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2020 Summer Olympic Games
23 July – 8 August 2021
Tokyo, Japan
The United States women's
football team will be eager to end another disappointing Olympic campaign on a high when they take on Australia in the bronze medal match at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this Thursday.
America lost 1-0 to North American rivals Canada in the semi finals. Jessie Fleming's second-half penalty proved to be the difference between the two teams and Canada will face Sweden, who beat Australia by the same scoreline, in the gold medal match on Friday.
It was the first time that the USWNT had lost to Canada since 2001, snapping a 36-game unbeaten streak against their rivals - on the biggest stage nonetheless.
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"It's terrible. We just didn't have it today," American midfielder Megan Rapinoe said after the match. "Just too many errors from us again. I felt like the space was there for us to play and we just couldn't get into it, too many touches or, you know, an errant touch.
"That's football. They got, I think, one shot on goal, a PK, and from what it sounds like it was a PK. So yeah, it's a bitter one to swallow. Obviously we never want to lose to Canada. I don't think I've ever lost to Canada.
"So it's a bitter one. Obviously there's still a lot to compete for. That's what I told the girls and what we talked about in the huddle. It's not the color we want, but there's still a medal on the line. That's a huge thing and we want to win that game, but yeah, this is ... this sucks. It sucks."
Canada will play in their first Olympic women's football final in Japan this week following victory over the World Cup holders. The Canadians won bronze at both the London and Rio Olympic Games and are guaranteed at least silver in Tokyo.
Their opponents, Sweden, lost to Germany in the 2016 final but having stormed to wins over America, Australia and New Zealand in the group stages before wins over hosts Japan and Australia again in the knockout stages, the Europeans will be confident of claiming gold.
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