There was plenty of action and drama involving Arsenal players at the Olympics as the group stages drew to a conclusion. Three of Arsenal’s seven athletes withdraw in painful circumstances, while four go through to the knockout rounds.
In the early games, Laia Codina started in defence for Spain for the first time in the tournament, playing the full 90 minutes against Brazil. Mariona was a second half substitute with Spain already through. Marta was sent off for Brazil, who eventually lost 2-0. Brazil squeeze through as the second best third placed team.
🚀 España hace pleno y vuela a cuartos de final en #PARIS2024
🔝 El combinado nacional es primero de grupo y ya espera rival para los cuartos que afrontará este mismo sábado
💻 CRÓNICA: https://t.co/YVP2HZL7Ar#JugarLucharYGanar | #UnSueñoCompartido pic.twitter.com/BnhfXhN8mJ
— Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol (@SEFutbolFem) July 31, 2024
Japan were also 3-1 winners against Nigeria in the same group. In the 6pm games Germany sealed their passage to the knockouts with a 4-1 win over Zambia. In Marseilles, Emily Fox’s USA took on her clubmates Caitlin Foord, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Steph Catley and Australia.
Fox played for 65 minutes while Cooney-Cross was replaced at half-time as USA ran out 2-1 winners, eliminating the Matildas at the group stage for the first time since their Olympics debut in 2000. They go out on account of having a -1 goal difference on Brazil. Coach Tony Gustavsson has already left with a mutual decision from coach and federation not to renew their contract.
The Matildas' journey at the Paris 2024™️ Olympic Games has now come to an end, with head coach Tony Gustavsson also ending his time with Football Australia following this Olympic cycle.
— Matildas (@TheMatildas) August 1, 2024
In the later games, Cloe Lacasse was reinstated in the Canada line-up as they defeated Colombia 1-0 and they go through despite being docked six points after it emerged they had been spying on their group stage opponents New Zealand. The reigning gold medalists won all three of their group games and go through with three points. France defeated New Zealand 2-1 in the other group game to go through to the quarter-finals.
JOB DONE ✅
With 3 wins from 3 matches, we punch our ticket to the Olympic Quarterfinals!#CANWNT #NeverBackDown pic.twitter.com/SMsPXdMKah
— CANWNT (@CANWNT) July 31, 2024
Saturday’s quarter-final line-up looks like this (all times BST):
USA (Emily Fox) v Japan @ 2pm
Spain (Laia Codina, Mariona Caldentey) v Colombia @ 4pm
Canada (Cloe Lacasse) v Germany @ 6pm
France v Brazil @ 8pm
Meanwhile, on more general Arsenal Women news, Arseblog News can exclusively reveal that former Brighton and London City Lionesses Head Coach Mel Phillips will join the coaching staff this summer to head up the analysts team. Head Analyst Joe Moore left the club for Oxford United in the spring and setpiece coach Patrick Winqvist departed this summer, while assistant coach Rene Slegers extended her contract for two years.
Arsenal confirmed their second summer signing yesterday with Dutch international goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar joining from Aston Villa after Arsenal triggered her release clause. She joins Mariona Caldentey, signed from Barcelona. We believe this is certainly not the end of Arsenal’s summer transfer business.
Understand from various sources that former Brighton and London City Lionesses Head Coach Mel Phillips will join Arsenal Women’s coaching staff this summer to head up the analyst team.
— Tim Stillman (@Stillmanator) July 31, 2024
I feel so sorry for the Matildas – going out on goal difference must be so painful. But at least our girls will get a rest. Caitlin Foord especially looked knackered. My Saturday is sorted! I will be plonked in front of the TV all afternoon and evening. Those match-ups are mouthwatering. Yay for recruiting Mel Phillips. More women on the coaching staff means more women getting the experience which means more potential women managers in the future. I felt Mel Phillips was short-changed at Brighton and LCL, so I’m happy for her that she can build up her confidence… Read more »
Lucky you. I haven’t been able to find a single game to watch, not even highlights ? 😐
You have to subscribe to Discovery+. They have an Olympics special offer (for the UK, at least). They show everything, and BBC is showing events which feature GB athletes. So not the football!
You have to feel for them after pulling back from 5-2 to win 6-5 but in the harsh world of football they were not strong enough vs Germany or USA. But, as you say Caitlin in particular could do with putting her feet up for a week or two as she looked tired through most of last season not helped by the internationals played on the other side of the planet. At least Paris is only a train ride away!
Agree with Foord, clearly gave it her all but looked absolutely knackered – she also hadn’t played a match since the Melbourne friendly with Arsenal because of injury! Having back to back hamstring and quad injuries from overuse. Her ankle/lower calf was also heavily strapped in the camp/during the Olympics so hope she’ll have a period of rest now to come back strong for season starting.
Blame Canada
There are no Arsenal men at the Olympics–but Mo Elneny has been Egypt’s captain and played the full 90 minutes in all three their matches (2-1-0), including a 2-1 defeat of Spain. They play Paraguay tomorrow in the quarter-finals.
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