in full swing. The weather is hot and there are many scoring opportunities.
The U.S. was held scoreless in Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw with Costa Rica, marking only the second time since 2015 that the U.S. was without a win in its final game before a major tournament. But the game showed Americans can handle the heat likely to hit later this month.
“The last two games have been crazy,” defender Casey Krueger said, referring to back-to-back friendlies before the team’s transatlantic flight. “I think it’s going to be hotter, so if we can get into this game it will definitely give us confidence going into France.”
The temperature at kickoff was 98 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius), hours after Washington recorded its hottest day ever in the nation’s capital, with a temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius). The temperature at the end of the game was still 94 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius).
Coach Emma Hayes believes it will be a good test for her players given that heat levels close to those are expected at the tournament in Marseille later this month.
“That’s the added value,” Hayes said Monday. “It was perfect preparation. It was very hot out there, so it was a good opportunity for us to experience what we were going to face.
Rose Lavelle suffered a late precautionary scratch due to leg tightness in warmups.
“There was no risk,” Hayes said later. “Her groin was a little tight and I wasn’t taking any chances. … I wanted to go to the Olympics with everyone.
Korbin Albert replaced Lavelle in the starting line-up in front of 18,972 fans in a venue that was shabby from recent football, soccer and rugby matches. Players either criticized the pitch or did not comment.
“In the corner, as we all know, it’s definitely like I’m kicking dirt,” forward Mallory Swanson said. “It’s good.” That’s how it goes sometimes, and I think this team has always been able to overcome adversity.
The U.S. created plenty of chances throughout the game — 12 of 26 shots on goal — but were denied multiple times by Costa Rican goalkeeper Noelia Bermudez, arguably one of the best players on the field. one.
Costa Rica, which has not qualified for the Olympics, often retreated and failed to hit the target with only two shots, while the United States was always on the offensive.
After Team USA’s “farewell match,” a ceremony will be held in front of friends and family before they fly to Paris on Wednesday to play their Olympic opener against Zambia in Nice on July 25. With games against Germany in Marseille on July 28 and the group stage in Australia on July 31, the U.S. is looking to improve on its bronze-medal finish in Tokyo three years ago.
Hayes, who has only coached Team USA since late May, was proud of his dominance of the ball in New Jersey’s 1-0 victory over Mexico on Sunday, but said Monday it was about “doing more with it.” matter”. Much of the same stuff played out against Costa Rica on Tuesday, including several potential goals disallowed for offside and a number of missed chances on corners and on the run.
“I’d rather play right now than go to the Olympics,” captain Lindsay Horan said. “We’re going to keep working hard and I know those opportunities are going to come and we’re going to get them done in the next game.”
Hayes’ squad is mostly young and inexperienced, and he wants to get as many players into the game as possible. She made four substitutions, another late in the 67th minute, to help achieve that goal.
