Phallon Tullis-Joyce is excited by the job Emma Hayes has already done with the United States and predicts she will have even more success in the role.

Hayes left Chelsea after 12 years in charge in May, going out on a high after leading the Blues to a fifth consecutive Women's Super League triumph on the final day of last season.

It was her seventh title overall with Chelsea, also winning five FA Cups and two League Cups, as well as leading the team to the Champions League final in 2020-21.

Hayes began her tenure as the USA boss in May and helped the team to a record-extending fifth Olympic gold in Paris, as an undefeated tournament ended with a 1-0 win over Brazil in August.

Having made such a bright start to life with the USWNT, Tullis-Joyce, who has never played for her national team, is expecting great things from Hayes.

Speaking at the Barclays WSL's 2024-25 season launch media day, the goalkeeper told Stats Perform: "I think that's incredible for US soccer to have such a notable coach.

"Everyone has seen how great she's done in this league alone, and I'm excited to see what she does with the US Women's National Team.

"She's already done an amazing job, so I can imagine she's going to do so many more great things for time to come, especially for the younger generations."

One of the players who did not feature at the Olympics for the USWNT was Alex Morgan, who recently announced her retirement from football.

Morgan, regarded as a USA legend, is one of the most decorated players in the history of the team, winning back-to-back World Cups in 2015 and 2019 and clinching Olympic gold in 2012.

She is ninth on the all-time appearance charts having earned 224 caps, and since her international debut in March 2010, no player has been involved in more goals for the USA than her (175, 123 goals, 52 assists).

Tullis-Joyce was full of praise for the former striker and explained how she drove her to improve after coming up against her.

"Just massive respect for Alex Morgan, she's definitely a player that I've looked up to as an American," Tullis-Joyce said.

"She was one of the ones that we saw on the national team constantly just shredding goalkeepers left and right.

"Honestly, I'm learning from her how to protect my goal a little bit better. I had the fortunate opportunity to play against her several times.

"Honestly, she just seems like such a great person. And I wish her all the best in her retirement, especially after what she's done for women's football."

Emma Hayes said she "sees so much of herself" in legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Hayes, who left her role at Chelsea at the end of last season, took charge of the United States women's national team in May, with her first test being the Paris Olympics. 

She guided the USWNT to their fifth gold medal in the French capital, defeating Brazil 1-0 in the final thanks to Mallory Swanson's 57th minute goal. 

After the triumph, Hayes revealed that Ferguson was the first person to congratulate her on the win, going on to say she sees similarities between herself and the Scot.

“I see so much of myself in him. His was the first text I received when we won gold," Hayes said in an interview with The Telegraph.

Hayes spent the early part of her coaching career in the United States, managing the Long Island Lady Riders, Iona Gaels and Chicago Red Stars before her move back to England in 2012.

But her success with the USWNT in Paris is something she had dreamed about growing up in London, a triumph that still strikes an emotional chord a month later.

“I still get a lump in my throat thinking about it,” Hayes says of winning at the Olympics.

“I fill up every time. I have dreamt about it. I have played that out on the pitches by the flats in Camden."

During her time with Chelsea, Hayes won 16 major honours, including the Women's Super League title for the last five consecutive seasons. 

The 47-year-old oversaw 367 matches for the Blues, winning 261 (D42 L64), ending her 12-year stint at the club with a win percentage of 71.12%. 

She also came close to winning the Women's Champions League in the 2020-21 season, with Chelsea well beaten in the showpiece match by Barcelona. 

Despite her success in SW3, Hayes welcomed the change in scenery but understood her success with the Blues put her in a pressurised position.

“I was happy for my time at Chelsea to come to an end,” Hayes said.

“Pressure comes with the position I am in and certainly comes with the winning history I have. I accept that. 

“But I have enjoyed feeling joyful again.

"I didn’t realise how debilitating grief is and how much both grief and my own personal struggles of the last few years have really sapped me of everything.

"I am so happy to turn a page. Proud of everything I have done at Chelsea but happy to be in this new space.”

Alex Morgan bade an emotional farewell to her professional career on Sunday.

The United States star, who announced her retirement last week, brought the curtain down on her playing days as she featured for the San Diego Wave in the NWSL.

It was not the finale she would have wished for, though, as the Wave went down 4-1 to the North Carolina Courage, with Morgan missing an early penalty.

Addressing the crowd after full-time, the 35-year-old, who is pregnant with her second child, said:  "What a ride it's been.

"I want to thank my team-mates who have constantly challenged me every day and made me better.

"There have been so many incredible moments in my career but this last moment I share on the field with you I will cherish forever.

"So from the bottom of my heart, thank you."

Morgan is one of the most decorated players in the history of the USWNT, helping them win back-to-back World Cups in 2015 and 2019 as well as claiming an Olympic gold medal at London 2012.

Her tally of 224 caps puts her ninth in the team's all-time appearance charts, while only Abby Wambach (184), Mia Hamm (158), Carli Lloyd (134) and Kristine Lilly (130) have bettered her total of 123 goals for the team.

Since her international debut, no player has been involved in more goals for the USWNT than Morgan (175, 123 goals, 52 assists).

Her 88 goal involvements (60 goals, 28 assists) in regular-season NWSL play, meanwhile, put her third in the all-time charts, behind Sam Kerr and Lynn Williams (both 102).

United States legend Alex Morgan has announced her retirement from professional football, also confirming she is pregnant with her second child.

Morgan is one of the most recognisable and decorated players in the history of the USWNT, helping them win back-to-back World Cups in 2015 and 2019 as well as capturing an Olympic gold medal at London 2012.

Her tally of 224 caps puts her ninth in the team's all-time appearance charts, while only Abby Wambach (184), Mia Hamm (158), Carli Lloyd (134) and Kristine Lilly (130) have bettered her total of 123 goals for the team.

Since she made her international debut in March 2010, no player has been involved in more goals for the USWNT than Morgan (175, 123 goals, 52 assists).

Her 88 goal involvements (60 goals, 28 assists) in regular-season NWSL play, meanwhile, put her third in the all-time charts, behind Sam Kerr and Lynn Williams (both 102).

Despite featuring regularly for the USWNT earlier this year, she was left out of Emma Hayes' squad for the Paris Olympics, where they beat Brazil to win a record-extending fifth gold medal.

Morgan, who returned to the NWSL with the San Diego Wave in 2022 following a brief spell in the Women's Super League with Tottenham, confirmed on Thursday that her second pregnancy had influenced a decision that was already on her mind.

"I want to get to the point quickly – I'm retiring. I have so much clarity about this decision, and I am so happy to be able to tell you," Morgan said in a video posted to X. 

"It has been a long time coming, and this decision wasn't easy, but at the beginning of 2024 I felt in my heart and soul that this was the last season that I would play soccer."

Morgan will play one final match for San Diego before hanging up her boots, versus the Carolina Courage in the NWSL on Sunday.

In a statement released by U.S. Soccer, the 35-year-old said: "I grew up on this team, it was so much more than soccer. 

"It was the friendships and the unwavering respect and support among each other, the relentless push for global investment in women's sports, and the pivotal moments of success both on and off the field.

"I am so incredibly honoured to have borrowed the crest for more than 15 years. I learned so much about myself in that time and so much of that is a credit to my team-mates and our fans. 

"I feel immense pride in where this team is headed, and I will forever be a fan of the USWNT."

Emma Hayes thanked her late father for helping her achieve her "dream" after coaching the United States to Olympic gold at Paris 2024.

USA defeated Brazil 1-0 in Saturday's final at the Parc des Princes through Mallory Swanson's goal just before the hour mark.

Hayes only took over as USWNT head coach in May, after leaving her role at Chelsea, and tasted success in her first tournament in charge.

Speaking to Discovery+ at full-time as the celebrations started, Hayes said: "I'm very emotional. It's been a dream of mine.

"I have to thank my dad - he's the one who pushed me to this position, to be able to come and coach an unbelievable group of players."

Hayes' father, who she has long described as a cornerstone in her football career, passed away last year.

"I've got my dad's necklace on," Hayes said post-match. "It's got an American eagle, and he was with me today and that helped. 

"The crowd were tremendous. Brazil were tremendous. I'm just speechless. I'm in shock."

The United States have now won five Olympic golds in the women's final - four more than any other nation - with this their first since 2012.

Swanson calmly converted to give USA the victory in the French capital on her landmark 100th senior appearance for her national side.

This latest triumph comes 10 games into Hayes' tenure and puts the poor showings at the 2020 Games and 2023 World Cup in the past.

"They have received me so well and taken on board everything I've asked," Hayes added. "They're tremendous people, players and role models and I love them."

Brazil have still yet to win an Olympic gold in the tournament, with this their third runners-up finish after also falling just short in 2004 and 2008.

Mallory Swanson marked her 100th cap with the winning goal as the United States defeated Brazil 1-0 to win a record-extending fifth Olympic gold medal in women's football.

Two-time runners-up Brazil were seeking their first gold and thought they had taken the lead early on at the Parc des Princes, only for Ludmila's strike to be rightly ruled out for offside.

Swanson used her pace to break clear soon after but was unable to get the better of Lorena, with neither side truly going close to finding a breakthrough in the first half.

The Selecao suffered a blow early in the second period when Vitoria Yaya was forced off the field on a stretcher and their outing soon got worse when Swanson fired home.

Chicago Red Stars forward Swanson held her line well, latched on to Korbin Albert's throughball and calmly slotted past Lorena with 57 minutes on the clock in Paris.

Brazil could have taken a game of few clear-cut chances to extra-time, but an unmarked Adriana saw her header kept out by Alyssa Naeher in stoppage time as Emma Hayes' team claimed gold.

Data Debrief: Swanson the golden girl for USA

Swanson was denied a dramatic goal on her 99th cap for the USA in their 1-0 extra-time win over Mexico in the semis, but she marked her century in the perfect manner as she scored for the fourth time this tournament.

The 26-year-old is the 44th player in USWNT history to reach that milestone and is the youngest since Amy Rodriguez (25) did so in 2012.

The USA's fifth Olympic gold, coming 12 years after their last success in London, takes them four clear of Germany, Canada and Norway as comfortably the most successful side in the competition.

Emma Hayes is eyeing gold in her first tournament in charge of the USWNT, labelling their journey to the Olympics final as "the stuff dreams are made of". 

The United States face Brazil in Saturday's showpiece match at the Parc des Princes in a repeat of the 2004 and 2008 finals, fixtures the US won on both occasions.  

Hayes, who was appointed as Vlatko Andonovski's successor in May, has won eight of her nine games in charge (D1), scoring 19 goals and conceding just twice. 

The former Chelsea head coach won her seventh WSL title in her final season with the Blues, saying her rapid transition to the international stage has been a "whirlwind". 

"Going from my beloved Chelsea to the US women’s national team - what a whirlwind and what a dream all at once," Hayes said.

"To finish my time with Chelsea with another Women's Super League title and then be here competing for gold, honestly this is the stuff dreams are made of.

"I have visualised this moment so many times in my life."

Brazil are seeking their first gold in women's football at the Games, and are boosted by the return of Marta, who will play her final international match on Saturday.

The 38-year-old was shown a red card in Brazil's final group game against Spain for a high foot, resulting in her missing the quarter and semi-finals. 

Marta has scored 121 goals in 203 appearances for her nation, becoming the first player to score in five straight Olympics with her brace against Japan. 

“When I was a young coach assisting Vic Akers at Arsenal, we played a Women’s Cup two-legged final against Umea, the Swedish champions, and they had a young Marta,” Hayes recalled.

“I remember being on the touchline thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, who is this extraordinary player?’ To witness what she’s done on the pitch, I think she’s been more than a role model and icon, she’s been the best player.

“What she’s done for Brazil or the generation coming through, she’s been an inspiration.”

Team USA have the chance to win a first gold medal since London 2012 after winning bronze in Tokyo three years ago. 

Despite winning 16 major titles during her time at Chelsea, Hayes is hungry to add to her trophy cabinet while continuing her unbeaten start in the US dugout. 

"I like winning, it's part of my DNA," Hayes said. "I'm with a team that likes winning so of course our goal is to win the gold medal."

Sophia Smith believes the United States have "so much potential" after her extra-time winner sent them through to their first Olympics final since 2012.

The 23-year-old's 95th-minute strike proved the decisive goal of the USWNT’s 1-0 semi-final victory against an injury-stricken Germany.

The result means new coach Emma Hayes will have the chance to go for gold in her first major tournament at the helm.

Smith dedicated her goal to the effort of the whole US squad under the ex-Chelsea boss.

"I just saw an open net in front of me and knew I had to step up in the big moment," Smith told NBC. "I felt I had to do that for this team, we've been working so hard.”

Sophia Smith's extra-time strike booked the United States a place in the Olympic Games final with a 1-0 win over Germany on Tuesday.

Mallory Swanson was denied a winner in normal time, and though Germany pushed for a late equaliser, Emma Hayes will take charge of a final in her first tournament as the USA's head coach. 

Unlike in the group-stage meeting between these sides, which finished 4-1 to the dominant Stars and Stripes, it was Germany who almost took a first-half lead, with Alyssa Naeher reacting quickly to get down and push Jule Brand's low shot wide.

In the 86th minute, Mallory Swanson thought she had snatched a late winner – she latched onto Trinity Rodman's throughball and drilled her low shot across goal into the bottom corner, but the offside flag denied her.

Swanson turned provider five minutes into extra time, as Smith timed her run to perfection, darting in behind to beat Berger for power with a wonderful effort.

There was late drama though, as Naeher brilliantly smothered Laura Freigang's close-range header before Smith was denied a second goal at the other end by Berger's quick thinking.

Data Debrief: Smith's touch of gold

Smith has been in top form during the Olympics and netted her third goal in the competition as she carried her team into their 11th major tournament final.

She is also the second USA player to score in at least three consecutive appearances against Germany, after Abby Wambach - five straight from 2009-12.

Meanwhile, it was familiar heartache for Germany as they were eliminated in the knockout rounds of a major tournament (Olympics and World Cup) for the 10th time, with half of those coming at the USA's hands. 

Trinity Rodman's moment of magic in extra time was enough for the United States to see off Japan and progress to the Olympic semi-finals.

The two sides laboured in the first half, with Emma Hayes' team enjoying plenty of possession but struggling to create any meaningful chances at the Parc des Princes.

The USA improved after the break and their first decent opportunity arrived in the 63rd minute when Mallory Swanson exchanged a one-two before curling an effort just wide.

Rodman's influence grew as the game wore on, but it was Sophia Smith who had the best chance prior to the USA's winner, only for the 23-year-old to take too many touches when through on goal, allowing Ayaka Yamashita to close down the angle.

But as penalties approached, Rodman stepped up in the second minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half of the additional 30 minutes, collecting Crystal Dunn’s pass before cutting inside and curling in an unstoppable shot.

Japan substitute Riko Ueki almost equalised from close range, but the USA were able to clear their lines and hold firm to tee up a semi-final against either Canada or Germany.

Data debrief: USA fail to convert possession into opportunities

Despite neither side creating much in the way of chances with the USA mustering an expected goals (xG) of 0.68 to Japan's 0.53, the Americans dominated the ball for large swathes of the match.

They had 71.3% possession, had more than double the passes and final third entries of Japan with 1,026 to 403 and 89 to 44 respectively.

But it ultimately took a moment of brilliance from Rodman to settle the contest. At 22 years and 75 days old, she is the youngest player to score an extra-time goal for the USWNT since Heather O'Reilly at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

The United States booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Paris Olympic Games with a match to spare after a commanding 4-1 victory over Germany.

Sophia Smith netted a first-half double on either side of Mallory Swanson's goal before Lynn Williams wrapped up the points late on.

Giulia Gwinn had given Germany hope by equalising, but the USA were too strong as they ruthlessly booked a place in the knockout rounds.

The USA made a quick start, with Smith darting in front of her marker to slot a close-range tap-in past Ann-Katrin Berger, only for Gwinn to cancel it out 11 minutes later with a pinpoint shot into the bottom-left corner.

Emma Hayes' side soon asserted their dominance though – Swanson reacted quickest to latch onto Smith's saved shot, firing in from an acute angle on the left.

Smith then got her second just before the break, helped by a huge deflection, as her effort looped over Berger before bouncing over the line off the inside of the far post.

Jule Brand struck the woodwork just after the hour mark before further misery was piled on the Germans as captain Alexandra Popp was forced off late in the second half with a knee injury that they will be hoping is not too serious. 

Williams rounded things off by making a quick impact off the bench, finishing off a lightning-quick counter-attack just under four minutes after coming on. 

Data Debrief: Smith and Swanson on song

The USA got the job done in the first half, ensuring Hayes became just the second coach to win each of their first two major tournament matches in charge, after Anson Dorrance in the 1991 World Cup.

Swanson added to her double against Zambia with another goal in Marseille and is just the second player in USA's history to net three times in the group stage of a single Olympics, after Abby Wambach in 2012.

Before today, the winner of each of the five previous major tournament meetings between the USA and Germany has gone on to win the entire tournament, and Hayes will be hoping that is a good sign of what is to come.

The United States made light work of minnows Zambia as they began their Paris Olympics campaign with a 3-0 victory.

There had been pressure on the USA going into the game after two poor warm-up displays, including a 0-0 draw to Costa Rica, but Emma Hayes' team ran out comfortable winners in the former Chelsea boss' first competitive match in charge.

All of the damage was done in the first half, with the Americans three goals up after just 25 minutes in Nice - Trinity Rodman opening the scoring before a quickfire double from Mallory Swanson.

The four-time Olympic gold medallist started as they meant to go on, hitting the crossbar early on through Rodman and Swanson before the former opened her account for the tournament with a drilled finish past Zambia goalkeeper Ng'ambo Musole.

They doubled their advantage thanks to Chicago Red Stars forward Swanson, and she was on hand again to virtually end the contest just a minute later after good work down the left from Sophia Smith.

Zambia's woes were compounded by a red card dished out to Pauline Zulu, which was initially given as a yellow but was upgraded following a VAR review.

Zulu was adjudged to have been the last player when she brought down 18-year-old Smith, and her dismissal all but ended Zambia's slender comeback hopes.

Data Debrief: History made in Hayes' competitive debut

Though the USA had gone into the contest lacking rhythm and form, which raised hopes of a Zambian upset, it was not to be found, with Hayes' side enjoying complete domination from the start. The USA created chances worth an xG of 4.96 to Zambia's meagre 0.37, while they also had 27 shots to Zambia's eight, with 25 of those coming from inside the box. 

Hayes became the first coach to win their first major tournament match in charge of the USA by a margin of three or more goals. Meanwhile, with assists in the 17th and 24th minute, Horan is the first player in USWMT history to record two assists in the opening 30 minutes of a major tournament. 

Swanson's goals came 66 seconds apart, making them the fastest two goals by a single player in a major tournament in the team's history.

Two-time Women’s World Cup winner, Kelley O’Hara has announced that she will retire from football at the end of the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season.

Between 2011 and 2023, she played in four Women’s World Cups, becoming just the 12th US player to reach that landmark, and three Olympic Games, winning a gold medal in 2012.

The 35-year-old finished her international career with 160 caps, scoring three goals, including a winner in the semi-final en route to winning the Women’s World Cup in 2015, and assisting 21.

She also won three championships, one in the now-defunct Women’s Professional Soccer and two in the NWSL, helping NJ/NY Gotham FC to their first title last season.

O’Hara said: "It has been one of the greatest joys to represent my country and to wear the U.S. Soccer crest."

"As I close this chapter of my life, I am filled with gratitude. Looking back on my career I am so thankful for all the things I was able to accomplish but most importantly the people I was able to accomplish them with."

The United States fell short tactically at the Women's World Cup and must now look to their European rivals for inspiration.

That is the view of former Italy striker and head coach Carolina Morace, who believes the USA's previous dominance of the women's game owed largely to their players' physical attributes.

The four-time winners recorded their worst-ever World Cup performance in Australia and New Zealand, losing to Sweden in a last-16 penalty shoot-out after narrowly avoiding a humiliating group-stage elimination in a goalless draw with Portugal.

Vlatko Andonovski resigned as head coach in the aftermath of their exit, with the USA having failed to score in back-to-back World Cup games for the first time in the tournament's history. 

Morace, who scored over 100 goals for Italy before coaching Le Azzurre between 2000 and 2005, believes the USA paid the price for falling behind their more astute rivals.

"They dominated the scene for years because physically the players were stronger, more trained than all the others," Morace told Stats Perform. "[Now] all the teams have physically grown. 

"They had to improve tactically. I coached Canada for a couple of years [between 2009 and 2011]. European football does not arrive there. 

"The innovations are in Europe, so the innovations that have been in Europe have not been [happening] in America. I don't know. 

"I am referring to occupying the empty spaces rather than passing between the lines, wanting to dominate the game, starting from the goalkeeper and pressing offensively. These are things they aren't used to doing, because it's a different kind of football there.

"In Australia and New Zealand, rugby is the national sport, so innovations come from there. Football is from Europe and innovations certainly come from here. 

"Maybe they thought that on a physical level they could still make up for the gaps they may have tactically, and it wasn't like this."

The USA scored just four times from 9.14 expected goals (xG) in their four games at the tournament, with star striker Alex Morgan failing to net from 17 attempts totalling 2.96 xG.

The World Cup – eventually won by Spain following Olga Carmona's final strike against England – was defined by upsets, with Germany and Brazil suffering group-stage eliminations.

Jamaica, South Africa, Morocco and Colombia earned plaudits by reaching the knockout stages, and Morace believes a sense of unpredictability contributed to the tournament's success. 

"It was an absolutely special World Cup because teams like Germany, the United States and Brazil immediately left the competition. It is clear that this has shocked everyone," she said.

"This certainly means that, on one hand, some teams have grown a lot, but it also means that teams like the USA or Germany or Brazil had to do better. 

"It was a very, very special World Cup. In the end, however, the final was played between the two best teams. Spain and England were the two teams absolutely on a tactical level and also on a technical level. They expressed the best football. 

"I wouldn't say that from a tactical point of view this was the best World Cup ever, because we saw that many teams had little possession, especially teams like South Africa, like Nigeria.

"The big teams probably didn't expect to find teams that played a different kind of football, more physical and more vertical. Then, in the end, the World Cup was won by the team that had the most possession in the whole championship."

Victors Spain managed more build-up attacks (23) than any other team at the World Cup, ahead of runners-up England (20). Meanwhile, the Lionesses were the only side to better Spain's 92 sequences of 10 or more passes, recording 100.

FIFA has received four expressions of interest in hosting the 2027 Women's World Cup, including a joint bid from the United States and Mexico.

Brazil and South Africa have also submitted expressions of interest alongside another joint bid from the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, with the hosts set to be appointed next May.

USA hosted the Women's World Cup in 1999 and 2003 – winning the former edition – while Germany are the only other potential host to have previously staged the competition, doing so in 2011.

The US and Mexico – alongside Canada – are already set to host the next edition of the men's World Cup in 2026.

Federations hoping to host the tournament now have until May 19 to confirm their involvement in the bidding process. 

FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura said: "We are thrilled by the expressions of interest received, not least because they come from member associations with a strong football tradition representing four confederations, thus confirming the consistent popularity of women's football across the world.

"All member associations can rely on the most robust and comprehensive bidding process in the history of the FIFA Women's World Cup."

The 2023 edition of the tournament – taking place in Australia and New Zealand – will kick off on July 20, with the Matildas facing the Republic of Ireland and their co-hosts taking on Norway on the opening day.

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