MARSEILLE, France — Jack McGlynn remembers when the goal was as basic as it could get: No U.S. men's soccer team had qualified for an Olympics since 2008, so for months just getting to these Paris Games was all that mattered.
But now Americans want more.
On the eve of their final group-stage match, McGlynn, who is one of only two Americans to have played with the team during this entire Olympic cycle, said he and his teammates are well aware of what is at stake. If they can beat Guinea on Tuesday in Saint-Etienne, they will likely qualify for the quarterfinals and become the first U.S. men’s team to reach the knockout rounds at a Summer Games in 24 years.
“We know this is the biggest game we've played so far,” said McGlynn, a sharp-passing midfielder for the Philadelphia Union. “I was part of the team that got us here, and that was a big deal for us.”
He added: “I think now that we are here, we understand the importance of it. The older players have also spoken to us about the moment, how important it is and how important it could be if we get to the next phase.”
One of those older players is defender Miles Robinson, one of three older players that coach Marko Mitrović selected for the roster. Robinson was a mainstay on the U.S. men’s national team’s defensive line in 2022 and looked set to play for the country at the World Cup in Qatar, but was sidelined after tearing his Achilles tendon in an MLS game in May.
Although Robinson worked hard not to become too depressed after the injury, it was impossible to completely ignore the brutal reality: a dream would have to wait.
Now, after being selected to join Walker Zimmerman and Djordje Mihailovic as the oldest players on the Olympic roster, Robinson has a different, but entirely meaningful, opportunity to represent the United States on a massive global stage.
“It's definitely been a long road,” Robinson said, “full of ups and downs. I'm very grateful to be here and hopefully competing for a medal.”
The U.S. team had a rough start to the tournament, failing to convert several good chances early on but holding their own for an hour against hosts France in front of a packed stadium in Marseille, only to then capitulate in the final 30 minutes in a 3-0 loss.
Three days later, however, the Americans put on a performance that was almost a complete turnaround. Instead of faltering at the end, they started fast, scoring three goals in the first half hour against New Zealand and finishing with a 4-1 victory that was the largest margin ever for a U.S. men's Olympic team. It also put them in excellent position for the final group game.
With several tiebreakers potentially at stake, the scenarios could get complicated, but the United States is guaranteed to advance if it beats Guinea by at least two goals, while any American victory is almost certain to suffice as long as New Zealand does not beat France in the other Group A match.
There are other circumstances in which the United States could get by with a draw or even a loss, but the players are keeping their thinking as simple as possible.
“I think this group continues to grow, continues to learn from each other and hopefully we can continue to move forward,” Robinson said. “If we do that, there will be no limits.”
