Sure, the USWNT is on a roll in the Olympic soccer tournament under Emma Hayes. But not without any wear and tear. For starters, most USWNT players cut an exhausted figure in the quarter-final with Japan. Besides, Team USA is dealing with a growing injury list, as they await a heavyweight semi-final against Germany on Tuesday. However, coach Hayes seems thankful for the three-day gap the USWNT got after ousting Japan in the QFs. Notably, the coach has summoned all her players, including the injured ones, for training.

As per the latest update from Paris, Emma Hayes took her USWNT players to train in the hills above Lyon. She said all 18 players in the USWNT Olympic squad took part in the training, as per Washington Post’s Steven Goff.

This comes while Team USA is still nursing the injuries of Jaedyn Shaw, Tierna Davidson, and Emily Fox. The British coach also said, “it is a great sign” to see all players training together before Tuesday’s semi-final against Germany.

Among the injured USWNT stars, Jaedyn Shaw has been absent from the USWNT games since its Olympic opener. Hayes said that Shaw and Tierna Davidson’s feature in the QF against Japan would be a game-time decision. However, the British coach did not start the duo. Anyhow, the USWNT has thrived in its last two Olympic games without Shaw and Davidson.

But what is alarming is that Team USA’s ace defender Emily Fox contracted a terrible knee injury in the 121st minute of the quarter-final against Japan. Casey Krueger replaced Fox that night. But it is unclear if Fox herself would return against Germany or if Hayes would start Krueger instead.

Anyhow, the British coach assured Team USA’s fans that it was all set for a ‘tight match-up.’ Meanwhile, the USWNT is not devoid of other challenges, as they face Germany.

Emma Hayes says USWNT is prepared to face Germany!

Team USA and Germany are coming together in the semi-final after squaring off in the group stage. That night, USWNT ripped out Germany with a 4-1 scoreline. Yet, Hayes expects a different and dangerous version of Germany on Tuesday. “Even if you play the same opponent a week apart, they’re always two very, very different games,” Hayes said.

She added, “Our shot conversion was high in the first game. This is a tight match-up, but one we’ll prepare for a little bit today. We’ve been doing stuff yesterday too, so we’ll be ready.”  

However, player fatigue is a tremendous problem haunting Hayes’ squad throughout the Olympic tournament. For the same reason, the former Chelsea boss has taken heat. Many insist that the British coach should have made rotations so that there is ample opportunity for weary players to recover. Besides, even if Hayes says all players have trained, she is unsure who will be available for Tuesday’s game.

The quarter-final’s game-winner Trinity Rodman is once again playing with a chip on her shoulder. Should the US qualify, she risks a yellow card suspension for the Olympic final. And this is only if she picks a yellow against Germany.