FILE PHOTO: Paris 2024 Olympics - Football - Women's Group B - Australia vs United States - Marseille Stadium, Marseille, France - July 31, 2024. United States players pose for a team group photo before the match. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez/File Photo
PARIS (Reuters) - Four-times women's soccer gold medallists United States will look to extend their quest for another Olympic title when they face familiar foes Japan in the quarter-finals in Paris on Saturday.
The U.S. reached the knockout stage in dominant style with a perfect record in Group B, thanks to an attack led by Trinity Rodman, Sofia Smith and Mallory Swanson scoring seven of their nine goals, in 3-0 wins over Zambia, 4-1 over Germany and 2-1 over Australia.
"We've had three great performances," U.S. defender Crystal Dunn said after their latest win in Marseille. "I'm proud of the group. We've used each game to grow and add different layers. Now it's into the knockout rounds and that's where our focus is."
Despite head coach Emma Hayes taking the reins of the squad only in May, the Americans have shown an effective offensive play that is a far cry from last year's World Cup, where they recorded their worst finish, being knocked out in the last 16 while scoring only four times in four games.
"(Hayes) has done such a great job with us," captain Lindsey Horan told FIFA. "We keep talking about this new identity and sense of confidence we have. It’s about playing within that identity and our structure, but also exploiting our individual strengths."
"She has coached us in a way we've really needed. The calmness, trust and confidence she has in us ... It's such a nice feeling for a player and a team."
Up next they face Group C runners-up Japan, who despite going down 2-1 to Spain in their opener, showed their trademark fighting spirit for a 2-1 comeback victory over Brazil before a 3-1 win over Nigeria.
The quarter-final clash at the Paris Games will be the fifth time the teams have met at an Olympic tournament following U.S. wins in the 2004 quarters, first round and semis in 2008, and the 2012 final.
The USWNT had a painful loss in the 2011 World Cup final to the Asian side, before gaining revenge in the final for their third title in the following 2015 edition.
The knockout encounter will be the 41st between the U.S. and Japan in total, but just their second this year after a semi-final win by the Americans in the U.S. Soccer invitational tournament SheBelieves Cup.
In the other quarter-finals fixtures, world champions Spain face Colombia, hosts France take on Brazil and Germany play defending champions Canada, who progressed despite a six-point deduction.
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios; Editing by Alison Williams)
