All week long, at the gleaming new U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia, Emma Hayes talked about “learnings” that would benefit the team from its seismic collision with Spain, which ever since the 2023 World Cup has overthrown the USWNT and claimed the throne that the Americans had occupied as if it were a birthright.
And then came Saturday and Hayes and her team got, um, schooled: Spain 2, U.S. 0.
“I’m frustrated and disappointed,” said Hayes, looking frustrated and disappointed at her post-match presser while adding, “But I’m not deterred.”
Good for her because in the first 14 minutes, Spain unveiled a masterclass of technical proficiency that left the Americans appearing dazed and confused. And their coach with some homework to do on the ride up the turnpike to Philadelphia where they hope that a re-test on Tuesday will yield higher marks. “I’m sure we’ll all be on our iPads, studying the game,” said Trinity Rodman, the hometown darling who received a raucous ovation at DC’s sold-out Audi Field. She and everyone else on the bus will be trying to come up with answers to at least a few of the following questions:
• Can they find a defensive spine to withstand Spain’s kaleidoscopic midfield passing, swarming counter press and dead-eye finishing without the steely composure of their injured anchors Naomi Girma and Sam Coffey?
Granted, the U.S. outshot Spain 13-6 but that number belies the fact that La Roja made off with the Americans’ lunch money. “You can’t afford to go 2-0 down in the first 14 minutes against the best team in the world,” said Hayes. Imagine giving Usain Bolt a 20-yard head start in the 100-meter dash because when the gun sounded you froze in the blocks. Then imagine a U.S. midfield that hadn’t finished introducing themselves to their newly rejigged backline and well, as they say, no bueno.
• Can they find a goalkeeper, historically as reliable and available as your nearest Chick-fil-A drive-thru, who can break high presses with assured distribution?
Would legends like Brianna Scurry, Hope Solo or most recently, Alyssa Naeher have sprayed goal kicks over the touchline? No disrespect to Claudia Dickey who was under siege in that early onslaught, but the question has to be asked.
• Can they find a left back to match the versatility and speed of the woman whose World Cup and gold medal-winning 12-year international career was honored in a buoyant pre-game celebration?
At times during Saturday’s Spanish Inquisition, you wouldn’t blame Hayes if she pulled Crystal Dunn out of the stands and sent her back into the fray. Instead, she chose to make her only halftime substitution by injecting a B-12 shot named Giselle Thompson. Thompson’s pace on the left flank helped the U.S. to keep Spain from bothering the scoreboard in the second half. La Roja didn’t even get a single shot off in those 45 minutes. Then again, they didn’t need to.
• Can they find a more effective approach to taking PKs and consign the clownish “stutter-step” to the dustbin?
In the 67th minute, Sophia Wilson drew a foul in the box, giving the U.S. a chance to get back in the game. There stood Trinity Rodman on the penalty spot, cradling the ball as the crowd roared in the hope that the Washington Spirit star was about to do the honors.
But she didn’t. Who would? Would it be Sophia Wilson who had converted all eleven of her PKs for the Portland Thorns? But it wasn’t. Could it be Lindsay Heaps, the team captain who was No.1 on the pre-match list of penalty takers? No, it couldn’t, because she had been subbed out of the game by then.
Well, who was No. 2 on the list? It says Lily Yohannes, the youngest player on the team at 19 who in her entire club career (Ajax and OL Lyonnes) had never taken a penalty kick. As calmly as she stood there and as smoothly as the ball was struck, she merely added more evidence to what Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane had already provided in the recent men’s World Cup: the surest way to miss a PK is to stutter-step.
“That just sort of felt like the ball’s just not going to go in today,” Hayes said. “But I don’t put those things down to poor luck. I put it down to poor execution, including the penalty.”
• Can you find the answers to these nagging questions by Tuesday?
No. But can the U.S. use these two high-stakes, high-intensity games against a better team to plot an ascent route to the summit where Spain, in all its swagger, will almost certainly await this summer? “We’re a really good team, regardless of the result today,” Hayes said. “I think we’re much closer to them than we were three years ago definitely.”
If the gap is indeed narrowing, in Hayes’ mind, it comes down to the small details that the team has to get right — reacting more quickly, closing space, establishing connectivity between the lines, among other innumerable “learnings.” Oh, and scoring goals. “The lessons we’ve been teaching the players have to land harder now,” Hayes said.
As she made her way to the team bus, Hayes paused and, flashing a hint of a smile, told us the most valuable takeaway from Saturday’s game: “It’s better to have your pants pulled down in October than in June.”
• David Hirshey and Roger Director are co-editors of “Pride of a Nation: A Celebration of the United States National Soccer Team.“
Why worry, we will always have the horses, we’ll do just fine and remain one of the better teams in the world. But you have to realize we have been COASTING on our talent all these years, thinking we our tops in soccer because we win most of our games and we could beat Spain in the next game, perhaps.
Watching Spain play is a complete slap in the face of how we have developed and conducted our soccer program. When we were beating teams left and right in the world, Spain wasn’t even a household name in woman soccer . Spain was a late starter with women’s soccer and look what they have accomplished. They have accomplished aspects of the game , ball possession, keeping ball possession under pressure, with a donut in one hand a cup of coffee in the other.
They have denied better , stronger teams by not allowing them to have the ball. Their ability to possess the ball is a masterpiece of chess piece movements. When I look at our girls while watching Spain play, I ask myself WTF where did we go wrong…..
Spain , I trust is working on shooting and kicking for they have got their possession game down. Look at how the corners are kicked, their kicking techniques are better than ours on corners. Even though the 2 goals they scored were tops and sort of unbelievable, that first goal ,that shot was no fluke . I’m beginning to believe they are expanding their game working on the weaker aspect, shooting and kicking
Spanish coaches completely outclass what Nats players have access to, as you know. Their youth system of development is holistic and uniform across the board, as evidenced by all the youth titles they have been accumulating the past 5+ years. Their coaches think long and hard about the game, tactics and strategies, and have the benefit of kids who have played together for country (and often club) for 10+ years already. They focus on soccer IQ first and athletics later, and all have digested the same values and principles of play. I think Emma is a smart leader, but would have more confidence in her getting a result had she ever lead Chelsea to defeat Barca in champions league play.
For Spain, it’s all about their culture of soccer. For the USA, many of our young pro’s are catching up but it was a game where the scoreline could have been much different if our box play was clinical
Culpability also falls on the coaching staff. Fielding a midfield with an attacking mid (Lavelle) and technically two box-to-box mids, Heaps and Yohannes, assuming the latter could fill the #6 position, was mind-boggling—especially when the back four were essentially ‘duct taped’ together. Not suggesting that Hutton or Howell would have won the game, but that decision certainly played into Spain’s strengths.
Absolutely this, 100%, and especially since neither Heaps or Yohannes are known for their speed, tenacity and tactical acquity, they were always “chasing and trying to catch up” to whatever diagonal and through pass Spain was running. This certainly won’t do against top teams, and is definitely fatal against Spain’s multifaceted attacks.
Something Emma has done since taking over is the search for new, younger talent. No veteran or aging star has a locked in spot.
Heaps is on the clock.
The youth success that Spain has had with both the men and women proves that their federation is the best in the world at developing talent. They aren’t just better than the US – they do it better than any other country.
OC , what impresses me the most is what they have done to women’s soccer in such a short time. They have made footballers out of these women . All the women are well versed in basics of soccer. Watching
Them play ball possession requires so much of so many elements of soccer that many don’t even see or are aware of.
I compare it to a captain of the ship following when the real work is down below in the engine room that requires so many various mechanical aspects to maintain the running of the ship.
When I watch Spain play , I don’t watch the game or like look at a painting, but at the brush strokes painter makes in order to convey what he tries to do, in other words go into the engine room
I would bet that these women watch professional soccer all the time. All of my relatives who live in Europe, men and women, regularly watch the game. That makes a huge difference. That builds soccer IQ. The young women in the US don’t watch soccer. Yes, they go to pro games if there is a local team, but they aren’t students of the game. That has to change or else the US women will continue to fall behind.
Good point
Is this the definition of “schooled”?
Stats:
USA/Spain
Shots: 13 / 6
Shots on target: 10 / 3
Saves: 1 / 9
Corner Kicks: 2 / 2
Fouls: 4 / 12
Offside: 4 / 1
Possession: 46% / 54%
Toby, ‘schooled ‘ to you is to pick an Elvis painting on a velvet background over a Rembrandt because the colors are brighter
I don’t think Spain schooled the US in this game, and in fact, I believe the US should have won this game based on chances created, but when we talk about trajectory, Spain is moving so fast forward that if the US doesn’t make seismic changes in how we develop young players, the women will be WC rd of 16/quarfinalists at best. The first half showed what Spain can do at their best – and remember, they were missing 6-7 starters. Yes, we were missing 3-4 as well, but when you consider what the Spanish youth national teams are doing and what our teams are not doing, we are in danger.
If the US wants to make changes in youth development, the federation needs to take complete control. First, it needs to hire people who actually understand how to develop young players and teach coaches how to coach properly. I realize that will be the most difficult step.
It needs to kill all the national youth leagues. Decertify US Club Soccer and reorganize USYS into roughly 8-10 regions (based on population, for instance, CA might be its own region). Each region’s coaching director reports to the national team coaching staff. One style, one system.
Get rid of all the national playing leagues, championships (including State championships), etc. Don’t sanction any club that allows showcase tournaments, college ID camps, etc. In other words, eliminate anything that promotes a pay-for-play mentality. Kids should play locally, not be forced to spend all weekend traveling to play a soccer game. Let kids play high school soccer again – it builds community and a sense of playing for one’s “colors.”
Regional coaching staffs identify the top players and bring them into regular regional training camps, much like what the national teams do, but on a more regular basis to ensure more contact with top training staff. This entire program is free of charge. Technology has made identifying players so much easier, so the argument that the US is geographically too large is B.S. All of this is funded by the the federation and sponsors.
Allow AYSO to continue as the league for everyone to have fun playing soccer without the pressure of winning.
Require all MLS and NWSL to have multi-tier youth development systems that are fully staffed.
The college game as a reliable pathway to professionalism is dead. The best players are already bypassing college and going pro at 15-16 years old. It’s time to recognize the reality of the game and to blow it all it.
I still think the college game can be worthwhile (especially for keeper development) but should allow college teams to play in the Open Cup. Good visibility, reality check on actual performance against adults, and derby potential activated which gets butts in seats. NCAA is a dinosaur so I wouldn’t expect miracles but would help build the sport regionally and boost NIL $.
BIG mistake to leave Emily Sams out!!
I did not watch the full game. But if you watch the USA – Spain FULL Highlights & Goals (youtube.com/watch?v=DQc5YjMPjWY), the USA side looks a lot more dangerous. There were essentially three Spain highlights; two excellent goals and a red card. Otherwise, the US was creating one chance after another with excellent run-of-play through balls and crosses. The result can’t be debated, but the match was not a beatdown by any stretch of the match. Some unlucky finishes plus the missed PK…and this could have been USA 4-2 Spain. I think we’ll see a USA win or at least a draw Tuesday, 7pm on TNT .