Women's World Cup Final 2015: Date, Time and Known Info Before Japan vs. England
The USA have booked their passage to the 2015 Women's World Cup final, with Japan and England set to battle it out for the remaining place on Wednesday.
The USWNT secured their place with a 2-0 win over Germany. After tournament top scorer Celia Sasic missed a penalty for Die Nationalelf, the USA remained composed when presented with a spot-kick of their own, and Carli Lloyd duly converted under pressure before Kelley O'Hara made sure of the result.
Here's what we know about the final so far:
Date: Sunday, July 5
Time: 7 p.m. ET, 12 a.m. BST
Venue: BC Place Stadium
Live Stream: BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go and FOX SportsGO
Regardless of whether Japan or England wins, the winning nation will surely face an incredibly tough test in the form of Jill Ellis' side.
While the likes of Germany garnered most of the headlines earlier in the tournament, the Americans struggled to click in forward areas but continued to enjoy success due to their incredible displays in defence.
Women's football writer Kieran Theivam has been impressed by their solidity:
Indeed, Hope Solo's goal has been breached just once in the entire tournament, way back in the opening game against Australia.
The Americans' physicality and organisation make them an incredibly tough proposition to break down, and while both Japan and England have been good at taking their chances at the World Cup, neither have faced a defence as rock solid as that of the U.S.
The Yanks also boast plenty of threats in creative and forward positions.
Carli Lloyd's goal puts her on three for the tournament in three games, which, as ESPN's Paul Carr noted, puts her in good company:
Bleacher Report's own Collin McCollough was particularly impressed by her performance in the semi-final:
According to Nancy Armour of USA Today, Lloyd is feeling good ahead of the big showdown: "I feel we have really, really good momentum going into (the final). It's a good feeling. I have a really confident feeling in us winning it."
Though Abby Wambach has yet to show her true qualities as a centre-forward in Canada, the powerful 35-year-old is a prolific striker capable of causing any defence problems.
The 2012 World Player of the Year uses her height and physicality to great effect, so the USA's opponents can drop their guard around her at their own peril.
Playmaker Megan Rapinoe makes things happen in midfield for the USA, and the 29-year-old will also need to be silenced in order to stifle the Americans' advances.
Of the two possible opponents, Japan would seem the more likely to stand a chance of tasting success against the USA.
More organised, defensively solid and technically assured than England, Japan may not be as explosive as the Three Lionesses up front, but it is at the back where the final will be won.
Germany boasted a wealth of firepower up front, but when it came down to it, they simply couldn't find a way through the USA's defence.
Japan beat the USA on penalties in the 2011 final, and a shootout seems the most realistic way of either team beating the USA this time around.
The Nadeshiko's aforementioned qualities, along with their previous experience from 2011, make them a stronger opponent than England. However, should Mark Sampson's side triumph, the character and resilience of his team will make them a serious force with which to be reckoned.
All that's left now is for the second semi-final to be played. Either way, the final is sure to be a suitably dramatic and thrilling affair worthy of an excellent tournament.
