Walker Zimmerman Credits Emma Hayes & USWNT As USMNT Breaks 16-Year Deadlock at Paris Olympics 2024

What a splendid way to translate inspiration into records! The USMNT Under-23 arrived at the 2024 Olympics in Paris to prove their passion for the beautiful game but faced a jolt after losing to France in their opening match. Now, the team is back with an authority-stamping performance in their 2nd game of the group stage to bolster their chance of getting into the knockouts. While it was the collective brilliance, it was also a milestone that none of the earlier US Men’s teams were able to achieve in the Olympics with the goals they scored. However, it’s the women’s team coached by Emma Hayes that gets credit for the men’s victory, as per the skipper Walker Zimmerman.

Speaking about the emphatic victory against New Zealand, Zimmerman thanked the USWNT for boosting their morale with their recent performance. According to the Athletic’s journalist Meg Linehan, Zimmerman said, “Being up at the half 3-0 was probably inspiration from the women’s team. We saw they could do it, we wanted to join in on the fun,” suggesting how they believed to emulate the women’s achievements.

The USWNT under Emma Hayes has been slowly catching up with the expectations of the fans after a few apprehensions about the team’s spell under her. With a rejuvenated outlook for the Olympics, the women’s team started with a bang against what was expected to be a tough and attacking Zambian side. Nevertheless, it was made to look like a walk in the park by the Stars and Stripes ladies who scored three in the first half itself and won the game 3-0. Hence, Zimmerman and his boys also believed and replicated the feat.

More impressively, they followed it with another goal in the second half winning the game 4-1 against a formidable New Zealand side. After qualifying for the Olympics after 16 years, this is also the first time the USMNT Under-23 scored 4 goals in an Olympic match thanks to goals from Zimmerman and his folks Djordje Mihailovic, Gianluca Busio, and Paxten Aaronson. However, they still have a game to go against Guinea but will have another women’s game to push them.

Emma Hayes and USWNT face a tougher challenge in the upcoming games

It will be intriguing to see if the women can replicate the same intensity against tougher opponents in their next two games. Emma Hayes will expect her troops to get more vigilant against Germany whom they face tonight. The 2016 gold medal winner in the Rio Olympics also won their opener 3-0 against a tougher Australian side. Nevertheless, Hayes’ approach has always been grounded as she expects her team to focus on the process rather than the medal. She already revealed that it was disrespectful for the USWNT to consider itself a major contender for gold. Nevertheless, the team has repeatedly proved its worth despite a few obstacles.

Coming to the game, the USA has a clear edge in terms of history winning 26 games out of the 35 times they met Die Nationalelf. They also lost just one game to Germany in a major tournament which will give them confidence against a technically offensive German team. But, can they pull off a triumph despite the absence of previous legends like Megan Rapinoe or Alex Morgan? Let us know in the comments.