The United States Women`s National Team (USWNT) will conclude their two-game series against Brazil on Tuesday. This friendly match is another opportunity for the team to refine their strategies against a strong Brazil team known for their technical skill and attacking style. The game will be hosted at Pay Pal Park in San Jose, California, with a sold-out crowd expected. Brazil is looking to recover after their 2-0 defeat to the USWNT on Saturday.
Trinity Rodman, a forward, made a successful comeback to the national team, scoring in her first game since the 2024 Olympic final. Rodman, a key part of the potent attacking trio from the Olympics, had been recovering from a back injury.
Coach Emma Hayes is expected to continue rotating players as she prepares the team for the 2027-28 cycle. Fans can anticipate some lineup changes for this second match. Hayes is focused on evaluating players, and in the previous game, two players earned their first senior caps: goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, who kept a clean sheet, and Avery Patterson, who came in as a substitute late in the game.
Match Details
- Date: Tuesday, April 8
- Location: Pay Pal Park, San Jose, California
Recap of the Last Game
First Match Against Brazil: Before Saturday’s game, the two teams last played in the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal final. In their recent friendly rematch, Rodman scored early in the first six minutes, even though Brazil started aggressively. Brazil adjusted their tactics, keeping the game close until halftime. Hayes` substitutions proved effective, particularly the introduction of Lily Yohannes, who quickly earned a penalty. Captain Lindsey Heaps converted the penalty, and the USWNT defense, along with six saves from Tullis-Joyce, successfully contained Brazil`s attack.
USWNT Insights
With an expanded player pool, game planning and preparation are crucial for integrating new players. Hayes is already focusing on improvements for the second game against Brazil.
Hayes commented post-game, “I feel we do the hard work, we win the ball, and then we give it back too easily. We need to improve our `transition to retain`. This is a key area for us to develop.”
She added, “We`ve given the team a basic structure. Now, we need to allow them to develop within it and coach the finer details. By the end of the last game, we improved in this area, but it took time, similar to the Japan game [in the SheBelieves Cup]. This is a significant focus for us. We are willing to press high and challenge players directly, but we must be more decisive in our decision-making and execution.”
Hayes also discussed the team`s decision-making in attack transitions, knowing when to attack quickly versus when to maintain possession.
“I`m not sure about the expected goals (xG) for the game, but I felt we created good chances, and we are creating more. Our xG is generally increasing, and our high-quality scoring opportunities are significantly up from the Olympics. We`ve been intentionally working on this – getting players in the right positions, hitting the right areas, and timing our runs. While I can`t comment on Brazil`s missed chances, I believe we could have scored more than two goals… which I couldn`t say after the Olympic gold medal final.”
The USWNT’s expected goals (xG) in the first match were 2.72, double Brazil’s xG of 1.41.
Predicted Lineups
With Hayes evaluating players, the starting lineup is somewhat uncertain. Here’s a possible lineup for the game:
USWNT Starting XI: Mandy McGlynn, Giselle Thompson, Emily Sams, Alana Cook, Avery Patterson; Korbin Albert, Lily Yohannes, Jaedyn Shaw; Yazmeen Ryan, Ashley Hatch, Michelle Cooper
Player Spotlight
Yazmeen Ryan (Forward): Since her first senior call-up in October 2024, the Houston Dash forward has become a regular in USWNT camps. She has earned eight caps, including a substitute appearance against Brazil, and has two assists. Ryan`s versatility to play wide or centrally, and her crossing ability, will be valuable on Tuesday.
Key Storyline
Goalkeeper Situation: While Tullis-Joyce debuted on Saturday, McGlynn could earn her third cap. McGlynn was among new players called up after the 2024 Olympics as Hayes plans for the future. The coaching staff is assessing the goalkeeper position after Alyssa Naeher`s retirement. Jane Campbell has been the most experienced keeper in camps recently. Hayes aims to narrow down the goalkeeper pool by summer to identify a starting goalkeeper.
Match Prediction
The advantage of a rematch is the existing familiarity. However, Brazil will also learn from the first game. Expect a USWNT victory, but Brazil is likely to score this time. Prediction: USWNT 2, Brazil 1
Benedict Kingsley