Women's World Cup Schedule 2015: Semifinals Game Times and Live Stream Coverage
Only four teams remain standing in the 2015 Women's World Cup after a riveting quarterfinal round.
Germany defeated France on penalty kicks to earn the first semifinal bid, and the United States followed suit, knocking off a surprising China side thanks to a well-timed header by Carli Lloyd. Those two squads set up a semifinal showdown of epic proportions: The Germans rank No. 1 in the world, with the Americans right behind them at No. 2.
On the other side of the bracket, Japan is still looking to successfully defend its title, as its stout defense prevailed against a surging Australian side in the quarterfinals. They'll meet England in the semifinals after the Three Lionesses shocked host country Canada with a 2-1 victory in the quarterfinals.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Both semifinal matches will most certainly provide plenty of awe-inspiring moments and edge-of-your-seat action. So to ensure you don't miss a moment of these two compelling matchups, let's take a look at all of the essential viewing information for the semifinals.
Semifinals Schedule
| Tue., June 30 | United States vs. Germany | 7 p.m. | Fox |
| Wed., July 1 | Japan vs. England | 7 p.m. | FS1 |
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
Match Previews
United States vs. Germany
Germany continues to be arguably the most dominant team in this year's World Cup. Through five matches, the team has accumulated a whopping 20 goals while conceding just three. This is an extremely well-rounded squad that has a tenacious defense, good speed in the middle and finishing ability on the attack.
The Germans are nicely disciplined and move the ball well, allowing them to maintain possession while moving up the pitch and sending in a barrage of shots on goal. Through five matches, the side has attempted a remarkable 134 shots, 59 of them on target.
Two German players to watch are Celia Sasic and Anja Mittag. The duo has combined for 11 goals in the World Cup and are deadly when given any kind of open look at goal. The United States defense has been phenomenal thus far but will be heavily tested by these two attackers.
American defender Becky Sauerbrunn knows her unit will have to be sharp against Germany, and during a press conference, via Gary Morley of CNN.com, she bluntly said, "If they don't score, we can't lose."
Sauerbrunn and the rest of the American defense have a reason to be confident after allowing just two shots on target to the Chinese in their quarterfinal clash while keeping a fourth consecutive clean sheet for goalkeeper Hope Solo. However, there's still the matter of offense for the Americans.
While the United States has been dominant on defense, the same can't be said on the offensive side of the ball. The squad has toyed with several different duos up top in its 4-4-2 scheme, but no matter who has been in action, the fact of the matter is that the Americans have just scored four times in their last four games.
The United States has plenty of diverse talent on offense: the size of Abby Wambach, the technical ability of Alex Morgan, the speed of Sydney Leroux and Amy Rodriguez. Now, coach Jill Ellis will be tasked with finding the right combination to send in against the Germans in an effort to knock off the best team in the world.
Japan vs. England
Japan defeated the United States in the 2011 Women's World Cup final due to some very technically sound play—especially in the defensive third of the pitch. That trend has continued for the Japanese in 2015, as the team has allowed just two goals in five matches despite playing against some high-octane offenses.
Still, this isn't a Japan team that is content with sitting back on defense and waiting for the counter. This is a side that possesses the ball very well, utilizing crisp passes and smart decisions to play out of the back and move methodically up the pitch. That was evident in the team's quarterfinal contest against Australia, as it maintained 60 percent of the possession and finished with 15 attempted shots and eight corners.
The lone issue with Japan is its inability to finish. While players like Nahomi Kawasumi move the ball with ease, the Japanese have struggled to finish off an attack and find the back of the net. Through five matches, they have taken 72 shots with only 19 of them on target and seven resulting in goals.
That may be at least a bit of good news for a surprising England side that has conceded at least one goal in every World Cup match this year. The Three Lionesses haven't exactly been stout in their own defensive third and haven't created many chances on the attack. However, their striking accuracy has been their best attribute to date.
England has accumulated 59 shots so far, with 24 of them on target. That's an absolutely phenomenal ratio, as the side has put consistent pressure on opposing goalkeepers due to numerous players who have attacking mindsets. Whether a shot comes from a midfielder like Karen Carney, a forward like Fran Kirby or even a defender like Lucy Bronze, strikes have been on the mark.
That will be key against a Japanese defense that hasn't allowed many solid opportunities for opponents this year. England likely won't get many great looks on goal in this contest, so its ability to make the most of its opportunities could be a deciding factor in this semifinal showdown.
