USWNT head coach Emma Hayes: These players want to make their own history at Paris 2024
The United States Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) are one win away from a staggering fifth Olympic gold at Paris 2024.
Emma Hayes’s side cruised through the group stages, but had to dig deep in extra-time against Japan and Germany in the knockouts to reach the final.
Extra-time wins require character and tenacity, and the teams' performances have delighted their manager.
“I could see today (in their 1-0 over Germany) that players were having to dig to the deepest place within them,” Hayes said at full-time.
“I’ve said this all along – the reason I want to play them together for as long as possible is because I want them to develop them.
“I want them to suffer, I want them to have that moment because I do not believe you can win without it.”
The British coach's comments are indicative of the change she has instilled within the U.S. team since taking the reigns just over two months ago.
Their motivation comes from a desire to create their own history together, and step out of the shadows of those that went before.
“It [these knockout games] is heart and head, and that our group wants to create a new history for themselves.
“They did enough to get us into the final, [now] we have to take the next step.”
The USWNT take on Brazil in the gold medal match on Saturday (10 August).