Upcoming Opponents – Page 2 – Women's Soccer Express

USWNT: Iceland’s Roster for the October 2024 Friendlies

For its two friendlies against the top-ranked United States Women’s National Team, 13th-ranked Iceland will be bringing 23 players, including four who played collegiately in the United States. Most notable among them is former Duke Blue Devil and Under-23 USWYNT defender Natasha Anasi, who acquired Icelandic citizenship in 2019.

Anasi, at the age of 33, is the oldest player on Iceland’s roster and the only one over the age of 30. When comparing median and average ages, the roster selected by head coach Thorsteinn Halldórsson is only slightly younger, by roughly a year, compared to the USWNT’s roster for the friendlies.

USWNT: The USA Will Play the Netherlands in December

On Wednesday, U.S. Soccer and the KNVB announced that the United States Women’s National Team will face the Netherlands WNT on Tuesday, December 3rd, in The Hague, Netherlands. The match will take place at ADO Den Haag Stadium, which opened in 2007 and has a capacity of 15,000 (Wikipedia).

The Netherlands friendly is scheduled to kick off at 2:45 p.m. Eastern and will be televised on TNT and truTV with English-language commentary. The match will also be shown on Universo with Spanish-language commentary. Streaming options include Max (subscription required) and NBC.com (Spanish-language; requires linking one’s TV service provider account).

This will be the final match for the USWNT in 2024 and will be the second friendly of the year’s last international window. A few days earlier, on November 30th, the USWNT will take on the Lionesses of England at Wembley Stadium.

The Netherlands and England are two of the nine teams that have already qualified for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, which will be hosted by Switzerland. Twenty-eight teams are still in the hunt for the remaining seven slots. (Wikipedia)

Trivia: The Hague, Netherlands, is the birthplace of current England head coach Sarina Wiegman, who managed ADO Den Haag’s women’s team for seven seasons. (Wikipedia)

U.S. Soccer Press Release: U.S. Women’s National Team Will Face The Netherlands in The Hague on Dec. 3 to Finish 2024 Schedule

KNVB Press Release: Oranje sluit jaar af met oefenwedstrijden tegen China en USA

Olympics 2024: The USWNT and Brazil Advance to the Gold Medal Match – Semifinals Recap and Highlights

Rematches in the knockout stage of a tournament rarely play out the same way as the earlier group stage match. The United States Women’s National Team understands that axiom all too well, as they had faced a group stage opponent in a knockout or medal match five previous times at the Olympics, losing only once (2000, versus Norway in the gold medal match).

For the USA, this time around, there would be no dominant victory against their group stage opponent, Germany. But, there would be a victory, thanks to an extra-time heroine, just as there was in the quarterfinal match against Japan.

Reigning Women’s World Cup champions Spain, who were debutantes at this year’s Summer Olympics, got a harsh lesson in that reality when a makeshift and spirited Brazil, buoyed by an early own goal, got their second straight upset win.

2024 Olympics: Final Group Standings and Quarterfinal Match-Ups

Knockout bracket for the women’s soccer tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics

On Saturday, August 3rd, the eight remaining teams in the women’s soccer tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics will be reduced to the four medal contenders once that day’s quarterfinals concludes.

Among the teams still standing are the United States Women’s National Team, who topped their group for only the second time at the Olympics, and will face off against Japan for the fourth time in an Olympics knockout match. Spain, the reigning Women’s World Cup champions, are looking to win their first Olympic gold medal. Meanwhile, the current gold medal holders, Canada, despite their 6 point deduction, made it through to knockout phase and will face the 2016 gold medalists, Germany. Also in the hunt are both South American sides: Brazil, who will be without Marta due to a red card suspension, and Colombia, who are hoping to advance to their first Olympic semifinal. Host France, buoyed by the goal-scoring of Marie-Antoinette Katoto, are still looking to win their first major championship.

In the United States, the only way to watch the quarterfinal matches live with English-language commentary is via streaming, either through Peacock (via subscription) or, if one has a multichannel service provider, then the NBC Sports app or NBCOlympics.com. However, all four quarterfinal matches will air live on Telemundo and Universo.

2024 Olympics: Match Day 3 Recap and Video Highlights

The final day of group play more-or-less went as expected, except for Marta earning a straight red for a reckless lunging kick that narrowly missed striking Spain’s Olga Carmona in the cheek.

France, thanks to Canada’s points deduction, the USA, and Spain all won their groups, while Canada, Germany, and Japan advanced as the runners-up in their respective groups. Colombia and Brazil advanced as the higher-ranked third-place teams. Australia, as the lowest third-ranked team, along with New Zealand, Zambia, and Nigeria were eliminated from the competition.

USWNT: The USA Will Play England At Wembley in November

On Tuesday, U.S. Soccer and The F.A. announced that the United States Women’s National Team will faces the Lionesses of England on Saturday, November 30th, at Wembley Stadium in London.

The USWNT will also play one other team in Europe during the same FIFA window. Switzerland will not be that team as they are England’s second opponent in that window.

The USA’s match against England will kick-off at 12:20 pm Eastern time (5:20 pm London time).

U.S. Soccer Press Release: U.S. Women’s National Team Will Face England at Famed Wembley Stadium on November 30

The F.A. Press Release: Sarina Wiegman’s side will play four friendlies from October to December, including a EURO 2022 final rematch

2024 Olympics: Match Day 3 Advancement Scenarios

Going into the final six matches of the group stage in the women’s soccer tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics, only the United States Women’s National Team and Spain have secured a spot in the knock-out phase. Six slots have yet to be determined and none of the other ten teams have been mathematically eliminated.

Please note that the following analysis is contingent on Canada’s 6 point deduction being upheld. FIFA’s decision has been appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and a ruling on the matter is expected on Wednesday, July 31st.

2024 Olympics: Match Day 2 Recap and Video Highlights

The second day of group stage matches in the women’s soccer tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics was one to remember:

The USWNT had their best performances against Germany ever at an Olympics, defeating the two-time Women’s World Cup champions 4:1.
Japan had a 2:1 comeback victory against Brazil, which was capped by an awe-inspiring long-distance chip by second-half sub Momoko Tanikawa.
Canada is still in the hunt for a knock-out slot thanks to their 2:1 come-from-behind victory over host France, with the game-winning goal scored by Vanessa Gilles 12 minutes deep into second-half stoppage time.
Oh, And Australia came from three goals down in the second half to defeat Zambia 6:5!

2024 Olympics: Match Day 1 Recap and Video Highlights

The first day of group play in the women’s soccer tournament at the 2024 Summer Olympic saw no upsets, with all six matches ending in victories for the higher-ranked teams.

The USWNT had one of the easiest matches, thanks to a strong first half where Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson combined for three goals, with Swanson bagging a brace by scoring goals just 66 seconds apart (OptaJack x.com post). A VAR-upgraded 30th minute red card shown to Pauline Zulu reduced Zambia to 10 players. While the USWNT was unable to extend the lead after the red card, their defense did hold the speedy Barbra Banda and Zambia scoreless.

2020 SheBelieves Cup: Updated Rosters, USA TV Schedule, and News Updates

The 2020 edition of the SheBelieves Cup, which is hosted by the United States Women’s National Team, officially gets underway on Thursday, March 5th. Rosters for the four participating teams – the USWNT, England, Japan, and first-timer Spain – have all been announced.

In the United States, all USWNT matches will be shown live on ESPN channels, while the non-USA matches will be available via ESPN’s streaming platforms. Continue reading “2020 SheBelieves Cup: Updated Rosters, USA TV Schedule, and News Updates”