USWNT - Germany women’s soccer: summary, score, goals, highlights 2024 Olympics in Paris
USWNT - Germany: as it happened
Full-time thoughts:
The USA outclassed Germany in Marseille, scoring 4 fantastic goals to move onto 6 points.
It was a thunderous showing of the attacking talent that the USWNT possess, with their young front line of Smith, Swanson and Rodman all having their moments against a Germany defence who were huffing and puffing at the first whistle.
It was precisely that speed and direct movement that saw the first two goals come for the US, with Smith getting in front of her marker to tap in Rodman's cross before Swanson beat the Germans to tap in a rebound.
In between the two goals, Gwinn struck past Naeher from distance but Smith's matched her effort, with a deflected shot spinning over Berger.
The second half saw things slow down, but Williams' late goal showed that the USA could turn it up when they saw fit and, despite some German scares, the result was never really in doubt.
That's all, folks!
Thanks for following the coverage of what turned out to be a fantastic game! Make sure to stay tuned to AS USA for all the latest Olympic Games updates.
Joe
FULL-TIME!
WHAT A WIN FOR THE USA!
We're into the final 60 seconds of what is set to be a thumping win for Emma Hayes.
The full-back goes low but it crashes into the wall.
Gwinn is over the ball...
A late leg from Williams sees an advancing Hegering go to ground on the edge of the US box.
USA changes:
OFF: Rodman, Fox
ON: Nighswonger, Krueger
5 added minutes goes up on the board as Naeher stops a shot from range.
And we're off again. A resounding result.
Rodman works hard to win the ball back and the US switch from right to left. Williams takes a touch inside the box, opens up her body and casually rolls the ball under the goalkeeper.
I'm struggling to pick an MVP of the game today. Smith, Swanson, Rodman, Girma, Gwinn... they're all candidates in my opinion.
Sophia Smith looks absolutely shattered on the sidelines. She's certainly played her part!
USA sub:
OFF: Smith
ON: Williams
SAVE FROM BERGER
A poor giveaway from Germany sees Lavelle free in the middle third. She slides the ball down the right to Rodman, who cuts inside and curls a shot towards the far post that is well saved.
Swanson gets in behind Germany's defence on the left side and sends a whipped ball to the far post, where Rose Lavelle is waiting. However, it gets stuck under her feet and Germany regroup, outnumbering her.
Ten to go...
As we've seen for the majority of the half, Hayes' side aren't in any rush to progress with the ball and leave themselves exposed at the back. The centre-backs are getting their passing numbers up as we close in on the final 10 minutes.
Popp off for Germany
OFF: Popp
ON: Senß
Popp is now on the sidelines and Gwinn has the captain's armband.
Popp is down and is holding her knee.
I feel that there might well be another goal in this: Germany are pushing when they see fit and are not dropping into their defensive area as the US control the ball in the middle third.
Brand gets away with one there as she brings Rodman down with her on halfway. German frustration is kicking in.
The US have been trying to control possession for the last few minutes as they look to take the sting out of Germany's recent spurt of excitement.
Twenty to go...
Germany move their pieces:
OFF: Nusken
ON: Lohmann
Germany test the USA again: a counter sees Gwinn get the ball in a central space on the edge of the box, but her shot is right down the middle of the goal and Naeher is grateful for the easy catch.
Horan is dispossessed in her own half but the runs from the forward players in pink shirts don't stretch the defensive line, who are able to stay compact and defend.
I think the Germans can smell blood here, especially with Gwinn against Dunn.
The ball is crossed in by Brand on the right and it rolls agonisingly across the line where a thousand German boots stab and prod at it, but somehow it stays out!
BIG MISS FROM GERMANY!
SCHULLER WAS A YARD FROM GOAL!
WIDE FROM THE USA
It was either Swanson or Dunn who got the last touch but the ball was sent inches wide from just a few yards out.
Rodman was in acres of space on the right and flashed a cross across the face of goal in another dangerously bad piece of defending from the Germans.
GERMANY OFF THE POST!
Brand, just inside the box on the right, tries to sneak in a rolled effort at the near post effort and it connects with the frame, spinning out behind.
A low effort is hit towards Naeher from Buhl as the attacker cuts in from the left. Positive from the side in pink.
Great work from Gwinn again, who flicks a backheel pass through the legs on Dunn on the right.
Squeals from the crowd as Gwinn makes a darting run inside and almost latches onto a long ball from the goalkeeper that was missed by Sonnett, but her presence was enough in the end to put her opponent off.
The intensity has not dropped, but the pace has. The US are controlling rather than dominating, with Germany crouched lions, waiting for their chance to pounce.
Hegering slides in well to stop a searching ball behind the defence from Horan that was aimed towards Rodman on the right.
With Emma Hayes at the helm, it's clear to see that the side are so much more tactically switched on than how we perhaps got used to seeing them in previous iterations.
Hendrich does well to cut out Smith's cross from the right after the forward was sent flying down the right channel after a long ball from Girma.
No changes from either side.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
The Germans get us going.
Here come the players!
The two teams are making their way out of the dressing rooms.
This is a special side!
3 goals in the first half for the first time since the Tamagotchi was introduced back in 1996.
Smiles from Sophia
A constant threat in behind and in front of the defence, Germany haven't been able to handle the youngster.
Half-time thoughts:
At one point, the best thing about the Germany performance was the pink and purple away kit that they are wearing. The US have angrily sliced and diced their opponents like it's Gordon Ramsay and not Emma Hayes on the touchline, killing them with every attack.
Funnily enough, it was Germany who started brightest, but that momentum was quickly squashed when Sophia Smith sent Rodman's cross into the net.
The equaliser came from Giulia Gwinn, Germany's best player so far, who struck from long range to level things up.
However, it didn't last for long. Swanson scored from close range before Smith got her second, and the front three have driven Germany mad for 45 minutes.
Can things turn around in the second half, or will the US dominance continue?
HALF-TIME!
What a performance from the USA front three. They have dominated a talented Germany side.
We're into the final minute of the half.
CHANCE FOR GERMANY
The first good chance in a while for Germany comes from Gwinn, who sends in a ball that Nusken heads towards the far post. It skims the paint on the way out...
Chants of 'USA! USA! USA!' coming from all four sides of the ground.
Rodman spins past her marker and slides the ball wide right to Sonnett, who sends in a diagonal cross towards Horan. Berger does well to read the flight of the ball and comes out strongly to collect.
The US are playing keep-ball now, they're almost in party mode...
7 added minutes.
Sophia Smith collects the ball at the far post from a corner.
She takes it on her right foot on the edge of the box and goes for goal. The effort takes a huge deflection and spins into the air, dropping in behind the outstretched arm of Berger.
US forced into a change:
OFF: Davidson
ON: Sonnett
We're back underway. Davidson is still off the pitch but the US are happy to carry on.
The medical services have raced onto the pitch. Seems to be a knee issue.
Davidson is down after being fouled by Nusken.
Germany are having their calmest and longest spell of possession right now. For the first time all game, I believe, they are keeping things ticking along at the back.
Shouts for handball as the US come again with Rodman on the right. The cross is fired in and looked to hit a hand, although the fact Gwinn is on the floor, winded, gives us the real location of the contact.
Sensational defending from Girma, who goes to ground instinctively to stop the through ball from Brand towards Schuller inside the box.
Gwinn goes for goal from distance - why not? - but her effort spins just over the bar.
Eek. A seemingly innocuous ball dropped into the US box causes all kinds of problems for the white shirts, who look around at each other like Cluedo suspects. Naeher collects, drops the ball and jumps on it as it hits the floor. Nerves.
Smith cha cha slides to the right, fooling the defender inside the box, However, she stabs a toe at the ball that rolls kindly into the hands of Berger.
Germany race out of the blocks and a decent cross is sent in from the left by Nusken. The US scramble it away from the danger zone. The chances are there for Germany...
And we're off... again!
How Germany are missing Oberdorf in the middle of the pitch. They can't cope with the front line of Smith, Swanson and Rodman.
Smith hits a long-range effort towards goal and it's saved by Berger.
Swanson uses her striker's instinct and follows up the shot, tapping in the rebound from close range. One for amateur coaches to show their players tomorrow morning.
GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLL!!! SWANSON PUTS THE US AHEAD
Maybe Australia and Zambia didn't use up all the goals...
Lavelle gets on the end of a header downwards by Horan, but she slices the ball and it spoons high and wide.
We're back underway.
It's a sensational strike from Gwinn, who gets the ball outside the box in the inside channel, shapes her body and fires a low drive into the far corner past Naeher.
Popp went down in the buildup, with the referee playing advantage, but she looks OK to carry on.
We're 20 minutes in and apart from the shaky start, the US look incredibly comfortable, both on and off the ball.
Hendrich gets the first yellow of the game for a late challenge on halfway.
That's better from Germany, who take some nice touches on the left before a cross is sent in by Rauch. The US defend and a solid challenge from Dunn sees the move break down.
Swanson chases a long ball and makes contact before it rolls out. She drives inside before slapping a shot at the palms of Berger, who was not getting caught out at her near post.
The Europeans need to find the ball from somewhere, or else they're going to forget what shape it is. Their lines are too separated and the US midfielders only need to make small, 5-yard diagonal bursts to find huge spaces.
SAVE FROM BERGER
Germany have jelly legs as the USA criss-cross through them with diagonal runs like overconfident fighter jets. Crosses are flying in and Berger scrambles to push away a deadly ball sent in from the left.
The US come again, immediately winning a corner as Germany look wobbly.
We're back underway.
Rodman, again, makes her way down the right wing and plays a delightful low cross towards Smith, who finds a yard in front of the defender and swipes home!
Dunn has the first US shot of the game. It's Rodman who burns down the right before sending a low cross to the penalty spot. Dunn connects but the effort is blocked.
The USA are almost playing with a back 3 in buildup as Crystal Dunn is so high up the pitch. Arsenal's Emily Fox is tucking in as a third centre-back.
Rose Lavelle does what Rose Lavelle does and sprints back towards her own goal before catching up with Jule Brand and taking the ball from her feet. The US caught out again in possession...
Germany are pressing the US very high up the pitch and their pink shirts are blocking all the paths out from the back. It's a tough opening for Hayes' side.
HUGE CHANCE FOR GERMANY
They really got away with that one. Sloppy passes at the back saw Brand break away down the right. The winger skips inside as she enters the box and crosses to Schuller, who directs her shot low and at Naehler in the goal.
Nusken almost makes contact on the ball inside the box after a decent Schuller cross from the left. An early warning sign for Hayes and her side.
Smith gets on the end of a long ball behind the German defence, but it rolls out for a goal kick.
AND WE'RE OFF!
The ball is rolling in Marseille.
National anthem time!
The players are lined up and we've got the national anthems before we get going.
Another snap during the warmup
They're inside now, but faces were serious during the pre-game physical work. The US know just how tough the challenge will be today.
Horan making history:
With her two assists against Zambia, Horan became fifth player in USWNT history with multiple assists in an Olympic match and now has three assists in her last two Olympic appearances dating back to the bronze medal match in Tokyo.
Warmups complete!
The22 players and the coaching staff have all made their way down the tunnelfor the final team talks before kick-off!
The atmosphere is buzzing inside the ground!
Don't forget to have your say!
Head over to Twitter and getinvolved with our live poll which lets you make a prediction on who's taking home the W from Marseille.
Want to keep up to date with all the medals being awarded at the Games? We've got you covered!
At AS USA, we have prepared alive medal tracker which is your perfect Olympic companion. I've got it bookmarked and I certainly recommend it for when you get asked the question of who's in the lead by your non-sporty family member at the summer BBQ.
SCORE UPDATE:
AUSTRALIA 5-5 ZAMBIA
Yes! Five goals each!
There are just over 10 to go on that one.
Not long to go!
Both sets of players are warming up on the pitch as the fans roll into the rows of seats around the ground.
It's 27ºC in Marseille today (81ºF) and we're at 56% humidity.
Here's Horst!
Herr Horst Hrubesch is the coach of Germany. Born in Hamm, the 73-year-old has worked in both men's and women's football and has taken charge of both the u21s and u23s men's teams in the German FA.
Did you know?
Ranked fourth in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings, Germany is the highest-ranked opponent the USA has faced since playing then third-ranked Sweden in the Round of 16 at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Getty Images
How Germany's last game went:
Germany, like the US, beat their opponents 3-0 in the opening game of Group B.
It was a resounding win for the side that, as mentioned, had dropped to a new low during the World Cup, and the much-needed result will surely give them the confidence to put up a good fight against a US side that can strike fear into anyone in the game.
A reminder of the starting XIs:
USWNT:
GK: Naeher
DEF: Fox - Girma - Davidson - Dunn
MID: Horan - Coffey - Lavelle
ATT: Smith - Rodman - Swanson
GERMANY:
GK: Berger
DEF: Rauch - Hegering - Hendrich - Gwinn
MID: Buhl - Minge - Popp - Brand
ATT: Schuller - Nusken
The stars have arrived!
The two teams have made their way onto the pitch ahead of the game!
The warmups are underway...
JOE KLAMAR / AFP
How can Basque Bibiane play for Germany?
Athletic Club's Basque only policy is unique in the world, as only players from the northern region of the Basque Country can play for the side.
Bibiane was born and raised in Germany, so why can she play for the team?
Her mother is actually Spanish, and Bibiane's family moved to Germany while she was pregnant. Therefore, Bibiane's heritage means she can play for both the German national team and Athletic Club. Unique.
Full Germany roster:
GOALKEEPERS: 1-Merle Frohms (VfL Wolfsburg, GER), 12-Ann-Katrin Berger (NJ/NY Gotham FC, USA)
DEFENDERS: Sarai Linder (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Kathrin Hendrich (VfL Wolfsburg), Bibiane Schulze Solano (Athletic Club Femenino, ESP), Marina Hegering (VfL Wolfsburg), Sara Doorsoun (Eintracht Frankfurt), Giulia Gwinn (FC Bayern München)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Janina Minge (SC Freiburg), 8-Sydney Lohmann (FC Bayern München), Sjoeke Nusken (Chelsea FCW, ENG), Elisa Senss (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Jule Brand (VfL Wolfsburg), Klara Buhl (FC Bayern München), Vivien Endemann (VfL Wolfsburg)
FORWARDS: Lea Schuller (FC Bayern München), Laura Freigang (Eintracht Frankfurt), Alexandra Popp (VfL Wolfsburg)
An hour to go!
What are your thoughts on the team from Emma Hayes?
Get in touch on Twitter, we're over on @English_AS
Emma Hayes got off to a winning start in the group as her US team beat Zambia 3-0 in Nice.
Two goals from Mallory Swanson and a Trinity Rodman strike put the Copper Queens to the sword in the French city and gave the US a perfect start to their gold medal push.
Zambia, for their part, looked typically like themselves over recent times, and flew forward at pace with direct runners that frightened at times, but their defence was as organised as a dropped bowl of pasta.
Alex Morgan's mega Olympic haul
Morgan, who is not in the squad, has already seen her fair share of Olympic action.
The San Diego Wave star has been the face of the USWNT and over that time she’s collected gold at the Games.
Earlier today, I had a closer look at her time on the big stage and just how many medals she’s got hanging from her Christmas tree in the hallway.
Score update:
In the other game in Group B, I'm slightly worried that they're using up all the goals.
Australia 2-4 Zambia | Minute 44
Here’s all the information you need to be able to follow the action in Marseille on your TV or tablet.
DARREN ENGLAND / EFE
How did Germany do in the World Cup?
A quick answer? Not very well at all...
Terribly, in fact. The German side failed to make it out of the Group Stage at the World Cup in 2023, with Colombia and Morocco grabbing the top two spots as the Europeans won just one of three games.
That put huge pressure on them to change things up, and these Games will surely help to see just how well progress is going.
Full USWNT roster:
GOALKEEPERS: Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)
DEFENDERS: Tierna Davidson (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Fox (Arsenal FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Casey Krueger (Washington Spirit), Jenna Nighswonger (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Emily Sonnett (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
MIDFIELDERS: Korbin Albert (Paris Saint-Germain), Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA), Rose Lavelle (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
FORWARDS: Crystal Dunn (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Jaedyn Shaw (San Diego Wave FC), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC)
VALERY HACHE / AFP
Who to watch out for:
On the US side, just about anyone.
Sophia Smith is the brightest star in the USWNT galaxy, but don't tell that to Trinity Rodman. Or Mallory Swanson. Or Girma, Dunn, Horan or Fox.
The team is brimming to the top with elite talent and despite recent poor performances at major tournaments (more on that later), they'll be looking for gold once again.
Injury update: Germany
Sarai Linder will not be available for the second Olympic group match today (from 9 p.m., live on ZDF and Eurosport) against the USA due to an infection.
Substitute athlete Felicitas Rauch will replace her in the German squad.
According to the Late Athlete Replacement policy, replaced athletes are allowed to return to the team in place of AA athletes as soon as their health allows.
How the group looks:
1. Germany | 3 points | +3 GD
2. USA | 3 points | +3 GD
3. Australia | 1 point | -3 GD
4. Zambia | 0 points | -3 GD
This is the state of play after match day 1 in Group B. Australia and Zambia both lost to their European opponents and in fact, their game is underway as you read this, so any goal notifications will be posted on this feed.
The calm before the storm...
Here's how things look before the fans make their way inside the ground. We saw the USYNT thrash their opponents New Zealand yesterday, but this game should be a lot more even.
CAPTURA TV
Who's the ref?
Señor Yael Cristian Falcón Pérez is the lucky man with the whistle today and for those of you who are not Argentina Primera División regulars, a new one to tick off in your Referee Spotter's Guidebook.
The 35-year-old made his debut in 2019 after training as a physical education teacher.
CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP
Where's the game being played?
The Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, one of the world's most iconic sporting venues, is the place where we will see the action unfold between the two top sides.
Openedin 1935, it has held World Cup fixtures as well as Euros games and is the regular home of Olympique Marseille, one of Europe's most successful sides.
The capacity sits at just under 70,000, and while we won't get it filled today, we're certainly in for a good atmosphere!
Injury news:
Both squads are at full pelt after match day 1 of the tournament, with neither manager forced into changes due to fitness.
Welcome!
Hello and a warm welcome to the AS USA live text commentary of the United States Women's National Team vs Germany in the Group Stage of the Paris Olympic Games.
It's Joe here to guide you through the action as it unfolds in Marseille.