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The U.S. women’s national team bids farewell to a successful 2024 with a finals match in Europe. Head coach Emma Hayes and her squad face the Netherlands at the ADO Den Haag Stadium in Hauge, Netherlands on Tuesday after a goalless draw against England at Wembley Stadium. Longtime goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher recently announced her retirement from the international stage and was able to play her last match on Tuesday. While you’re a teenager prospect Lily Yohannes has decided to represent the United States, despite her options to play for the Netherlands.
Here’s how to watch the big match:
View information
- Date: December 3 | Time: 2:45 PM ET
- Place: ADO Den Haag Stadium – The Hague, Netherlands
- TV: TNT
- Current: Max
Projected starting lineup
Hayes has been vocal about players getting opportunities at the right times. Does this mean Naeher’s time with the team is short? We’ll have to tune in and find out if she gets a permanent start and if we see more rotation to end the year.
USWNT starting XI prediction: Phallon Tulis-Joyce; Alyssa Malonson, Emily Sams, Tierna Davidson, Jenna Nighswonger; Hal Hershfelt, Lily Yohannes, Jaedyn Shaw, Yazmeen Ryan, Ally Sentnor, Alyssa Thompson
Will Lily Yohannes start?
The 17-year-old and her family have called Holland home since she was 10 years old, but she is a mainstay on the U.S. youth national teams with U15 camps. She was also called up for the U17s, but the young midfielder already had club commitments at Ajax and could not participate in qualifying matches. Yohannes was part of the Ajax club training from the age of thirteen and earned her first full contract at the age of fifteen.
With the possibility of dual citizenship, discussions with then-interim head coach Twila Kilgore and future manager Emma Hayes began about a commitment to play with the USWNT shortly after turning fully professional. She earned a call up to spring camps as a training player, but did not play in any games until June.
Yohannes earned her first senior call-up, made her senior debut and scored her first goal with the national team during a June friendly against South Korea. The young player has been praised for her maturity on the ball and could make more history with a USWNT start against the Netherlands.
Storylines
USWNT: Naturally, many eyes will be on Naeher’s potential final match and a possible start from Yohannes. But the team has work to do after a goalless draw against England. There will be no “triple espresso” during this period, so the goals will have to come from someone not named Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith or Mallory Swanson. Forward Alyssa Thompson put in a promising move against the Lionesses, and Yazmeen Ryan had a positive impact off the bench. If they work together, the ball might end up behind the net against the Netherlands.
The Netherlands: Head coach Andries Jonker has included 26 players in his selection for the end-of-year matches, and the team recorded a 4-1 victory against China on Friday. The Dutch have been regular rivals to the USWNT, often meeting in major international tournaments and friendly matches, although the US holds the all-time record 8W-1L-2D between the two sides. They have failed to beat the USWNT in their last ten meetings, but seven of their previous matches have been decided by narrow margins. Offensive players Lineth Beerensteyn and Esmee Brugts will keep Naeher and the defense honest.
Projections
It will be another exciting match between the two sides who just played each other at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Yohannes will start and the USWNT will get some goals to end the year. Choose: USWNT 2, Netherlands 0