It was late drama once again in Lyon, as Sophia Smith fired an extra-time winner into the back of the net to send the USA through to the Final of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Despite falling to a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of the same side last week, a much-improved German team did a much better job at keeping the USA in their sights this time around.

Though it is tough luck that there is no medal for ‘most improved’, as the USA fly through to a gold medal meeting with Brazil at Parc de Princes this Saturday.

Here are four things we learnt from USA 1-0 Germany at Groupama Stadium.

Naomi Girma, as solid as a rock

Intelligent. Ruthless. Poised. Classy. Naomi Girma.

The USA defender was at the very top of her game in Lyon, dictating the last line with authority against a pressing German outfit. Girma didn’t put a foot wrong throughout her side’s 1-0 victory, as Emma Hayes coined her as “the best defender I’ve ever seen” in her post-match press conference.

A well-timed tackle against Nicole Anyomi in the opening stages saw Girma save her side a deficit, as she tracked-back with pure athleticism before laying a clever challenge to trickle the play away from the feet of the German forward.

Not only was Girma flexing her muscles defensively, but the 24 year-old defender instigated a constant flow of attacking motion between the lines to set up her midfield. Girma’s statistics for the evening flew at 95% passing accuracy- with 125/132 passes hitting their intended target.

Girma is not only the future of the USWNT, but she is the future of women’s football.

A Germany side improved

Despite the heartbreaking defeat seeing Germany bow-out at the final hurdle, Horst Hrubesch’s side showed great signs of improvements in comparison to last week’s hefty defeat at the hands of the same USA side.

The group stage fixture was prime viewing of a German side in disarray, as they failed to gather any momentum against a pressing American front line in firing form. Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman were able to tear the defence to pieces, as the US midfield asserted complete dominance over the field of play.

The semi final was a completely different showing, as Germany found their cohesion in Lyon. The opening half saw Germany on-top of the momentum, conjuring the better of the chances of the two sides as the clock ran down on the first interval. The wingers were able to cause issues down the right side, as Crystal Dunn struggled to keep up with Jule Brand and Giulia Gwinn.

 Horst Hrubesch and his German side may not receive the gold medal for ‘improvement’, but they can enter the Bronze Medal meeting against Spain with a new-found confidence in their abilities to play their best brand of football despite the absence of some big stars.

The Importance of Sam Coffey

Sam Coffey was back in action in Lyon after serving a one-match suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards. The USA operated without Coffey for their quarter-final meeting with Japan, and the loss was hugely apparent.

Despite the Americans eventually clinching victory in an extra-time thriller, Emma Hayes’ side operated without any ease in the middle third. Tierna Davidson’s injury absence forced Emily Sonnett to play in centre-back, meaning that the USA were without a natural number 6 to fill the shoes of Coffey. Korbin Albert was deployed as the replacement, though both her and Lindsey Horan struggled against the flow of a smooth-moving Japanese outfit.

Though the story in Lyon was shifted back to the original script, as Sam Coffey was reinstated in the starting eleven. The Portland Thorns midfielder fills the space with authority, whilst managing to dictate the play from deep in the midfield area. Her athleticism means she is always on the move, causing nightmares for her opponents in any attempt to mark her. The presence of Coffey allowed for the US defence to play with greater freedom, as Girma, Davidson, and Sonnett, all looked to be far more composed in possession.

Coffey’s maturity in the midfield also meant that Hayes could take risks, as the English boss opted to deploy a front-four in the closing stages of regular time. Whilst Smith, Rodman, Swanson, and later Lynn Williams, were able to perform a high-press, Coffey maintained the formation in the middle third with discipline.

The importance of Sam Coffey is not to be overlooked as the USA gather important momentum heading into a gold medal meeting with Brazil on Saturday.

The Trident Strikes Again

Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson. The Trident.

Each with three goals to their name, the dynamic frontline has been the main event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Just when we thought they were slowing down, the All American trilogy struck once again.

The 95th minute brought the fireworks in Lyon, as Mallory Swanson weaved a clever ball through the German last line. Making no mistakes, Sophia Smith fancied her luck with a one-touch finish over the top of Ann-Katrin Berger to send the net rippling and fly her nation through to the Final.

The forward line has looked ruthless, and when at their best- deadly. Operating with exciting flair and sending defenders spinning, Rodman, Smith, and Swanson have now coined themselves as one of the most exciting front lines in women’s football.

Brazil face a challenge that no one is yet to overcome this tournament, as they prepare to come up against an the inevitable trilogy of stars in red, white, and blue.