LYON, France — The United States women’s national soccer team is playing Germany in the semifinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Americans are hunt their first Olympic gold medal since 2012. So far USA’s big three of Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith have been producing big results and look to keep that up.
USA TODAY Sports is bringing you live updates, goals, highlights and more throughout the match. Follow along.
Germany makes first sub vs USWNT
Nicole Anyomi, who’s been Germany’s most dangerous player, was subbed off in the 69th minute. It looked as if she injured her hamstring — though it also could have been cramping, given the heat in Lyon today. She was replaced by Laura Freigang.
Mallory Swanson shot just misses
Naomi Girma fed Mallory Swanson in the 62nd minute, but Swanson just missed, hitting it into the front post side netting. It was the Americans’ closest chance at a goal so far.
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Lynn Williams comes on for Rose Lavelle
Fifteen minutes into the second half, Emma Hayes has made another substitution. Lynn Williams came on for Rose Lavelle. It’ll be interesting to see how this affects the USWNT offense. Lavelle had been very active and facilitated a lot of the USWNT’s most dangerous runs.
Trinity Rodman goes down briefly after a hard tackle
U.S. forward Trinity Rodman went down after a hard tackle in the 59th minute, but got to her feet after lying on the pitch for a few moments.
USWNT vs Germany second half underway
After a scoreless first half, the sides are back on the pitch for the second.
Tierna Davidson subbed out at half
Tierna Davidson was subbed at the half, replaced by Emily Sonnett. The move isn’t a surprise, given Davidson missed the last two games with a leg injury.
USWNT vs Germany score: 0-0 at halftime
The USWNT better hope it doesn’t regret its missed chances in the early minutes of the first half.
The first half ended in a scoreless tie, despite the Americans taking three shots from close range in the first seven minutes. German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger either caught or deflected each of the shots out of danger. By not scoring, the USWNT gave the Germans time to get organized and settled. They had a couple of chances of their own, including one by Julie Brand in the 24th minute that Alyssa Naeher batted away. Crystal Dunn pounced on the ball and cleared it, not giving Germany an opportunity for a rebound goal.
The Americans have a 5-0 advantage on shots on goal, and are dominating possession. But, so far, they don’t have anything to show for it.
Yellow card for Germany’s Marina Hegering
Marina Hegering was given a yellow in the 44th minute after taking out Mallory Swanson. The Germans have been very physical, pushing, shoving and yanking at jerseys, tallying 11 fouls in the first half. The refs have, for the most part, let them play, but this foul was a little too egregrious. Hegering threw Swanson to the turf, earning the yellow. She wasn’t carrying one, so she won’t miss the next game.
USWNT with three shots on goal early
The Americans had three shots on goal in the first seven minutes. Mallory Swanson fed a free kick into the box for a backpost header by Tierna Davidson; Trinity Rodman and Swanson left one for Rose Lavelle on a breakaway; and Sofia Smith had a look inside the box. All three shots were right at goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.
USWNT lineup today
- Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher
- Defenders: Crystal Dunn, Tierna Davidson, Naomi Girma, Emily Fox
- Midfielders: Rose Lavelle, Lindsey Horan, Sam Coffey
- Forwards: Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith
The USWNT is back to full strength. Tierna Davidson, who missed the last two matches with a leg contusion, is in the starting lineup for Tuesday’s Olympic semifinal against Germany. So, too, midfielder Sam Coffey, who missed the quarterfinal win over Japan because of yellow-card accumulation. The rest of the lineup remains unchanged.
What Emma Hayes said before the match
“Well, our game plan so far is to take one game at a time. Having the opportunity to compete and play in a final is something we work very hard at. So we just think to the things that have served us well to this point,” head coach Emma Hayes said on the Eurosport broadcast before the match. “Everybody’s very excited.”
Germany lineup without Alexandra Popp, Lea Schueller
Germany is going to be very short-handed against the USWNT.
Already missing star defender Lena Oberdorf, who tore her ACL earlier this summer, Germany will be without veterans Alexandra Popp and Lea Schueller for Tuesday night’s Olympic semifinal. Popp is sick, the German federation said, while Schueller has inflammation in a tendon in her left knee.
It’s bad news for Germany, which has already lost to the USWNT once in the Olympic tournament. Sophia Smith scored twice and Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams each had a goal in the 4-1 win in the second match of the group stage. The Americans went on to win Group B while Germany advanced as the second-place team.
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USWNT Olympic roster
- Forward: Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Jaedyn Smith, Trinity Rodman and Crystal Dunn.
- Goalkeepers: Casey Murphy and Alyssa Naeher.
- Defenders: Tierna Davidson, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Casey Krueger, Jenna Nighswonger, Emily Sonnett.
- Midfielders: Korbin Albert, Sam Coffey, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Lynn Williams.
U.S. Soccer Olympics schedule 2024
If the Americans beat Germany, they will play in the gold medal match on Aug. 10 at 11 a.m. ET.
Tierna Davidson returns to USA matchday roster
Defender Tierna Davidson missed the last two games with a leg contusion, but is active again for the USWNT match against Germany. It moves Emily Sams to the alternate list.
Trinity Rodman goals so far at Paris Olympics
Trinity Rodman’s late goal against Japan in the quarterfinal made her the youngest player since 2004 to score for the U.S. women in the Olympic knockout rounds. She has three goals and an assist so far these Games.
USWNT’s last time out at Lyon Stadium
The U.S. women have fond memories of their last game at Lyon Stadium. As they should, given it’s where they won the 2019 World Cup.
The USWNT actually played two games at this stadium during that tournament, outlasting England in the semifinals before beating the Netherlands 2-0 in the final on goals from Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle. Lavelle is one of seven players from that 2019 team on the squad for the Paris Olympics. The other six are: captain Lindsey Horan, Tierna Davidson, Crystal Dunn, Alyssa Naeher, Emily Sonnett and Mallory Swanson.
USA vs. Germany at Olympics
The USWNT didn’t have to spend much time scouting Germany.
The two teams met last played nine days ago, in the second game of the group stage. It was a 4-1 win for the Americans, with Sophia Smith scoring twice and Mallory Swanson and Lynn Williams each getting a goal. That game was the sixth time the USWNT has played Germany in either the World Cup or Olympics, including the semifinals of the 2015 World Cup. The Americans won that and went on to win the first of consecutive World Cups.
And a potentially positive sign for the USWNT: In the previous five meetings between the U.S. and Germany in the knockout rounds of the World Cup or Olympics, the team that’s won has gone onto win the entire tournament.
Today is the 37th overall international meeting between the teams.
Last time USWNT advanced to Olympic gold medal match
The USWNT is the most-decorated team in the women’s game, with four World Cup titles and four Olympic gold medals. But it’s been a minute since they’ve reached the Olympic final.
In Tokyo, the Americans won the bronze medal after falling to eventual Olympic champions Canada in the semifinals. At the Rio Olympics in 2016, the USWNT was knocked out in the quarterfinals, at the time their earliest exit ever at a major international tournament. They “topped” that dubious result last summer, losing in the round of 16 at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The last time the USWNT made the Olympic final was in 2012, when they beat Japan to win their third consecutive gold medal. No players are left from that team.
How many gold medals has USWNT won?
The U.S has won four Olympic gold medals: 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012.
USWNT Olympic wins
The USWNT is 31-7-4 all-time at the Olympics, including four gold medals, won in 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012.
Olympics soccer schedule: When is gold medal match?
The gold medal match is Aug. 10 at 11 a.m. ET.
How Naomi Girma became ‘one of the best defenders in the world’
Naomi Girma is the best of America. In the literal sense, she is U.S. Soccer’s reigning Female Player of the Year and, at just 24, the anchor of the back line for the U.S. women’s national team. She’ll make her Olympic debut with the USWNT on Thursday, a year after playing every minute of every game at the World Cup.
But it’s the figurative sense that’s even more important. Girma is a first-generation American, the daughter of two Ethiopian immigrants. When she dons the jersey with the U.S. crest on the chest, it’s a reminder of the promise this country holds and proof of how much better we are when we welcome, and celebrate, the melting pot of races and cultures that is uniquely American.
“Diversity and embracing other cultures is what makes us so special, and I think that’s what has put us ahead for so many years,” Girma said. “I think that’s something that we should continue to do.”
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