Olympics 2024: Emma Hayes seeks gold standard in ambition to take USWNT back to the top

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·24 July 2024

Olympics 2024: Emma Hayes seeks gold standard in ambition to take USWNT back to the top

Once dominant force of the women’s game endured difficult World Cup

After establishing herself among the best female coaches in the world during 12 trophy-laden years at Chelsea, Emma Hayes begins her bid to prove herself on the international stage.

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Hayes leads the United States women’s national team in their quest to win Olympic gold for the first time since London 2012.

The men’s football tournament in France starts on Wednesday and the US women kick-off against Zambia on Thursday in Nice.

Hayes enjoyed unprecedented success at Chelsea, but transforming the fortunes of the US promises to be a real challenge. The one-time dominant force in the women’s game and four-time gold medal winners have faded in recent years. Last year, they endured their worst-ever World Cup, when they were dumped out by Sweden on penalties in the last 16.

The team was criticised for its mentality, tactics, failing to solve in-game problems and not having a clear identity.

That disastrous campaign was viewed as the day the US hit rock bottom and has led to plenty of introspection, including questions over whether the college system and academies in the NWSL have been overtaken by the way wealthy European clubs are producing talent.

Hayes has been tasked with getting the US back to the top by leading a new generation of players, with national legend Megan Rapinoe now retired. Hayes was a pundit for ITV during the World Cup and picked apart the US performances, with a lack of creativity her main concern.

In Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman, though, she has an exciting forward line that should change that. But a 0-0 draw in the send-off game against Costa Rica suggested there is still work to be done.

World champions Spain are favourites for gold and the US will need to hit the ground running against Zambia, with tougher tests to follow in the group against Germany and Australia, and only the top two guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals.

In the men’s tournament, Thierry Henry has a chance to show his top-level coaching pedigree.

Thierry Henry is in charge of an exciting France squad at the Olympics

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The Arsenal legend is tasked with leading an exciting France squad which includes Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and Michael Olise to glory on home soil.

Henry failed in a short spell in charge at Monaco before two years at Montreal Impact, but a good tournament could catapult him back into the frame for club jobs around Europe.

France are among the favourites for the men’s title, along with Spain and Argentina, who have named a strong squad that includes Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez.