Pugh’s prospects of starting are boosted by the fact that Megan Rapinoe will not begin the Olympics in the lineup. She arrived in Brazil already knowing she would have a limited role as the USA women’s team tries to win its fourth straight gold medal. The USWNT has won the last Olympic gold medal and the last World Cup.
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“I’ll be as ready I can possibly be, but with the understanding that it’s a different role than I’m used to, a different role than I had last year”, said the 31-year-old Rapinoe. Fullbacks Meghan Klingenberg and Kelley O’Hara will be expected to push up high and get into the attack, rotating and interchanging in the midfield as plays develop.
“I think the challenge of winning an Olympics after a World Cup is less superstitious and more just hard”, US forward Christen Press said. “Physically I feel good and I feel confident”. Under head coach Jill Ellis, who has been with the National Team since 2008 when she was the assistant coach, the USWNT will be set to make their way to the final match for the sixth time in a row. The emergence of players like Crystal Dunn and Mallory Pugh, along with Tobin Heath fulfilling her potential at just the right time, have calmed fears about this team’s ability to create and convert scoring chances.
“A big part of the selection is that she is a game-changer. And a game-changer can come in for 15 minutes and make a difference”, Ellis said.
Ellis said the coaching staff already knew ahead of the games that Rapinoe’s playing time would be limited, especially in the first few games.
“The group of girls that we have this year on the team for the first time has just been wonderful”, Press said.
Longo said it was special to think of all of New Zealand back home waking up to watch them play on Thursday morning and if everyone could take a day off and get behind us “that would be sweet”. “I’m one of the older players on this team, this is my fourth major championship, so I have quite a bit of experience”.
“Off the field she has been great”, Pugh said of Rapinoe. Meanwhile, star striker Alex Morgan was only just returning from injury and was short of her best.
It’s here. Tomorrow night the United States Women’s National Team will open play in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics against New Zealand on August 3 at Mineirão Stadium Belo Horizonte, Brazil (7 p.m. local / 6 p.m. ET) Provided of course, no more Olympic sized calamities occur in Rio between now and then, and cancel the games overall.
Excitement surrounds the USWNT, which enters the competition having won a record 11 consecutive games in the Olympic Football Tournament.
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The top-ranked Americans also will face No. 3 France and Colombia in the group stage en route to the eight-team knockout round, which culminates with the gold medal match at the legendary Maracana Stadium on August 19.
