ST. PAUL, Minnesota — For new United States girls’s nationwide group supervisor Emma Hayes, Week One on the job has been all about training — from introducing her course of and rules to the group, to getting to know and constructing belief along with her gamers.
One factor she’s realized up to now? This is a gaggle that “is ready to move on” from the 2023 World Cup.
“We always like to look at it externally, like these really fatal moments,” Hayes defined. “From my perspective, I don’t believe they could grow without that. You need those setbacks. Sometimes, on the biggest stage, it is not ideal, but the team wasn’t ready [for the moment].
“The expectations on this nation is win — each recreation, each week, each event, each trophy. And it simply is not going to work like that, I’m afraid. So now we have to adapt just a little bit to that. But for them, their learnings have been profound.”
Hayes was critical of the USWNT during the World Cup last summer while serving as an analyst — the Americans were shockingly eliminated in the round of 16, the squad’s earliest exit in major tournament history. Now she has the opportunity to start rehabilitating the program just in time for the next one — the Paris Olympics are less than two months away with the USWNT’s first match vs. Zambia on July 25.
Before Hayes can fully focus on that, she’s zoned in on this camp and set a baseline of understanding of her vision for the program. That was put on display Saturday when the U.S. cruised to a 4-0 win over South Korea in Hayes’ debut match from the sideline. Afterward, she said the team made steps in the right direction. Monday, she added that “there have been in all probability much less bumps than I anticipated.”
Entering her second match — a rematch vs. South Korea on Tuesday evening right here at Allianz Stadium — Hayes stated to “anticipate a number of adjustments” to the lineup. She needs to see how every player has interpreted what they’ve learned in training and how that translates to a game before she can ultimately choose an 18-player Olympics roster.
Some players process information more quickly than others – Hayes has talked this week about tired and overloaded brains as everyone gets exposed to so much new information. So she wants to give them all an equal opportunity to show what they can do.
“I believe it is vital to handle expectations as a result of whereas we’re constructing off our first recreation as an entire group, some individuals are going to get their first that [Tuesday] and connections is likely to be totally different,” Hayes said. “Those reference factors may begin once more first earlier than we will construct to the following place.
“But I believe it’s essential because we need a squad to select first in the Olympics. So I need to know where everybody is at within that in terms of their understanding, then their application.”
From the surface, which will appear hectic. Tuesday marks the ultimate match the group will play collectively earlier than the roster drops. There are solely 18 spots, two will go to goalkeepers, which leaves 16 accessible for area gamers.
And nobody feels 100% secure or sure that they may get known as up. And that goes for probably the most capped and most skilled gamers on this camp.
“You never take this job for granted,” captain Lindsey Horan stated. “I think everyone’s place is up for grabs. The competitive aspect on this team is incredible.”
“Anytime you’re in this environment, it’s almost like you’re in tryout mode,” Crystal Dunn stated. “You don’t even have to acknowledge it, like, we’re all here trying to make the roster. We all get that.”
And that is one job for the veteran leaders of this group — Hayes has singled out Horan, Dunn, Alex Morgan and Rose Lavelle as these voices. To assist youthful gamers not get overwhelmed by this second.
“A lot of butterflies I think are happening right now,” Horan stated. “We’re so team oriented, we’re so team focused, so I hope a lot of the stress from players gets taken away a bit because we just want to focus on us.
“But on this course of, you could have to present your self. You have to be your greatest you, and that is my fundamental level to [younger] gamers. We’re specializing in the group, we’re specializing in how we’re enjoying and making ready for the Olympics, and also you go to your factor inside that.”
While the attention will be on who Hayes does and does not select for the Olympic team, it’s been clear all week that the USWNT is energized by Hayes’ perspective and what that means for the future.
“I believe all of us are actually thirsty for information,” Lavelle said. “I believe we have coated quite a bit up to now week, but it surely’s been thrilling. I believe we’re all actually enthusiastic about this new period and what this group can do. I believe we have all been very open to studying and rising. It’s been plenty of info, but it surely’s been nice and we’re enthusiastic about it.”
Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of “Strong Like a Woman,” published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her on Twitter @LakenLitman.
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