Canada's spygate at 2024 Paris Olympics expands to men's team; USWNT starts the games off strong with 3-0 win

The USWNT is off to a winning start at the Olympic Games in Paris with a 3-0 victory over Zambia in Group B the day after the USMNT lost by three goals to host nation France. There is also no shortage of drama after Argentina's controversial loss to Morocco and now Canada boss Bev Priestman being removed from the tournament. I am Jonathan Johnson with all of the latest for you.

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⚽ The Forward Line

🥇 USWNT's winning Paris Games start

The USWNT are up and running in France after a 3-0 win over Zambia in Nice on Thursday. Trinity Rodman opened the scoring after 17 minutes after linking up with Lindsey Horan and Sophia Smith before Mallory Swanson grabbed her first and second Olympic goals 66 seconds apart, with Horan adding a second assist on the first of those two. It was a confident and authoritative showing from the USWNT under Emma Hayes with Pauline Zulu's red card for the Zambians after 34 minutes extinguishing any hope of a comeback, but also enabling the U.S. to ease up on their opponents. 

Hayes brought Smith off before the first half was over and Rose Lavelle off at half time with both changes possibly fitness-related as the team eyes a deep run at these Paris Games. With the 3-0 win confirmed, the USWNT are now level on points and goal differential with Germany who started their Group B campaign with a 3-0 win over Australia. Next up for the U.S. will be the Germans in Marseille this Sunday and Sandra Herrera was impressed by Swanson who could now play a key role in that matchup at Stade Velodrome after rating highest in the Zambia win. Rodman also caught Herrera's eye with a finish of real quality to open the score.

• Herrera on Swanson: "It's been an eight-year journey back to the Olympics for Swanson. Back for the first time since Rio 2016 and after a left patellar injury last year, she re-introduced herself with two goals in the first half. The team losing her ahead of last year's World Cup was absolutely the worst thing to happen to the program. Welcome back." Rating: 9
• Herrera on Rodman's goal: "Forward Rodman hit the crossbar twice in the opening 10 minutes before finally getting the opening goal for the Stars and Stripes. It was the first goal for the USWNT in the 2024 Paris Olympics, and it came with a ton of style. The squad was on the front foot from the opening whistle and spent plenty of time in the final third, getting a breakthrough goal that would see them score two more moments later via Swanson. Smith carried the ball out wide before finding the open pass to Horan. Rodman called for the ball while making an alternate run and turned the defender with what's now her signature spin move before slotting the ball past the goalkeeper. It's Rodman's first goal for the national team this year and her Olympic scoring debut."

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🎭 Canada's Olympic soccer spy drama deepens

Canada women's national team has had head coach Bev Priestman removed and sent home as the controversy regarding her staff's use of a drone to spy on opening Game opponents New Zealand and the controversy could now spill over onto the men's side. The Canadian Olympic Committee opted to dismiss Priestman from the Paris Games on Thursday as Canada got their women's Olympic soccer campaign underway with a 2-1 win. Although TSN reported that both the men's and women's soccer teams have spied for years, including for their 2021 gold medal win, the decision was taken and communicated by Canada Soccer CEO and general secretary Kevin Blue.

"Over the past 24 hours, additional information has come to our attention regarding previous drone use against opponents, predating the Paris 2024 Olympic Games," said Blue via an official statement. "In light of these new revelations, Canada Soccer has made the decision to suspend women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman for the remainder of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and until the completion of our recently announced independent external review."

The incident could have greater ramifications for Priestman beyond the current Olympics and the Canada Women's National team will now be overseen by assistant Andy Spence for the remainder of their stay in France. The extended suspension suggests that Canada Soccer and the Canada Olympic Committee could consider this -- and previous uses of spying -- as justification for internal action. According to CBC, the member of staff most concerned by the incident outside of Priestman is Joseph Lombardi who is also a national youth program director with Canada Soccer. However, as of Friday, there now could be impact felt on the men's side too with Blue confirming that Jesse Marsch was made aware of attempted drone use during Copa America although it is disputed whether or not it actually aided results. 

Blue stated that there were differences between the drones' uses between the two tournaments and claimed that "the potential impact on the competitive integrity of a match was not at risk" in the U.S. this summer. Marsch learned about the drone use after the fact, per Blue, so information obtained was less likely to have impacted performances and results. "I am stating right now that the team has not seen any of that footage, players have not committed any wrongdoing," Blue said. However, this is now a systemic issue for Canada Soccer to deal with which could and will likely have far-reaching consequences.

🔗  Top Stories

🍷 Bordeaux gives up professional status: The French soccer clubs which helped to launch Zinedine Zidane has renounced its professional status having been in France's elite since 1937 and could now fold entirely.

🗓️ EPL and European leagues: When does the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga action return? Europe's major leagues are less than one month away from getting going.

🎯 Emma Hayes won her first competitive match with the USWNT: Pardeep Cattry broke down what drives her as a manager.

🚑 USWNT await injury results: With the early substitutes to Smith, and Lavelle, Hayes is waiting on injury updates.

⚽ Crystal Dunn got the start at USWNT right back: Cattry took a deep dive on the veteran's long trip with the USWNT. 

💰 The Back Line

💵 Best bet

• Olympics: USMNT vs. New Zealand, Saturday, 1 p.m. ET
  💰 THE PICK: Draw and both teams to score (+400) -- Having lost 3-0 to hosts France on Wednesday, the USMNT needs a win over New Zealand to improve its position in Group A of the men's Olympic soccer tournament. The OlyWhites edged Guinea out 2-1 but Team USA will be much tougher and the U.S. was arguably unlucky to lose so heavily to Les Bleus having been more or less equals up until Alexandre Lacazette's superb opening goal. If Marko Mitrovic's men want to continue at these Paris Games, then there is no way other than all three points. Even a point might not be enough if the French see off the Guineans and this one finishes level as New Zealand would be most likely to advance -- even if the USMNT beats Guinea in the final group game. 

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