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USWNT vs. Mexico: 2021 Friendly Odds, Time, Live Stream and TV Schedule
July 1, 2021
The United States women's national team plays the first of its two send-off games against Mexico ahead of the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday.
Vlatko Andonovski named 18 players to the Olympic squad and some of those have questions to answer prior to the first game in Japan.
The most notable issue is the health of Tobin Heath and Julie Ertz, who both have not played since January because of injury.
Heath has been ahead of Ertz in the recovery process, but if they are both fit enough to play in Hartford, Connecticut, on Thursday, they should get a chance to prove their worth to the Olympic starting XI.
The USWNT should handle its continental foe with ease, but the match may not produce as many fireworks as usual with rain in the forecast in the northeast.
USWNT vs. Mexico Info
Date: Thursday, July 1
Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
Live Stream: FoxSports.com or Fox Sports app
Odds (via DraftKings Sportsbook): USWNT (-10000); Mexico (+2400); Draw (+1200)
Preview
The USWNT is once again an overwhelming favorite for a friendly matchup on home soil.
Andonovski's squad is on a 42-game unbeaten streak, and it has four consecutive clean-sheet victories. Even when the USWNT has not been at its best, it has found a way to win. The 1-0 victory over Portugal on June 10 is the perfect example of that.
In that contest, the USWNT entered as an overwhelming favorite, but Portugal hung tough and did not concede until the 76th minute.
Samantha Mewis, who scored the game-winner in that match, will be one to watch throughout the Olympics.
If Ertz is unable to play the full slate of matches, Mewis is the likely candidate to slide into the No. 6 role.
Mewis played there during the three-game series in Texas versus Portugal, Jamaica and Nigeria, and she could be vital in that spot throughout the Olympic group stage.
Ertz and Heath are the two players Andonovski is betting on to be healthy and effective at the Olympics. Heath has a better chance to participate in Thursday's friendly just to gain some on-field minutes before the trip to Japan.
Heath is one of five forwards over the age of 30 with 30 or more international goals on the Olympic roster. Her 33-goal total is the lowest of the group that includes Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Christen Press and Alex Morgan.
With all of those legendary players up top, the USWNT should not lack for goals and are expected to score an abundance of goals in the two send-off games against Mexico and at the start of the Olympics.
Mexico did not qualify for the Olympics out of CONCACAF. Canada will join the USWNT as the North American representatives in Tokyo.
The USWNT will use the two matches to gear up for an opener against longtime rival Sweden, who is in Group G along with Australia and New Zealand.
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