Expected Own Goals

OLYMPICS RECAP: The USWNT Paved the Parisian Streets with Gold

369 days after the USWNT crashed out of the World Cup Round of 16, they put those demons to bed, winning the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics. The team managed to weather the worst half of football they had played all tournament to wear down Brazil until Mallory Swanson took Korbin Albert's through ball and ripped the Brazilian defense to pieces. Some heroics from Alyssa Naeher and the usual shutdown defense from Naomi Girma helped the US grab their first gold medal in 12 years. Now, the real work begins. Eric and Evan analyze the US performance, praise Brazil's savvy gameplan, and argue why nobody should get too high about this victory--or too low. Don't forget to subscribe to our Patreon to get all of our exclusive bonus content for only $6/month!Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

OLYMPICS RECAP: The USWNT are Exhausted, but are On to the Gold Medal Game

The players were dead on their feet. Lindsey Horan could barely ping a pass toward the German goal. But Naomi Girma led the defense to another sterling performance, Sophia Smith threaded a wonder goal past Ann-Katrin Berger, and the USWNT will face Brazil for the gold medal on Saturday. Was there anything besides heat and fatigue that slowed the US attack down? Can they avoid Spain's fate against Brazil in the semifinal? Is Girma the undisputed best center back in the world? Eric and Evan ponder yet another 120-minute slog of a match that still had a happy ending for the Americans.Subscribe to our Patreon by this Saturday (August 10th) and lock in your $6/month price forever! Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

OLYMPICS RECAP: The USWNT Struggles, Japan Suffers, and the US Moves on to the Semifinals

It was brutal, but perhaps it was necessary. The USWNT scraped past Japan in the Olympics quarterfinals thanks to an extra-time wonder strike from Trinity Rodman, setting up a semifinal rematch with Germany. Were the players just too tired? Is Emma Hayes's focus on chemistry over fresh legs about to blow up in her face? Was the Japanese defense just too good for the US? Thankfully, the US's defense was even better. Eric and Evan get into all of it and preview the semifinal via Germany's penalty-shootout win against Canada!Sign up for our Patreon and get all of our bonus episodes and more for only $6/month! Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

OLYMPICS RECAP: The USWNT Win Group B in Fine Fashion, Gear Up for Japan in the Quarterfinals

The USWNT beat Australia 2-1 in the final round of the Olympics group stage, topping the group and heading to the quarterfinals to play Japan on Saturday. Despite all the hand-wringing about the US heading into the tournament, they finished group play with the best goal differential the best non-penalty xG differential, the most shots taken in the box, and the most touches in the box. (There's also the small matter of Spain as the only other team to win all three of their group games.)How did the US look against Australia? What might it portend for the knockout stage? And what dangers--and opportunities--do Japan offer? Eric & Evan tackle it all!Sign up for our Patreon if you haven't already, where you'll get all our exclusive bonus content for only $6/month!Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

OLYMPICS RECAP: The USWNT Fly Through Germany in the Balmy Marseille Air

Bang! The USWNT rained goals on Germany in a 4-1 victory, their biggest result against a FIFA top-10 side in six years. A Sophia Smith brace, a Mallory Swanson tap-in, and a Lynn Williams dagger made Germany look far worse than their world ranking would indicate. But was it all bread and circuses for Emma Hayes's side? Eric and Evan examine the tactical imbalance that allowed the Germans to find seams on the counter--and the ways the US exploited their opponent's resulting gaps in the other direction. Want to hear us chat about the action in Groups A and C? Sign up for our Patreon to get all of our exclusive bonus content! Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

OLYMPICS RECAP: The USWNT Opens Its Account with a Dazzling Win over Zambia

There were a couple of emphatic 3-0 wins in Group B as the Olympics tournament kicked off on Thursday. The USWNT contained Barbra Banda and put Zambia to the sword with some dazzling goals from Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson. What did the US do right? What can they carry over to their match against Germany on Sunday, a team that looked stout and strong against a naïve Australia? Eric and Evan leave no stone unturned. Subscribe to our Patreon if you haven't already, and sign up for our tournament newsletter for fun stats and graphs from each round of games!Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

The Big USWNT Olympics Preview! Plus Zambia, Germany, & Australia

Here we go again! One year to the week that xOG launched, we find ourselves on the precipice of yet another major international tournament. The USWNT are in the Olympics Group of Death; how will they manage opposition as varied as Zambia, Germany, and Australia? Eric and Evan plunge into the US lineup, head coach Emma Hayes's tactical plans, and what tests each of their group B opponents offer. 
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Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

BONUS THURSDAY: The USWNT Olympics Send-Off Was Fine. Really.

Yes, the USWNT couldn't score against Costa Rica in their final pre-Olympics friendly. No, none of their boundless chances were especially high-quality. 
But so what? The heat, the field, and the desire to keep everyone healthy explain the result a lot more than alleged poor play can. Eric and Evan tease out why this result doesn't augur doom for the U.S. in France this summer. 
This is our final public bonus episode before we move them to Patreon on July 25th! E-mail xpectedowngoals@gmail.com to join our mailing list and get all of our updates throughout the tournament!
 
 

The USWNT Preps for the Olympics by Beating Mexico. Plus, A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

The USWNT offered a lot in their 1-0 victory over Mexico on a hot and muggy day in New Jersey. Was their lack of finishing something to be concerned over? Can Rose Lavelle be counted on in the absence of an injured Catarina Macario? Will Korbin Albert ever do what it takes to stop being booed?Plus, we have a big announcement about something we can't wait to debut when the Olympics starts! Stay tuned for more info! Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

BONUS THURSDAY: Our NWSL No-Stars Five-A-Side Draft! Plus, Transfer News!

It's our last NWSL-centric episode for a month, friends! We decided to chat about some of our favorite players who slipped under the radar, and whose names we haven't discussed nearly enough. (13:56) Before that, Evan and Eric unpack all the latest transfer news, including Julia Grosso to the Chicago Red Stars, Mackenzie Arnold to the Portland Thorns, Rosemonde Kouassi to the Washington Spirit, and Mina Tanaka to the Utah Royals. (00:26)Art by Eli ElbogenMusic by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs