Walker Zimmerman says the USMNT are setting the ultimate Olympic target at the 2024 Games in Paris, with collective “eyes on a gold medal”.
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Qualified for first time since 2008Will open campaign against hosts FranceLooking to land a medal of any colourWHAT HAPPENED?
The United States are gracing an Olympic stage for the first time since 2008, with qualification falling out of reach in the last three events. Marko Mitrovic is at the helm for a trip to France, with an exciting squad pieced together.
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MLS star Zimmerman is filling the captain’s armband, as one of three overage players in U23 ranks, and he has told of the goals being set in the U.S. camp: “We have our eyes on a gold medal. It’s a unique tournament since there are only 16 teams, so the fact that if you get out of your group, you’re in a quarter-final, and if you win that game, you’re playing for a medal even if you lose the semi-final. It just amps up so quickly and that’s really different from a lot of other major tournaments. Games are every three days and we’re going to have to rely on everyone with the reduced roster size to make it happen.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
A medal of any kind with be considered success for the USMNT, with Nashville SC defender Zimmerman adding: “It would be a huge. It’s such an important moment for everyone on this roster to do something special as a collective, to do something special for their individual careers. It’s a big opportunity and it’s just a matter of whether we take it or not. We got to watch the movie Miracle for a team bonding event and a lot of the guys hadn’t seen it yet. I guess it was before their time, but it’s such a good reminder that you have such a great opportunity and you got to go out there and take it.”
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
The USMNT will get their Olympic campaign underway on Wednesday when taking on hosts France in Marseille. Meetings with New Zealand and Guinea will follow in Group A, with the top two progressing to the knockout stage.