Japan v USA – Paris Olympics women’s football quarter-finals – live updates | Paris Olympic Games 2024


Key events

USA lineup

Goalkeeper: A stunning surprise selection here for … no, I’m kidding, it’s Alyssa Naeher (Chicago)

Defense (left to right): Crystal Dunn (Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (Gotham FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego), Emily Fox (Arsenal/ENG)

Midfield: Korbin Albert (PSG/FRA) likely in a No. 6 role, Lindsey Horan (Lyon/FRA) likely as a No. 8, and Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC) likely as a No. 10. Or thereabouts.

Forward (left to right): Sophia Smith (Portland), Mallory Swanson (Chicago), Trinity Rodman (Washington)

Albert replaces the suspended Sam Coffey and scored on a screamer in the group stage. Sonnett is deputizing for the injured Tierna Davidson, who is not listed among the substitutes today. Given the absurdly limited rosters in this competition, the only field players available to Emma Hayes are defenders Casey Krueger, Jenna Nighswonger and Emily Sams, and attacking players Lynn Williams and Jaedyn Shaw.

One option if Hayes needs attacking options late – Crystal Dunn was listed as a forward on the roster and has proven to be world-class in that position in NWSL play, so we could see an outside back subbed on and Dunn pushed forward without a drop in quality.

If you’re curious about soccerdonna’s valuations, Smith is at 350,000 Euros, then Rodman at 275,000, Horan at 250,000, Lavelle at 210,000, and Girma is an absolute bargain at 210,000. Defenders don’t get enough respect.

Japan lineup

Goalkeeper: Ayaka Yamashita (free agent on official roster; listed elsewhere as Kobe Leonessa/JPN)

Defense (left to right): Moeki Minami (Roma/ITA), captain Saki Kumagai (Roma/ITA), Toko Koga (Feyenoord/NED)

Midfield (left to right, more or less): Hikaru Kitagawa (Kobe Leonessa/JPN), Fuka Nagano (Liverpool/ENG), Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City/ENG), Miyabi Moriya (Kobe Leonessa/JPN)

Forward: Aoba Fujino (Manchester City/ENG), Mina Tanaka (Utah/USA), Kiko Seike (Urawa Reds/JPN)

It looks like a 3-4-3, but Kitagawa and Moriya are listed on the roster as defenders, and Fujino and Seike are listed as midfielders. The difference between a 3-4-3 and a 5-4-1 is really a matter of attitude and intent. (Or desperation, if the USA manage to pin those midfielder/defenders back in their own end.)

Minami is the only player on a yellow card, meaning she would miss the semifinal if she picks up another today.

Kumagai and Yamashita are the only players who’ve played all 270 minutes so far.

Six different players have scored goals. Several of today’s starters did not start the group stage finale against Nigeria.

Manchester United’s Hinata Miyazawa, No. 26 on The Guardian’s list of top 100 female footballers, is available on the bench after starting twice in the group stage. Hasegawa, Kumagai and Tanaka are all on that list as well.

At soccerdonna.de, the most valuable players on the team are Hasegawa (225,000 Euros) and Tanaka (125,000).

And just after typing that, I checked the schedule, and the USA just took another silver medal when a gold was in sight.

I won’t mention the sport in case people don’t want results spoiled. The trend is the important thing. That is the 19th silver medal for the USA.

In some cases, of course, silver and bronze are great. The women’s rugby team taking bronze has been one of the highlights of the Games so far. Evy Leibfarth’s stunner in canoe slalom is another. Silver and bronze in men’s skateboarding isn’t bad. But when will those silvers turn into gold?

In fact, what’s the record for silver medals? Hmmm … more spreadsheet work in my future …

Nations turn their lonely eyes to you …

We’re far enough along in the Olympics for US fans to be concerned about the medal count. Not the overall medal count, which has typically been what US fans notice most, but the gold medal count, which the rest of the world tends to point towards.

I’ll spare you the detailed calculations I used to project gold and overall medals for the USA and China and the update a few days ago. It’s too early in the day for math. The bottom line is that my model that pegged the USA for 48 gold medals is now down to 41. A more subjective count gives the USA something closer to 33 — which might still be enough to take the top spot, because China are behind their projection as well, and France aren’t likely to sustain this momentum, etc., etc.

Anyway — yes, the USA have been dealing with a mix of expected triumphs (Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky), a few surprises (two women’s foil golds, men’s four rowing), and a lot of shocks (US men’s swimming, BMX cycling, surfing, 3×3 basketball – pending further play, shooting – pending the skeet competitions, women’s eight rowing, and women’s tennis).

In soccer, things were looking up for the USA – until yesterday, when the score of the men’s 4-0 loss to Morocco accurately reflected the gulf in technical and tactical acumen between the teams.

So while US fans wait for Simone Biles or maybe Suni Lee to win a couple more gold medals and wait for a potentially giant haul in track and field (starting today with Ryan Crouser and Sha’Carri Richardson?), this women’s soccer team could boost some spirits.

But if you think the USA have had it rough in France, consider Japan.

Sure, they have eight gold medals — three judo, two skateboarding, two gymnastics and one fencing. But in team sports, they’re struggling. Men’s soccer cruised through an easy group but lost in the knockout rounds. Other teams — men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s volleyball, women’s field hockey, men’s handball, men’s rugby sevens and men’s water polo — are a combined 2-22 after men’s water polo lost 23-8 to Spain today. (Women’s rugby sevens won three times to finish ninth.)

Women’s soccer offers a chance to put things right.

Preamble

Good morning, USA – and good afternoon and evening to anyone else eager to see a showdown between two women’s soccer teams with a history of excellence. (Maybe a few people in England eager see Emma Hayes show everyone how to coach a national team?)

We’re used to seeing the USA and Japan meet in later stages. They played in two consecutive World Cup finals, with Homare Sawa and Aya Miyama inspiring Japan to the trophy in 2011 and the USA answering in 2015 as Carli Lloyd scored from nearly everywhere on the field in the first 16 minutes.

Japan hasn’t been at championship level for a few years, but it’s safe to say no US fan is taking this game for granted. This one should be a classic.

(Unless Japan sits way back and waits for Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson and Trinity Rodman to pull off some 360-degree skateboarding spin move to beat eight defenders and score, in which case, maybe 15 seconds of it will be a classic.)

Enjoy.





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