How the teams are preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympics
Twelve teams are getting ready for the Paris 2024 Olympics, starting on the 25th of July. France, Spain and Germany have to play EURO 2025 Qualifiers and others scheduled friendlies to prepare. Let’s have a look at the results and see how the teams are preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Emma Hayes starts off strong with a win over Mexico
It’s Emma Hayes’s first big tournament and the head coach is more than ready for it. The injury from Cat Macario was quickly solved with Lynn Williams and the USWNT was ready to face Mexico. The two played against each other earlier this year in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Mexico won with 2-0 after the goals from Ovalle and Pelayo-Bernal.
Hayes knew a strong start would mean everything just before the Paris 2024 Olympics and so they did. Under the new head coach the team has not conceded a goal the last three games. Mexico is a strong opponent that did not give it away easily, but eventually in the second half Sophia Smith managed to score the opener. Smith got close to her second, but she hit the near post.
Tuesday the team will play another match, this time against Costa Rica. After that game the USWNT will travel to France and go into the final preparation mode for the Olympics 2024.
Canada makes comeback against Australia
Both Canada and Australia are participating in the tournament, but start in different groups. They share the same training location in the South of France. The perfect opponents for a friendly to sharpen their strategy. Australia has quite a few injured players at the moment. Steph Catley is working through a lower leg injury, and Foord is not fit yet either. They still have until the 25th to recover, so let’s hope they do.
The match started out well for The Matilda’s. Freier scored the opener after 23 minutes of play. Canada regrouped quickly via Prince’s goal. The second half The Matilda’s had to defend a lot more and mostly blocked Canada’s shots. Until the 85th minute when Viens eventually scored the winning goal. A good start for Canada. Both teams will play another friendly in the coming week.
Japan practices against Ghana
Ghana did not manage to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics, but they do get to be part of Japan’s warm up. Japan won with 4-0 after goals from Tanaka, Hamano, Fujino and Ueki. All goals were scored in the second half. It took Japan a while before they got grip on the game. Japan is the only team who beat Spain fearlessly during the World Cup 2023. We think they could outshine most during the women’s football Olympics 2024.
EURO 2025 Qualifiers as practice
Spain, Germany and France played a EURO 2025 Qualifier on the 12th and will play another on the 16th of July. Spain lost against Czechia with 2-1, Germany lost against Iceland with 3-0 and France won from Sweden with 2-1. Spain and Germany losing their matches surprised everyone. It seems like they underestimated their opponents, but they also qualified for the tournament already. The need to earn points was not that high apparently. Spain is one of the favorites to challenge Canada for their title. They will however have to step it up once again.
France was the only team who managed to win their qualifier on the 12th. On the 16th Spain will face Belgium, Germany will play against Austria and France travels to the Republic of Ireland. Tough opponents and good results are almost mandatory to go to the Paris 2024 Olympic women’s football with a good feeling.
All teams preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympics
Zambia vs New Zealand ended up in a 1-1 draw. Goals were scored by Roda Chileshe and Katie Kitching (penalty). Both countries are in different groups, so might meet each other later in the tournament. New Zealand and Zambia are the under dogs of the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Football Ferns are in group A with the current Olympic Champion Canada, France and Colombia. Zambia has to face the USA, Germany and Australia.
Colombia is meeting Ecuador later today for a friendly. The last time these two played against each other was in 2022 during the Copa America. Colombia won with 1-2. We are not aware of any friendlies for Nigeria and Brazil.
