USA vs. Brazil Women's Soccer: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

The U.S. women's national team began its bid to win this year's International Tournament of Brasilia with a rather tame 1-1 draw against China. Now the Americans face a tougher test from hosts Brazil.

The USA will have to hope its talent, justified by a No. 1 ranking in the current FIFA standings, shines through this time. That's the only chance to offset the home advantage enjoyed by the hosts.

Before a closer preview, here are the schedule and viewing details:

Date: Sunday, December 14, 2014

Time: 4 p.m. (ET)

TV: Band Sports (Brazil)

Live Stream: None. Video Highlights available post-game at USSoccer.com

Preview

Coach Jill Ellis needs strikers Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach to cause the Brazil defence a host of problems. Wambach is the more likely source of those problems due to her combative style of play.

The 34-year-old will pose a physical challenge for defenders, especially in the air. It would also help if Morgan and Wambach receive credible support from midfield.

Samantha Mewis is the most likely player to provide that support. She's got a natural eye for goal, and her late runs will work well with the aerial threat posed by Wambach, along with Morgan's pace.

Brennan Linsley/Associated Press

Those are the qualities that earned Mewis high praise from ESPNW.com writer Graham Hays:

"

She stands alone.

The leader in goals (14) and assists (11) for unbeaten UCLA as the nation's top-ranked team begins its defense of its national championship in the NCAA tournament, Mewis is espnW's national player of the year.

...

But at 5-foot-11 with skill in the air and with the ball at her feet in midfield, she has the physical tools to be one of the outstanding players of her generation. Training with national team veterans made it clear that she wasn't crazy to think about a future among them.

"

Mewis will have to take her chances to break forward and catch the Brazil defence cold.

Of course, it will be just as tough for the USA to withstand an onslaught from Brazil's plethora of talented attackers. Obviously, the mercurial Marta still leads the way.

But the gifted 28-year-old will receive excellent support from the fleet-footed and quick-witted Debinha. She was on the scoresheet when the hosts kicked off their tournament with a 4-0 thumping of Argentina.

Expect this duo to combine to create many chances.

Ellis needs her team to rebound from its sluggish start. A match with an Argentina team that's better than its opening result suggested will follow the meeting with Brazil.

The cost of that draw with China will really become clear after this tough-looking two-game tilt. That's especially relevant considering the tournament's rules, detailed by the USWNT official Twitter account:

Predicted Final Score: Brazil 2-2 USA

It's difficult not to see goals in a game featuring so many capable forwards. The U.S. needs to make amends after the draw with China, but Brazil still has enough quality to match them.