Since Emma Hayes assumed the role of head coach for the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT), an outpouring of praise and optimism has followed her. Renowned for her candor and steadfast approach, Hayes recently made headlines with her assertion that the USWNT is not guaranteed overwhelming favoritism in its pursuit of success at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This statement drew sharp criticism from former USMNT legend Alexi Lalas.

As preparations begin for the upcoming Olympic campaign, the 47-year-old expressed concern about solely talking about the semi-finals or finals, emphasizing that such thinking fails to recognize the significant advancements in women’s soccer. She underscored that achieving victory is no longer a straightforward endeavor. Talking on his podcast, Lalas critiqued Emma Hayes’ viewpoint, questioning whether it was appropriate to lower expectations.

He remarked, “You don’t get to do that. Even if you’re Emma Hayes, you’re the coach of the US women’s national team.” The 54-year-old argued that expecting a win from such a talented squad is neither incorrect nor unrealistic. “So I get the icky feeling that she’s kind of setting it up for less than stellar types of performances when it comes to the Olympics,” Lalas further added. “Emma, you were hired to win, to win with this team.”

Further emphasizing accountability, he concluded with, “You don’t get to make excuses because you’re going through a transition period.” Alexi Lalas acknowledges that the USWNT is currently in a transitional phase, with the primary focus on the upcoming World Cup. However, he emphasizes that this should not lessen expectations for their Olympic performance.

Nonetheless, Emma Hayes is also not lowering her ambitions for the Olympics and the ultimate goal is no doubt the gold. Unfortunately, the team has experienced a significant setback as they prepare for their opening match against Zambia.

USWNT receive a huge Jaedyn Shaw setback

The USWNT is set to face Zambia in their opening match. However, a significant setback has emerged with the announcement that young talent Jaedyn Shaw will not participate due to an injury. Shaw sustained a leg injury during a recent NWSL matchup between San Diego Wave FC and Gotham FC. Initial reports indicated that she was undergoing medical evaluations to determine her potential availability for the match against Zambia.

However, it has now been confirmed that she will be unable to play. At just 19 years old, Shaw has proven herself as an exceptional and integral player for the USWNT, making this news especially challenging for head coach Emma Hayes. The only silver lining is the hope that the teen forward may recover sufficiently from her injury during her time off for this match, allowing her to rejoin the team in their upcoming group-stage games against Germany and Australia.