“I love being in America”: Emma Hayes enjoys USWNT’s Olympic rehearsals

The encounter with Costa Rica on Tuesday evening in the country’s capital is the last friendly match for the US women before leaving for the Olympic Games in France.

It will be the fourth game under the leadership of Coach Emma Hayesthe Englishwoman who refereed the friendlies against South Korea in June – 4-0 and 3-0 victories. In their first game since being named to the Olympic squad, the USA beat Mexico 1-0 on Saturday. Sophia Smith Goal with 70 percent possession and 17:3 more shots on goal than El Tri.

The narrow victory prompted a predictable response when Hayes was asked what areas she would like to see improvement in.

“Knowing how much possession the team had in the last game, how much control the team had – we can do more with that, especially in the final third,” she said. “But tomorrow we will face a different threat, a different challenge. So we have to adapt to that and just keep working on the connections between each other, that’s the most important thing.”

Costa Rica, like Mexico, failed to qualify for the 2024 Games. The United States has won all 17 previous meetings with Costa Rica, scoring 90 goals and conceding just two in a 7-2 win over Las Ticas in 2015.

Hayes spoke to the media on Monday, when a “heat warning” was issued in Washington, DC, as temperatures reached 38 degrees. Temperatures are forecast to be around 37 degrees at kickoff.

“This is the perfect preparation for Marseille, it’s pretty hot down there,” said Hayes. “So this is a great opportunity for us to find out what to expect. For me, that’s an added value.”

The USA will play its first game against Zambia in Nice on July 25 before facing Germany (July 28) and Australia (July 31) in Marseille. There are predictions that this year’s Summer Olympics could be the hottest ever.

For the U.S. women, the Paris Games are a chance to win their first gold since 2012, when they won their fourth and third consecutive gold medals in London. A quarterfinal exit in 2016 was followed by bronze in Japan in 2021.

Hayes was asked if she could not wait to complete her preparations and reach the Olympic stage.

“I think we spend so much time wishing for time to pass in life, but not me,” she said. “My message to the team is the same as it is to myself, which is to be as present as possible. This man (nods towards the USWNT communications director) Aaron Heifetz) reminded me that he served eight head coaches before me (and) how important it is to be present, how important it is to have joy and how important it is to keep perspective, right, Heif?

“All of those things are really important. I don’t want to just wish it away. I want to enjoy it, but also make sure we’re as prepared as possible by taking it step by step.”

Hayes, who spent several years coaching in the United States before her long stint as Chelsea coach in the 2000s, has actually enjoyed her weeks leading up to the U.S. Olympics.

“My mum is with me this week,” she said, “and I think she would like me to be a little more homesick, but I love being in America, I really do. I love everything that comes with it and I’m just excited to be back in a football culture that has evolved since I was here, whether it’s the quality of the stadiums, which feel more European, or the atmosphere in the stadiums.

“I’m really, really impressed. I keep telling the players that we’re here to win and to entertain the crowd. And that goes both ways. The celebration when we score a goal is something I particularly enjoy.”

The 20,000-seat Audi Stadium will be sold out, and the Washington Spirit players will receive a particularly enthusiastic welcome. Casey Krueger And Trinity RodmanAnd Emily Foxwho comes from nearby northern Virginia. (Spirit Player Cross Bethunewho made her US debut against Mexico, and Hal Hershfelt are US alternatives.)

“I love that part – seeing the players in their host territories, so it will be nice for them to see that,” Hayes said. “I was telling my family this about the crowds over the weekend: In England it can be quite tribal. Here it’s fanatical in a different way. There’s such a great party atmosphere in the stadiums.”

“I love the drums. They keep me going while I play and I love the atmosphere the crowd creates. Honestly. It’s very different culturally, but I really enjoy it.”

Emma Hayes on watching the Euro 2024 final (Spain 2, England 1): “I was in a place called Across the Pond. My son was sitting under the table with headphones on, I think it was a bit too loud for him but he coped. … So tough for England but what an outstanding team Spain are in many ways. European champions for the men, world champions for the women, Champions League winners. They even won Wimbledon in tennis yesterday.

“In Spain, methodology and DNA is very important. Frankly, they have a style of play that is better than anyone else’s. So congratulations to them and my condolences to England.”