The US Women’s National Team, under the guidance of new coach Emma Hayes, secured Olympic gold in a thrilling final against Brazil.

Arsenal’s Emily Fox played a crucial role in the victory, putting in a solid defensive display throughout the 120-minute encounter.

The Arsenal right-back played the whole game that lasted 120 minutes in total and ended up with a 1-0 win thanks to a Mallory Swanson goal.

The game was evenly balance with Brazil, unlike in their previous games against France and Spain, taking the game to the USA. They created numerous chances using the wings and Naeher in the USA goal was superb, denying Brazil multiple times to keep a clean sheet and help win the game.

The goalkeeper has now kept a clean sheet in a World Cup final and an Olympic final, both took played in France.

Expected goals was 1.56 for Brazil and 1.35 for the USA.

The USA tried to control the game but were at their most dangerous when they used the pace of their forwards on the break.

In fact, they scored on the break, when Albert sent Sampson through to shoot past Lorena. The goal was controversial as Smith was in an offside position when Albert sent the ball through, but the referee and VAR decided that Smith did not interfere with play. This is a grey area in law 11, and it is a shame the game turned on that decision.

Brazil then made a triple sub, including bringing on Marta, and it slowed down their play, causing their threat to disappear.

In the end, the USA were slightly lucky to win it, but they were more clinical on the day, and that’s how you win a final.

Overall, Emily Fox played 573 minutes out of a maximum of 600 in this tournament. She was a key part of the US defence that only conceded two goals in the whole tournament.

She played at right-back for the whole tournament with Crystal Dunn at left-back where Emily has played many games in the past. Her role was slightly less attacking than what she does with Arsenal, as Dunn seems to be playing more as a wing-back than a full-back, and Fox was keeping the defence balanced by covering alongside the centre-back.

The USA have begun rebuilding under Emma Hayes following a poor era under Vlatko Andonovski where the USA were eliminated early at the Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

She has been able to change a few things in a couple of months, and it will be interesting to see how that team will evolve towards the World Cup in 2027 that will take place in Brazil.