USA, Germany, Spain, and Brazil have emerged as the women's football semi-finalists at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The quarter-final stage was thrilling, with three out of four matches going into extra-time and two requiring a penalty shoot-out session to decide the winners.
Four-time Olympic gold medalists, the USWNT, were the first to secure their spot in the semi-finals after a determined performance against long-time rivals Japan.
In a tense match ultimately decided in the first half of extra-time, Crystal Dunn and Trinity Rodman combined for a brilliant moment of magic to secure a 1-0 win.
The US will face Germany in the semi-finals, who also needed extra time to overcome reigning Olympic champions Canada.
Unlike the former tie, this encounter was decided by penalties, Ann-Katrin Berger's heroics – saving two and scoring her own – helping Germany advance.
This will be the second time these two nations meet in this tournament, having previously faced each other in the group stage, where the USWNT delivered a dominant 4-1 win.
The upcoming match will also mark the 37th between the two sides, with the USA holding the upper hand with 24 wins, while seven games ended in a draw and Germany has won just five times.
In the other semi-final, world champions Spain will face Brazil for a chance to win the coveted gold and become the first nation to win the double (World Cup & Olympic gold medal) consecutively.
The two semi-final winners will compete for the Gold Medal on August 10 at Parc des Princes in Paris, while the losing teams will face off for the bronze a day earlier, on August 9 in Lyon.
Here is all you need to know ahead of the USA vs. Germany match-up.
Team News
USA
Since Emma Hayes, the longtime head coach of Chelsea FC, officially took charge of the USWNT in late May, the team has remained unbeaten with a record of 7 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw.
For Tuesday’s match, Hayes will have her full 18-woman squad available, as Sam Coffey has completed her yellow card accumulation suspension vs. Japan.
Germany
As for the Germans, Horst Hrubesch might be inclined to stick with the same line-up that started the semi-final clash with Canada.
Kathrin Hendrich and Marina Hegering are expected to form the center-back duo in central defense after overcoming their fitness concerns before Saturday’s match.
At the other end of the pitch, Bayern Munich’s Lea Schuller will remain one of Germany’s primary goal threats, having scored three goals so far in the tournament.
Likely lineups
USA: Naeher; Fox, Girma, Sonnett, Dunn; Lavelle, Coffey, Horan; Rodman, Smith, Swanson.
Coach: Emma Hayes
Germany: Berger; Gwinn, Hendrich, Hegering, Rauch; Brand, Minge, Popp, Buhl; Nusken, Schuller.
Coach: Horst Hrubesch
Key Players
USA – Trinity Rodman
The USWNT is in a transition phase, ushering in a new generation with mainstays like Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan are either retired or not on the Olympic roster.
Trinity Rodman is among the players being relied upon to uphold the storied tradition of American women’s football.
Rodman’s impressive performance so far in the Olympics has not only propelled the USWNT in its quest for its first gold medal since the 2012 London Games but has also solidified her reputation as one of the brightest stars in American football.
In a tightly contested match at the Parc des Princes on Saturday, the USWNT needed an extra-time winner from Trinity Rodman to edge out the Japanese 1-0 in the French capital.
Cutting in from the right-hand side, Rodman surged past Hikaru Kitagawa and into the penalty area, before firing a shot high into the far post, beating goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita.
With three goals and one assist so far in the tournament, Rodman is the player to watch for the US squad.
Rodman has been part of an exciting trio alongside 26-year-old Malory Swanson (3 goals, 1 assist) and the 23-year-old Sophia Smith (2 goals, 2 assists). This trio has been directly responsible for eight of the 10 goals scored by the USWNT in the tournament.
Rodman and Smith either scored or assisted in all of the USA's group stage games at the 2024 Olympics, the first time a pair of USA teammates had done so in an Olympic group stage since Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach at London 2012.
Germany – Ann-Katrin Berger
If Germany is still in the competition, it is largely due to Ann-Katrin Berger’s heroic performance in the quarter-final against Canada.
The NJ/NY Gotham goalkeeper not only saved two Canadian penalty kicks but also scored the decisive penalty, securing Germany's place in the semi-finals, proving to be Germany’s most important player ahead of Tuesday’s match.
For 90 minutes, NJ/NY Gotham’s goalkeeper held the fort and maintained a goalless draw in a highly competitive match.
Her teammates celebrated her heroics, and rightly so.
Ann-Katrin Berger, who previously played with PSG and Chelsea, has overcome significant personal challenges, including battle and defeating thyroid cancer twice.
At 33 years old, the Paris Olympics is for Ann-Katrin Berger, the opportunity to shine with her country and maybe add another gold medal after the Rio 2016 triumph.
And to do so, she has to bring her A-game, once again!
Match Details
Where is the game being played?
Olympique Lyonnais’ Groupama Stadium in Décines is hosting this confrontation. It has a capacity of 59 186 spectators.
What time is kick-off?
The match will start on the evening of Tuesday, August 6, at 6:00 PM CET.
How can I watch?
All the action from Paris 2024 can be watched via media rights holders (MRHs).
Thus, the match will be broadcast on France Télévisions and Eurosport in France.
If you’re based in the UK, then tune in to BBC as it is the main broadcaster.
If you’re in the USA, NBC is the main broadcaster.
MRHs also include CBC Gem in Canada, SKY NZ in New Zealand, Discovery Eurosport across Europe, Fuji TV/NHK/Nippon TV/TBS/TV Asahi/TV Tokyo in Japan, ARD/ZDF in Germany, SuperSport in South Africa and Nine in Australia.
Check out the listings for your local broadcaster here: https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/where-to-watch-olympic-games-live
