Two USWNT stars feature in GOAL's best XI after the first round at Paris 2024 was completed, with two Ballon d'Or winners grabbing spots in midfield
Despite only kicking-off a week ago, the 2024 Olympic women's football tournament is already ready for the quarter-final stage, with juggernauts like Spain, the United States, Germany, Brazil and France continuing in search of a gold medal when those ties take place on Saturday, August 3.
Joined in the last eight by Japan, Colombia and Canada, the first knockout round has a fantastic line up, featuring eight nations packed with wonderful talent and quality all over the pitch. Each can boast players in exciting form, too, off the back of a group stage with plenty of top performers.
So, who have been the stars of the tournament so far? GOAL picks its team of the Olympic group stage…
AFP via Getty ImagesGK: Lorena (Brazil)
There were a number of impressive goalkeepers in the group stage, with Nigeria's Chiamaka Nnadozie incredibly unlucky to be going home early after her wonderful efforts, while Anna Leat pulled off some top-class saves despite New Zealand being up against it in Group A. However, it's Lorena of Brazil who gets the nod in this XI.
No goalkeeper had a bigger positive difference between their goals conceded and expected goals against during the first three matchdays, with the Selecao's No.1 picking the ball out of her net just four times despite the statistics suggesting she should have done so on more than six occasions. The 27-year-old racked up the fourth-highest save percentage of starting goalkeepers too, making more saves than any of the three above her, and kept out a penalty against Japan.
Lorena's group stage was a genuine highlight reel and Brazil will hope that she can keep that up as it prepares for a tough test against hosts France in the quarter-finals.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesRB: Giulia Gwinn (Germany)
After a devastating second ACL tear in just over two years forced her to miss last year's World Cup, it's been a delight to see Giulia Gwinn thriving at this Olympic Games. Her performance against Australia in Germany's opening game was superb, as she and Jule Brand ran riot down the right. When that wasn't happening, Gwinn was delivering deadly set-pieces, two of which were turned into assists in the 3-0 win.
Things didn't go to plan quite as much for Germany in its second game, against the U.S., but don't let that take away from Gwinn's beautiful strike which levelled the scores early in that encounter. She then closed the group stage out with a solid display in victory over Zambia, with only two players creating more chances than the full-back in the opening round.
Getty ImagesCB: Naomi Girma (United States)
While statistics are great to further emphasize just how good certain players are, it feels like they don't quite do Naomi Girma's performances at this Olympics justice. To understand what makes the 24-year-old so special, it's easier just to focus on her during games, to watch how intelligent her positioning is, how she prevents dangerous situations from developing without a hugely eye-catching intervention and to understand the significance of her role in this team.
That is both out of possession and also when the USWNT has the ball, as her passing is real top quality and her decision-making is excellent, too. It's remarkable to think that she is still so young and, as a result, can grow so much yet as she gains more experience. Girma is already a world-class talent and is showing that on this big stage.
AFP via Getty ImagesCB: Vanessa Gilles (Canada)
When Canada was deducted six points midway through the group stage, it was assumed by many that the reigning Olympic champion was going to be knocked out early. Yet, against all odds, the 2020 gold medalist is still here – and Vanessa Gilles is a huge reason why.
Canada's record of three wins from three games comes from a collective team effort and real mental resilience throughout the incredible noise around it in France, but Gilles absolutely deserves singling out after scoring two huge goals to earn six of those nine points.
It was 12 minutes into stoppage-time when she showed the composure of a centerforward, not a centerback, to slot home the winner against France, and she backed that up on Wednesday with a brilliant header that secured three points over Colombia, in a must-win game. Winning just short of 70 percent of her duels, Gilles has certainly done her work on the other side of the ball, too.
