‘Our focus isn’t about writing wrongs’, says Emma Hayes ahead of USA Women’s push for medal win at Paris Olympics
EMMA HAYES insists USA women’s football stars have moved past their World Cup exit hurt as they target glory at the Paris Olympics.
The United States boss says her side are focused on “creating new history together” as they chase a fifth gold medal.
Tonight at Stade de Nice in France the USA begin their bid to beat their rivals in the games’ women’s football tournament.
Since 1996 the team have won gold four times at the Olympics and bronze medals at the Tokyo 2020 games.
Their group stage opener against Zambia comes 11 months after they were beaten by Sweden on penalties at last summer’s World Cup and endured a surprise round 16 exit.
However Hayes, 47, believes her players will not be use their run at this year’s Olympics to right the wrongs of their exit from last year’s World Cup.
The USA head coach said: “We’ve moved past that.
“This team is firmly focused on creating a new history together and our motivation is playing for USA and competing for USA.
“Our motivation isn’t about righting the wrongs, far from it. We’re excited and we’re prepared.
“I can only control the controllable with the volume of games we’ve had together and training sessions.
“But we are in the place we should be having considered all those things.”
Since Hayes took charge, following the end of her trophy-laden, 12-year reign as Chelsea boss in May, the United States have gone unbeaten winning three of their last four international games.
However the USA chief says her side cannot underestimate their rivals including Zambia, who beat Germany in the group stage of last year’s World Cup in Australia.
Their African opponents are competing in the Olympics for the second time in their history following their debut at the Tokyo 2020 games.
Hayes added: “We have to go one step at a time, that’s the most important thing.
“All of our focus, all of our attention, all our detailing is about how to beat Zambia, nothing else.
“The recovery, the days off, the management of all that cadence, we have an expert in the background that has experience of doing that.
“It is our job to make sure we get everything right around this.
“We’re only thinking about Zambia. I think one of the biggest problems is too often we keep talking about what we’re going to do in Paris and what happens if you get to the semis and final.
“It’s disrespectful to the rest of the world to talk like that. It isn’t shoo-in to get somewhere.
“It has been to be earned and there’s no given right when women’s football has developed the way it has across the world where there are top football nations in this tournament.
“On any given day any opponent can beat anyone, I do believe that. I don’t think shocks in the women’s game exist anymore.”
The USA’s group stage opener will be followed by clashes with Germany and Australia in Marseille on the 28th and 31st of July.
Tonight’s game will see their defences tested by Zambia’s highly-rated skipper and forward Barbra Banda.
Since her move to US club Orlando Pride in March from Chinese side Shanghai Shenglai, Banda has registered 12 goals in 12 games and five assists.
Hayes said: “We have plenty of knowledge of Banda and have put together a game plan to factor in all the strengths of the opponent.”