[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] August 6, 2024; Decines-Charpieu, France; Sophia Smith of america celebrates with teammates after scoring in opposition to Germany through the girls’s soccer semifinals of the 2024 Paris Summer season Olympics on the Stade de Lyon. Necessary Credit score: Nir Elias/Reuters by way of USA TODAY Sports activities In 2004, 18-year-old Brazilian legend Marta broke the hearts of the U.S. girls’s nationwide group when Abby Wambach scored the go-ahead aim in time beyond regulation through the Olympic gold medal sport.
4 years later, america once more received the gold medal, beating Brazil on Carli Lloyd’s 96th-minute aim.
Marta, 38, will face her outdated nemesis for the ultimate time in Paris on Saturday for the gold medal. She is searching for her first Olympic title whereas Crew USA is searching for its fifth title, most not too long ago in 2012.
“This group has at all times had a regular of profitable and profitable on the most important levels,” U.S. ahead Sophia Smith stated. “We’re very happy with that and need to honor that in the whole lot we do to honor the gamers who got here earlier than us.”
In contrast to the earlier 5 Olympics, the place Marta both failed or didn’t succeed with Brazil, this time she relied on her teammates to win gold.
Marta, who will retire from worldwide responsibility on the finish of 2024, has been suspended for the previous two video games after selecting up a purple card of their final group sport in opposition to Spain. Brazil certified for the ultimate after defeating host France within the quarter-finals and 2023 World Cup champion Spain within the semi-finals.
“Truthfully, in these video games with out Marta, we did it for her,” Brazilian midfielder Angelina stated. “We needed to present her a very nice farewell. It was a dream of mine to compete with Marta and now it is a dream come true. To do it in an Olympic closing, it is simply excellent.”
Whereas Brazil coach Arthur Elias should determine whether or not to maintain the lineup intact or reinsert Marta, there is no such thing as a doubt who will lead the U.S. assault.
Of the 11 targets scored by america, Smith, Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson every had three. Rodman and Smith scored in time beyond regulation within the final two video games to assist the group win 1-0.
“We’re so dynamic, we’re so fluid,” Smith stated. “We will all play anyplace on the entrance line, which may be very tough to defend.”
Saturday could also be particularly particular for Smith as a result of he turns 24 that day.
“We need to go away with the gold,” she stated. “We have finished it to this point. We have labored actually onerous… This would be the greatest birthday current.”
–Scene-level media
