United States women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes says that assuming the USA will reach the final or semifinals of the Olympics is “disrespectful” to the rest of the world.
Hayes spoke with the media on Tuesday ahead of the USWNT’s Olympic campaign and warned that the rest of the world has caught up to the U.S. in women’s soccer.
“Too often we keep talking about what we’re going to do in Paris, or what happens when you get to the semis or the finals,” Hayes said. “I think it’s disrespectful to the rest of the world to talk like that.”
One of the biggest topics brought up surrounding the debate of the USWNT’s decline in superiority over the previous five years is the rest of the world catching up.
The 2010’s saw the USWNT as the undisputed top dog in international women’s soccer reaching three World Cup finals, winning two of the three and claiming gold in the London 2012 Olympics.
The 2020’s have painted a far different picture as the USWNT settled for bronze in the 2020 Olympics and then had their worst World Cup in history last year, losing in the Round of 16 to Sweden.
“It isn’t a shoo-in to get somewhere (anymore),” Hayes said.
“It has to be earned and there’s no given right when women’s football has developed the way it has across the world that there are top football nations in this tournament. Any given day, any opponent can beat anyone. I do believe that.
“I don’t think shocks in the women’s game exist anymore. I think we need to reframe our focus a little bit and have respect for the rest of the world.”
The USWNT will face a strong Group B in the Olympics with Zambia, Germany and Australia. Finishing in the top two of the group will automatically qualify the USA for the knockout stage. A third-place finish could still qualify out of the group stage as the two best third-place teams will advance.
If the USA win Group B then they will face the runner-up of Group C which is loaded with top teams (Spain, Japan, Nigeria and Brazil).
If the USA finish second in their group they will play the runner-up of Group A (France, Colombia, Canada and New Zealand).
The USWNT’s opening game will be against Zambia on Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.
