USA vs. France Women's Soccer: Date, Time, Live Stream and 2015 Friendly Preview

The United States women's national team will face a tough start to what is a vital year for them when they travel to the Stade du Moustoir, Lorient to take on a very capable France team. It’s the first of two tough matches in Europe for Jillian Ellis’ team; they travel to Milton Keynes to face England  (Feb. 13) after this one.

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The USWNT will be looking to accrue some early momentum from the outset of this World Cup year, and playing the second-best team in the world represents ideal preparation. With the showpiece event in Canada just four months away, a host of players will be desperate to impress Ellis too, starting with this clash with the French.

It’s not often you get to see the second- and third-best sides on the planet go head-to-head, and as such this is not one to be missed. Here’s all the information you need on where to catch the contest and a closer look at the fortunes of both sides coming into this friendly clash.

Date: Sunday, Jan. 8

Time: 12 p.m. (ET), 5 p.m. (GMT)

Live Stream: ESPN Player (US)

TV Info: ESPN 2 (US)

USWNT Get World Cup Preparations Underway

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France represent a daunting proposition for Ellis’ side. While they’re ranked No. 2 in the world, their impeccable form in qualifying for the World Cup suggests they could be the finest team on the planet at the moment.

In Gaetane Thiney they have a goalscorer extraordinaire too; she netted 14 times in 10 qualifying games and will be one to watch out for in front of an estimated 14,000 crowd in Lorient.

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Thiney is just one of a host of classy offensive options for the French, and although the USWNT are typically diligent in their defensive work, they rarely come up against opposition as incisive as this. Worryingly for Ellis’ side, Les Bleus boast a fortitude and cohesion to complement their cultured attacking play too.

Here’s a look at the players who’ll be out to impress in this jaunt across the pond:

The biggest omission for the USWNT is veteran defender Christie Rampone. The 39-year-old has been an evergreen influence at the heart of the United States’ back four during her distinguished career, and the defensive poise she brings to this team will be badly missed against a quality attacking side.

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Legendary goalkeeper Hope Solo will also miss this tour as she serves out the remainder of her suspension from national team duty. The 33-year-old has hit with a 30-day playing embargo after “an incident that occurred during the current WNT training camp” per Ralph Ellis of CNN. But her omission means there is a big chance for Ashlyn Harris to impress between the sticks.

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Despite those key absences, the players involved in this trip seem pretty relaxed in the build-up to their game:

This will be a match that represents a fine opportunity for Ellis to experiment with various combinations ahead of the World Cup and as such, it’d be misguided to read too much into the result of this one. Indeed, France will be the favourites here, and in front of a raucous home support will surely up their level considerably.

Rampone’s absence represents a major loss for this team, and although the attacking talents of players like Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan should cause this French defence problems, the home side look as though they boast an edge all over the pitch coming into this one. That will show in earnest in the latter stages of the game, giving France a hard-fought win.

Prediction: France 3-1 United States