The U.S. Women's National team takes on France today in the opening match of the Women's Olympic Tournament, and arguably the best match of the group stage (Noon, NBC Sports).
The Americans enter the tournament having won the past two Olympic titles, but the lingering disappointment of last year's World Cup Final defeat is serving as motivation for a team considered the favorites to win gold again.
The French will look to get the USA off to a losing start, and they have the attacking weapons to do so, boasting one of the most dangerous attacks in women's soccer.
Here is my FOX Soccer preview on today's match, with a look at the changes Pia Sundhage has made to her team heading into this Olympic Tournament.
If you will be watching today's match, as well as the rest of today's Olympic soccer action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action.
Hamstring trouble
She is sort of the x-factor for us. She has a creativity that no one else on the team can match. Like many creative playmakers, though, she has had the tendency to disappear at times. When she’s on, the team is completely different.
After a brief excursion into an alternate universe, normality was restored. Excellent comeback by the US.
Her’s really do stand out, especially at the end of a run where her face gets flushed, but for me it’s hard to beat Hope’s bone structure.
France look tired – USA definitely have superior conditioning (as always)
Rapinoe is a joy to watch.
trying hard not be be tasteless here….
h-huh….
I’m sure… except for the fact that all the “girls” you just dismissed could beat the snot out of you without breaking a sweat, Rockstar.
Thiney for sure
Best cheekbones: Amy Rodriguez, Hope Solo, Alex Morgan, or Gaetane Thiney??
Yes, and conditioning also seems to be playing a factor. France seems to have worn themselves out after their frenzied first 30 minutes.
Thank you
Completely different team in the second half; no nerves, solid defending and strong possession. Nice work by Pia in the locker room.
It looked to me like she used the shoulder as a weapon. They weren’t running together in classic shoulder to shoulder action, Alex was running free and the defender delivered a blow. As it is, no matter, since Baby Horse gets her revenge with a baby tap in.
Did anyone just hear that Weezer reference… “Los Angeles… that’s where she wants to beee!” (referring to Alex Morgan)
OK I’m weird seeya later
yes, she made the play all the way with her first touch and all
Watching a feed, no sound. Great diagonal ball to start that goal sequence. Who made it, Rapinoe?
As a referee myself, that looked 50/50 to me.
and there it is…ball worked from one side to the other thru the middle and the space for Heath was the Great Plains!
Alex Morgan for President!
Too easy that time
Just because it’s shoulder to shoulder doesn’t mean you can just knock down the other player at will, especially when you make no attempt to play the ball.
I thought the first one was a good tackle, but the second one was a penalty.
Just a hair.
France getting away with just hacking down Alex in the box every time she gets the ball.