It's the most highly anticipated game of the 2019 Women's World Cup as the defending champion U.S. faces host France in the quarterfinals Friday.
On paper, this match seems more fitting for the finals rather than the second round of the knockout stage. The teams rank first and second in goals, expected goals and expected goals against in the tournament.
The U.S. is coming off a hard-fought win against Spain in the round of 16, while France barely got past Brazil. Friday's match is expected to be one filled with intensity and one that will test the Americans.
In recent matches, France has limited USA's attack. Over the last five meetings against France, the U.S. has scored one goal in four of them and zero in the other match. Only Alex Morgan (1), Carli Lloyd (1) and Mallory Pugh (2) have scored against Les Bleus since the beginning of 2015.
Here's what you need to know:
What time does the USA vs. France match start?
The match kicks off 3 p.m. ET at Parc des Princes in Paris.
How to watch or stream the USA vs. France game?
Fox will broadcast the USA vs. France game. It can also be live-streamed on the Fox Sports Go app.
How many times has the U.S. played France?
France and the United States have played against each other 23 times. While the Americans have the advantage with an all-time record of 17-3-3 against the Les Bleus, the U.S. is winless in its last three games against France (2L-1D). The Americans gave up three goals in each of those two losses after holding France scoreless in their prior three meetings.
Who is the France player to watch?
Amandine Henry: The midfielder is known as one of the world's best distributors from central midfield. She sets the tempo for France, and is unlike many players when it comes to her strengths in regaining possession and setting up attack. Henry has scored two goals with one assist in the four matches she's played in this tournament. The U.S. will have to figure out how to match her tempo and stop her in attack.
- The U.S. is unbeaten in its last 14 Women's World Cup matches (11W-3D), winning the last nine in a row. The Americans could become only the second team ever to win 10 consecutive Women's World Cup matches, joining Norway which reached that feat between 1995 and 1999.
- France has won 17 of its last 18 matches, allowing a total of eight goals and scoring multiple goals in 15 of the 18 games.
- Megan Rapinoe has been directly involved in 12 goals in her 15 appearances at the Women's World Cup (six goals, six assists). Since the start of the 2011 tournament, only Carli Lloyd (13) has had a hand in more World Cup goals for the USWNT other than Rapinoe.
Prediction
USA 1, France 0
France will put up a big challenge for the U.S. The Americans will have to play a completely different game than they played against Spain in the round of 16 if they want the chance to advance to the next round.
One question that could determine the outcome of Friday's game centers around Alex Morgan's effectiveness and health. Entering the tournament, she was expected to carry the U.S. She scored five goals against Thailand in the group stage, but she had just one touch in Spain's box in the last game, marking just the fifth time in 46 appearances since 2017 that she has had one or fewer in a match.
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