USA vs. China: Date, Start Time, Live Stream for 2015 Women's Soccer World Cup
The United States will look to book themselves into the last four of the Women's World Cup on Friday night when they face rank outsiders China in the quarterfinals.
Abby Wambach and her teammates have yet to explode into life in Canada, with the China game giving the U.S. women's national team the chance to find the back of the net and rack up a strong score.
Here is how you can witness the drama of this tie, with match and streaming information below.
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Date: Friday, June 26
Time: 7:30 p.m. (ET), 12:30 a.m. Saturday (BST)
Live Stream: Fox Sports 2Go (U.S. only), BBC iPlayer (UK only)
TV Info: Fox Sports (U.S. only); BBC Red Button, Eurosport (UK only)
Match Preview
China have climbed the World Cup mountain in the past, making the 1999 final, only to lose to the U.S. Now, they have a chance to exact revenge for the defeat 16 years ago. However, that looks highly unlikely.
USWNT are a cut above anything the Chinese can offer, with the Asian side the lowest-ranked nation left in the competition.
In 1999, the final between the two countries reached extra time and penalties, with the U.S. winning the shootout 5-4, but the scoreline is likely to be emphatically one-sided at the TD Place Stadium in Ottawa.
The United States worked hard in their 2-0 win over Colombia in the round of 16, proving they have the stomach for the fight against resilient opposition. China edged out Cameroon in their corresponding fixture, winning 1-0 with an early strike, but they do not appear to have the depth of squad to make the semi-finals.
However, the Americans enter the game without the influential talents of Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday, who have arguably been the side's best players during the World Cup.
Both players are suspended for the battle with China, and Leander Schaerlaeckens of Yahoo Sports believes their absences will damage the U.S. game plan:
"While China is just about the softest opponent the Americans could ask for at this stage of the tournament – with the other quarterfinals featuring the likes of Germany, France, Canada and likely Japan – they will be hampered by the losses.
On the offensive side of the ball, Holiday and Rapinoe have been the USA's best players in the tournament. The back line, of course, has been stellar, but it's been Rapinoe's flair and Holiday's understated efficiency that have forged the bulk of what few chances the attack has produced. While the vaunted strikers have sputtered only slowly into action, their peers on the line behind them have shoved them all through to this point.
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USWNT have been defensively strong in Canada, and this element is likely to carry them through on Friday. However, the team's lack of potency in front of goal will be a concern for American fans, with Wambach struggling to hit the heights of previous form.
One huge bonus for the Americans is the return to fitness of the important Alex Morgan, who netted her first goal of the competition in the previous round.
The superstar was delighted to be back scoring goals for her country and was positive about the ties to come, per Jeff Carlisle of espnW.com: "I feel better and better each game. I'm seeing my speed, my change of direction, my shot coming back. It feels good and hopefully in the next games it will feel great."
There is every chance Morgan will be given the nod to partner Wambach in attack as the U.S. look to make short work of their opponents.
China have a dogged determination at their core, and Cameroon coach Enow Ngachu was quick to praise them, per Jere Longman of the New York Times: "I think they have one of the best defenses in this tournament. When they lose the ball, nearly all the Chinese players regroup themselves as fast as possible. You hardly find less than six players defending. If they keep on like that, they can create surprises."
Despite Ngachu's assessment, it is unlikely the Chinese have the capacity to defeat the U.S.
The Americans need a fixture to display the best of their abilities, and even without Holiday and Rapinoe, they will have too much in the tank for China.
However, Wambach needs to arrive at the party soon—and find her best game—with Germany or France in the semi-final. Without her top quality, USWNT are weakened, and even with the returning Morgan, they will not make the final unless they improve their attack.
