Fox Sports soccer analyst Stu Holden believes the US Women's National Team should not treat the upcoming Paris Olympics as a developmental tournament. He explains why the team needs to be fully committed to winning another gold medal.
Fox Sports soccer analyst Stu Holden has urged the US Women's National Team (USWNT) to prioritize winning the 2024 Paris Olympics over using the tournament as a development opportunity.
Holden believes that despite the team's recent struggles, they have the talent and experience to challenge for gold in Paris. He argues that the Olympics are a unique event, and the players need to embrace the challenge of winning another title.
"The Olympics are the pinnacle of women's soccer," Holden said. "It's a chance to represent your country and win a gold medal. That's something that should motivate every player on the team."
The USWNT has won four Olympic gold medals, including the last two tournaments in London and Rio de Janeiro. However, the team has struggled in recent years, failing to win the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and finishing third in the 2023 World Cup.
Some observers have suggested that the USWNT should use the Paris Olympics as an opportunity to develop younger players and prepare for the future. However, Holden believes that the team needs to focus on winning now.
"I understand the temptation to focus on development," Holden said. "But I think this team has the potential to win gold in Paris. They need to go into the tournament with that mindset."
Holden believes that the USWNT has a number of advantages over its rivals. The team has a deep pool of talent, and they are experienced in winning major tournaments. He also believes that the team has a good coach in Vlatko Andonovski.
"I think Vlatko is a great coach," Holden said. "He knows the game, and he knows how to get the best out of his players. I think he can lead this team to gold in Paris."
The USWNT will face a number of challenges in Paris. They will be playing against some of the best teams in the world, including England, France, and Germany. However, Holden believes that the USWNT has the talent and experience to overcome these challenges.
"I think this team can win the gold medal in Paris," Holden said. "They have the talent, they have the experience, and they have the coach. They just need to go into the tournament with the mindset that they can win."
* Holden's comments come at a time when the USWNT is facing increased pressure to perform. The team has not won a major tournament since the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, and they finished third in the 2023 World Cup.
* Some observers have questioned the team's current playing style, which has been criticized for being too conservative. Holden believes that the team needs to be more adventurous in their attacking play.
* Holden is not the only one who believes that the USWNT can win gold in Paris. Former USWNT coach Jill Ellis also believes that the team has the potential to win the tournament.
* The USWNT will begin their Olympic campaign on July 26, 2024, when they face New Zealand in their opening match. The team will also face Australia and Japan in the group stage.
* The USWNT is the most successful team in the history of women's soccer. They have won four Olympic gold medals, three FIFA Women's World Cups, and eight CONCACAF Gold Cups.
