The United States Women’s National team plays New Zealand in a Group stage at the Rio Olympics on Wednesday, August 3 kick off time at 6:00 PM ET at the Mineirao in Belo Horizonte, in Brazil.
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This is a very different team attempting to finish the job, though.
Carli Lloyd emerged as a superstar when the USA won the 2015 World Cup last summer.
Men: The competition starts with eight games Thursday, with Brazil playing South Africa in Brasilia.
It marked the Olympic debut of Pia Sundhage as head coach of her native Sweden.
I think the toughest (opponents) are going to be ourselves, said Lloyd, who scored a hat trick in the World Cup final against Japan. “No other team should intimidate our team”.
The women also complain that they get a lower per diem – daily money for expenses like food.
Once Lloyd put the USA ahead, New Zealand were left chasing the game. Maybe New Zealand will escape with a draw, like they did back in 2013.
Lloyd has a reputation for being a big-game player and in Rio she is back where that all started for her.
Canada 2, Australia 0: History was made in Sao Paulo when Canada’s Janine Beckie took only 20 seconds to make a mark on her third Summer Games by scoring the fastest goal ever at the Olympics. Lloyd at 34? Just put her out there for 90 minutes and let her score. If they win their group they will face a third place finisher from either Group E or F. If they win that match, they could potentially face hometown favorites Brazil. She has vowed to keep going and keep building her legacy – and she clearly looks poised for it after Wednesday. Lloyd’s goal came just nine minutes into the Olympic opener and Morgan added the insurance goal just a minute into the second half.
As a top women’s soccer power, the US has performed well at both tournaments throughout the years and has even held the titles of Olympic champions and World Cup champions at the same time, as they now do. Morgan and Rapinoe were both on the previous Olympic squad that won the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
Now 34, Lloyd scored the winning goal in the 2008 gold medal game against Brazil.
“We came out with a lot of energy and a lot of determination”, said Heath, who has taken on more of a leadership role with the arrival of younger players like Dunn, Pugh and Lindsey Horan with whom she played at Paris St. Germain and now with the Portland Thorns.
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The U.S. announced earlier Wednesday that its first two friendlies after the Olympics will be against Thailand on September 15 in Columbus, Ohio, and against the Netherlands on September 18 in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome.
