Women's World Cup Final 2015: Championship TV Schedule and Live Stream

Gianni VerschuerenJul 5, 2015

Japan and the USA will once again meet to decide the outcome of a major tournament, with the two heavyweights of women's football set to go head-to-head on Sunday, July 5, in the final of the 2015 Women's World Cup.

Nadeshiko Japan beat the Yanks four years ago to win the title, while the Stars and Stripes got some retribution a year later, at the 2012 Olympics. Both teams will feel confident in their chances of winning Sunday's final, and for good reason.

Here's everything you need to know about the final of the 2015 Women's World Cup.

Preview

EDMONTON, AB - JULY 01: Nahomi Kawasumi #9 of Japan takes a shot on goal in the last minute of play against England during the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Semi Final match at Commonwealth Stadium on July 1, 2015 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Ron

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The USA come into the final on the back of perhaps their best match yet at the tournament, a 2-0 win over Germany. The team appears to be clicking at just the right time, although midfielder Carli Lloyd believes they'll have to do even better against Japan, via Fox Soccer:

Lloyd was one of the stars of the semi-finals, scoring a penalty and putting together a solid performance in midfield. Combined with Megan Rapinoe, she gives the Americans an excellent central axis capable of both winning the ball back in a hurry and pushing forward into the box.

The duo will play an important role against Japan, who love to keep the ball in the team and dominate possession. They'll advance their wingers and full-backs far up the pitch if they have the chance, and most of the danger comes from their ability to create confusion with timely runs.

Japan are fantastic at doing this, but if an opponent can break up attacks early, they struggle to execute a backup plan. England did this wonderfully, hitting the defending champions on the counter-attack and handing the USA a blueprint to do the same:

But Japan's biggest weakness is perhaps their lack of size and their resulting struggles against crosses and set pieces. As disciplined as they are defensively, everything appears to go out of the window as soon as a ball comes in with some air under it. Defenders are routinely caught out of position, and they can't win the duels with any consistency.

On the other side of the pitch, Japan attack freely and with numbers, and the American defence will have to be at its best. They've conceded just a single goal all tournament, an incredible achievement, and young Julie Johnston has been one of the standout performers so far.

With the exception of the penalty she gave away against Germany, she's looked composed and in control at every turn, and Bleacher Report's Will Tidey has been impressed:

With Johnston controlling the defence and Hope Solo in goal, it's no wonder the Americans have kept clean sheet after clean sheet. But at the same time, Japan have scored in every single match so far, and something will have to give on Sunday.

There's no main striker or star finisher to keep an eye on for the defending champions. Aya Miyama leads the team with two goals, a clear indication of their ability to finish as a group. Everyone will take their chances, and if the Yanks lose focus for just a split second, they could pay the price.

The USA have used the same tactics throughout the knockout stages, but more out of necessity. Alex Morgan hasn't been at her best, lacking sharpness in front of goal, and veteran Abby Wambach has made most of her contributions off the bench.

Both Morgan and Wambach are world-class finishers, however, and those type of players often step it up when it matters the most. Don't be surprised if either makes the difference on Sunday, and expect Wambach to play heavy minutes as manager Jill Ellis tries to exploit Japan's weakness in the air.

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