Youthful Depth Highlights USWNT 3-0 Win Over Canada

On a night where Coach Emma Hayes rested all but one of her Europe-based players, the young squad she fielded demonstrated that there is a wealth of talent still to be developed although already at a very high level. As the rest of the world has started fielding strong and sophisticated teams, the perennial number one will need to improve.

We first saw this when the team bowed out of the last World Cup and we see it right now as the high level of European national teams are on display in their UEFA competition. The new Canadian coach, Casey Stoney, fielded a well-disciplined squad which was not quite up to the current US standard, but still provided enough of a threat to test Hayes’ squad.

Despite scoring two goals in the first half, the US struggled to play a balanced game. Alyssa Thompson spent much of that half alone on the left side with little service to unleash her speed and effective attacks. Changes at the half addressed that along with other fine points.

Hayes noted, “We struggled to come out the left, even though the space was there, and that’s why I was talking about the positioning of the pivots – – – I thought their right back had a really good first half against Alyssa – – – I thought second half we just adapted some things, not just with her movement, but the positioning of Lilly (Reale), the positioning of Rose (Lavelle), the positioning of Sam (Coffey), and all of those things add up to create more opportunities.”

Thompson’s energetic play illustrated a point that both Stoney and Hayes made about fitness during their interviews. The modern game, despite the latest 5 substitute rule, requires a great deal of movement under duress. Both emphasized the importance of regular focused practice and play at their home clubs.

Still, the finishing touch in player and team development lies in practice and play “at the level”, under game-like pressure. Wednesday’s game demonstrated how it works, in Hayes’ words, “I have to give credit to the senior players down the spine, Lynn (Biyendolo), Rose, Sam (Coffey), Naomi (Girma), Sonnet (Emily), they ran the show. They made sure the standards were high. They made sure we played the way we wanted to play.”

Describing how pairing a veteran alongside a rapidly developing youngster proved valuable, Hayes pointed out, “For Claire (Hutton) to get her first goal from her head at front post was exceptional. How good she is aerially. And for Sam, I think she’s in the form of her life. I think she’s getting better with every game. She’s finding her flow, she’s elevating all the time in her performances.”

Coffey, who was an occasional substitute until recently due to the talented depth in midfield, has now transitioned to exemplary veteran while still developing herself. Hayes noted, “And I say this sometimes she is a top, top player, and what a great role model for Claire and someone to grow alongside.”

Early in the game and throughout, Lavelle could be seen constantly scanning the field and directing traffic. She clearly takes her role seriously as does Naomi Girma who asked to play rather than rest along with the Europe based players. When the squad is at full strength, players have more sophistication, which is best realized by constant integration of new blood. Hayes explained, “I’ve always maintained I’m a developer, but I’ve also been involved with a winning team for 12 years, and to create successive competitive environments, you have to keep evolving.”

Hayes described a major part of her plan for the future, “Our young players have to compete on the international stage. They have to play under 17 World Cups and under 20 World Cups and under 23 fixtures. This is what you have to do to close the gap.”

She went on, “There’s an under 20 World Cup next year, and I will want to make sure our best players in that age category are going to the under 20 World Cup. So, we have to work together with the NWSL, maybe the broadcasting, to get these things right, because it matters for the USA.”

Over the next year, in preparation for the next World Cup in 2027, the team will need to reintegrate a recovering Tiffany Rodman, and later two who will be new mothers, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Smith. All will be challenged by newcomers Ally

Sentnor, the Thompson sisters (Giselle too), Hutton, and Avery Patterson. The competition will demand of all that they practice hard and play regularly, just what the coach desires.