Alyssa Naeher has performed issues that no different goalkeeper within the historical past of American soccer has ever performed.
She gained two World Cups, earned shutouts in over 62 % of her begins, and transformed penalty kicks in knockout matches on the World Cup, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the SheBelieves Cup remaining.
Putting collectively the profession stats of Hope Solo and Briana Scurry, they do not match up.
But there’s nonetheless a giant gap in that resume as a result of, regardless of all he’s achieved, Naeher has by no means gained an Olympic gold medal. He’ll attempt to change that beginning Thursday, the day earlier than the official opening of the Paris Games, when the United States faces Zambia of their first group recreation within the French Riviera metropolis of Nice.
Paris 2024 Summer Olympics
“It’s undoubtedly one thing that’s been a objective of mine since I began,” Naeher stated. “Compete for gold medals, compete for championships, compete to have the ability to characterize your nation on the largest stage.
“Winning a gold medal this summer time can be unbelievable and undoubtedly one thing I’d love so as to add to my profession.”
In three visits to the World Cup, Naeher hasn’t misplaced a recreation, throwing seven shutouts and permitting simply 4 targets in 11 video games. The Olympics haven’t been as easy.
In 2016 in Brazil, Naeher conceded the one objective of the sport in a gaggle stage loss to France earlier than the U.S. was eradicated by Sweden within the quarterfinals on penalties, marking the primary time the Americans had failed to succeed in the gold medal recreation. Then in Tokyo, she was compelled out of the semifinal with Canada halfway by way of the primary half because of a bone bruise and a hyperextended proper knee.
Without her, the U.S. misplaced that match 1-0 and needed to accept a bronze medal. And that leaves Naeher with some unfinished enterprise to tie up this summer time.
“It’s all the time disappointing to have to depart the sport with an harm,” she stated. “You put all the pieces into the preparation and I could not end it. We fell behind.
“The Olympics are actually distinctive. You are thought-about part of Team USA. Incredible athletes from all around the United States. It is an honor to have the ability to be not solely part of the ladies’s nationwide group, but in addition Team USA.”
U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher blocks a shot through the shootout victory over the Netherlands on the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Still, these Games could possibly be the hardest but for Naeher and the U.S., given the depth and power of the match discipline and the lackluster displaying of the U.S. group just lately. And the possibility for redemption they provide isn’t only for goaltenders. Half of the 18 ladies on the U.S. roster have misplaced in a earlier Olympic match, and 10 performed in final summer time’s World Cup, the place the U.S. bowed out within the spherical of 16 for the primary time.
In the wake of that World Cup catastrophe, Vlatko Andonovski stepped down as supervisor and was changed by former Chelsea supervisor Emma Hayes, who will coach a nationwide group in a aggressive match for the primary time. Her group warmed up with two farewell video games, an unconvincing 1-0 win over Mexico and a goalless draw with Costa Rica, not precisely the type of momentum Hayes hoped to deliver to France.
The roster chosen by Hayes is the youngest the U.S. has despatched to the Olympics in 16 years, averaging 26.8 years, a full 4 years youthful than the Tokyo group. It can be the primary U.S. roster for a significant worldwide championship in 16 years to not embody Alex Morgan, making Naeher, at 36, the oldest participant on the group and, with 106 appearances, the third-most skilled.
This versatility and youth will come in useful because the Olympic match would require groups to play six video games in 17 days to succeed in the gold medal remaining.
For ahead Mallory Swanson, like Naeher, the match is doubly essential. Swanson was not chosen for the Tokyo group. Then, after main the U.S. in scoring final yr, she missed the World Cup due to harm. So, like Naeher, she’s in search of redemption, understanding that the subsequent match isn’t assured, a lot much less the subsequent recreation.
“Every main match is as essential as every other,” stated Swanson, 26, who has scored two targets and had two assists in six video games since returning. “You by no means wish to take something with no consideration, not simply in soccer, however in life on the whole.”
Given the outcomes of the final World Cup, nobody can afford to take something with no consideration in France. Only as soon as earlier than has the US performed in consecutive international competitions, the World Cup and the Olympics, with out profitable at the very least one. If the Americans fail to triumph in Paris, it will likely be the primary three-time World Cup failure for the group.
Given this system’s lengthy historical past and custom, constructed on a succession of nice gamers who’ve handed the baton from Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm to Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd to Megan Rapinoe and Morgan, nobody needs to see that relay finish now.
“We’re simply renting these jerseys and having that type of mentality is tremendous essential,” Swanson stated. “What makes this group so particular is you may have that steadiness of the aggressive nature, but in addition the truth that we’re all buddies, all of us get alongside. At the tip of the day we’re all having enjoyable, however we’re all targeted on the method.”
U.S. ahead Mallory Swanson controls the ball throughout a global pleasant in opposition to Costa Rica on July 16.
(Nick Wass / Associated Press)
These Games could possibly be the hardest for the four-time champions, who haven’t stood on the highest step of the Olympic medal podium since 2012. After Zambia, the fifth-placed United States will end the group stage in opposition to No. 4 Germany and No. 12 Australia, who reached the semifinals of each the final World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics.
Given the U.S. group’s play of their final two warm-ups, exiting the match within the group stage for the primary time is a risk. And in the event that they have been to make it to the spherical of 16, the Americans would possible face top-seeded Spain, the reigning world champion; hosts France, the world’s second-ranked group; reigning Olympic champion Canada; in addition to Brazil and Japan, who additionally rank within the FIFA high 10.
It is arguably the deepest and most balanced Olympic discipline in historical past, and one that won’t be intimidated by the collapse of the United States.
“The actuality is the world recreation is the place it’s and the remainder of the world would not concern the U.S. like they used to,” stated Hayes, who has spent the final 12 years in London, when she arrived within the U.S. in May. “And that is legitimate. There are a number of world champions, there are a number of Olympic champions. So it is our job to determine fairly rapidly what we have to do to get nearer to these ranges.”
They might begin by giving Naeher the one prize she nonetheless lacks.
