The U.S. women’s national team has been weathering the wear and tear of the Olympics, but ahead of a semifinal match against Germany on Tuesday, everyone was in training.
“It’s a great sign,” head coach Emma Hayes said.
Hayes did not provide details about who might be available against Germany.
Defender Tierna Davidson collided with German defender Jules Brand during the second game of the group stage. Emily Sonnett replaced Davidson in the 44th minute of that game and the subsequent two matches against Australia and Japan. Hayes, at the time, said Davidson was dealing with a knee contusion.
On Sunday, the U.S. battled through 120 minutes against Japan. Trinity Rodman scored the winning goal in the 104th minute, but Emily Fox, Korbin Albert, and Rodman all needed trainers’ help in extra time. Fox came off the field after her injury in the 121st minute of the game, and Casey Krueger took her place.
The U.S. is heading for a rematch against a team it has already played in this tournament, but it was clear that Hayes and the players weren’t expecting the same sort of game they experienced in Marseille.
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“Even if you play the same opponent a week apart, they’re always two very, very different games,” Hayes said. “Our shot conversion was high in the first game. This is a tight match-up, but one we’ll prepare for a little bit today. We’ve been doing stuff yesterday too, so we’ll be ready.”
Players acknowledged that fatigue was an issue in this tournament, but one they had expected.
“Being fatigued is inevitable,” Rodman said Monday afternoon. “It’s at the point of the tournament where it’s like who’s stronger mentally? Because physically, you might not feel like you can do it. It’s the mental game you just keep tapping into, and honestly last game was just a mental thing of, ‘We’re going to push as hard as we physically and mentally and emotionally can for this game.’”
Rodman expected more of the same for the semifinal and whatever their final game of the Olympics turns out to be, whether it’s for gold in Paris, or here in Lyon later this week for bronze.
(Top photo: Getty Images)
