USA vs. France Women's Soccer: Date, Time, Live Stream for 2015 Algarve Cup
The United States women's team will duel against France on Wednesday in this year's Algarve Cup final, looking to win the Portugal-based tournament for the 10th time in their history.
A 0-0 stalemate against Iceland on Monday was enough to secure Jillian Ellis' side their spot as the second-best finishers of the group stage, France being the only team to have won all three of their pool fixtures.
Les Bleues will be riding high on confidence ahead of Wednesday's crescendo, but the Stars and Stripes have a stellar record in this competition and huge motivation to defend their place as the tournament's most successful participants.
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Read on for viewing information ahead of the midweek final, along with recap of how the two teams made it to this stage and which key battle could decide the tie.
Date: Wednesday, March 11
Time: 4 p.m. GMT/11 a.m. ET
Live Stream: Eurosport Player (UK), Fox Soccer 2GO (U.S.)
Road to The Final
France will line up in the Algarve Cup final for the first time in their history this week, having finished fourth on three occasions and taken back-to-back bronze medals in 2004 and 2005.
Philippe Bergeroo's side couldn't have made it to the last two in finer fashion, either, dominating in all three of their group games, including a rampant 4-1 victory against Denmark over the weekend:
The attack-minded setup Bergeroo has emerged have dazzled thus far, beating reigning world champions Japan en route to establishing their perfect record and becoming one of only two teams to score four goals in any one match—Sweden are the other.
The United States have been less impressive and as Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated points out, the 0-0 draw against Iceland on Monday won't be treated with high praise:
The USWNT managed to win their other two group matches against Switzerland and Norway, winning 3-0 and 2-1, respectively, but it required a second-half comeback to beat the latter.
Looking at current form and the opposition each team has faced, Les Bleues look like the in-form party at present. However, should the United States have saved their best until last, the 2013 Algarve Cup champions can't be discounted.
Key Battle
Rachel van Hollebeke vs. Eugenie Le Sommer
Following Whitney Engen's tournament-ending hamstring injury, Rachel van Hollebeke was drafted into the United States' starting XI for the group closer against Iceland, where she did her part in securing a clean sheet.
It seems likely that Ellis will retain Van Hollebeke for the final, but as the official U.S. Soccer Twitter account confirmed, Christie Rampone has been added to the roster and could come in as a centre-back alternative:
Whoever lines up in central defence, the U.S.A. back line is coming up against another kind of beast in Eugenie Le Sommer on Wednesday, the tournament's joint-leading scorer with three goals thus far in the competition.
As Women's Football Comp depicted, Le Sommer notched her third goal of the tournament against world champions Japan on Monday and is a striker enjoying superb form in a setup catered to suit her needs:
Irrespective of whether it is Van Hollebeke, veteran Rampone or another face who joins Becky Sauerbrunn at centre-back, Le Sommer will take some holding back in her pursuit of the competition's Golden Boot.
Just one more goal may be sufficient to secure the top-scorer award for Les Bleues' leading lady, but if her talents can be isolated, the United States may be in with a shot of holding back the French tide.
