There could be any number of reasons for that.
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The Americans have never lost a CONCACAF Olympic qualifier, going 17-0-1 while outscoring opponents 96-4. Coach Jill Ellis brought it up with her team during its first camp of 2016 in Southern California.
She did get the nod at right back as a reserve-heavy US team took on Puerto Rico in the group stage finale, scoring a clever goal in the 10-0 thrashing.
The tie was over as a contest on the stroke of half-time when goalkeeper Kimika Forbes allowed a header from Carli Lloyd, the FIFA World Player of the Year, to slip through her grasp. “Part of it is, in a tournament like this, being able to utilize the depth”. The U.S. won 1-0. Ellis reminded her players at the end of the World Cup that they would have to be better in 2016 to win at the Olympics.
“That’ll be interesting, to see if we can outplay them in that respect, because previously we kind of get into that physical match”, said the controversial ‘keeper.
Morgan scored her first in the 30th minute off a header from another newcomer, 21-year-old Lindsey Horan.
Alex Morgan scored a hat trick. Seven have played 270 or more minutes, led by Morgan (308), Klingenberg (294), Lloyd (290), Brian (287), Heath (270), Sauerbrunn (270) and Solo (270).
Their breakthrough came in the 12th minute of their semi-final clash at Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium, with a low cross from Mallory Pugh alluded the Trinidad defence, with right winger Tobin Heath applying a composed finish from the edge of the box. “I think they’ll go back to their tried and tested and probably give Canada the respect for a game like this”.
“I think we have a fantastic group of new young players and so do they and rivalries are changing. “(We) owned that game.
“I knew (Pugh) was ready, so it was looking more at what we wanted and what we wanted to see”, Ellis said. Find out how to watch U.S. vs Canada online free live streaming on NBC Sports Live Extra as the game won’t be broadcast live on TV in English this afternoon, but will in Spanish via NBC Universo. It was Dunn’s first multi-goal game for the WNT. “All those people who wrote her off at the World Cup …”
Team Canada is heading to their third straight Olympics in women’s soccer.
Still, Solo felt the game was a bigger deal for the Canadians than for the Americans.
History: The two national teams are always at the top of the CONCACAF table, be it the Olympics or World Cup. “There were a lot of nerves and pressure on us for sure”.
I’ve been on this team for a long time… we are finally playing an incredible possession style of soccer, and it’s attractive. “And that’s how we look at this USA game”.
“I’m super-excited”, Dunn said. “We have players retiring and obviously with Pinoe’s injury, [we are] just looking for different types of creative attacking players. So it’s a really exciting month for us”. Though this match may not matter in terms of qualification, it’s a safe bet both teams will be desperate to win.
“Well, bring it”, she said. “Every day I feel like I let down myself and the team even though it takes 11 players to play a game”.
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Asked about his roster for Rio, he pointed to London saying his squad for the 2012 Games was not the same as the one he used for qualifying although he conceded “it was very similar”.
