Both the United States and France had no problem winning their first games in the women’s soccer tournament at the Olympics. Now, the two big favorites for gold face off against each other in the second match of group stage play.
USA vs. France, Olympics 2016: Time, TV schedule and team news
The USWNT faces their biggest group stage challenge on Saturday.
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The match kicks off on Saturday, scheduled for 4 p.m. ET, televised on NBCSN, or online at NBC Sports Live Extra.
These teams were also drawn against each other in the group stage of the last Olympics. They played in the first match of group play in London, with the Americans winning 4-2. France last beat the U.S. in a friendly in 2015, but the Americans immediately won a rematch less than a month later in the final of the Algarve Cup. They didn’t meet in last year’s World Cup, but played once in 2016, with the USWNT winning 1-0 in the newly created SheBelieves Cup.
Les Bleus are undefeated since the SheBelieves Cup, winning three competitive games in UEFA Women’s Championship qualifying, plus friendlies against Olympic sides China and Canada. The USWNT is undefeated across all matches in 2016, drawing just once.
Key player: Amandine Henry
Henry is widely considered to be the most complete central midfielder in the world and will be a handful for a young American center. Carli Lloyd has faced off against Henry multiple times, but it'll be a relatively new experience for 23-year-old Morgan Brian and for Allie Long, who is teammates with Henry on the Portland Thorns. Henry is excellent defensively, and her passing from deep positions could catch a very aggressive USWNT defense out of position.
Key matchup: Tall Americans vs. Wendie Renard
The United States has a number of players who are excellent in the air on both sides of the pitch. They don't have anyone as good as Renard. France's captain and 6'2 central defender has a goal-scoring record that many strikers would be happy with and many attacking midfielders can only dream about. The Americans will be sweating every set piece opportunity they give up, and they'll be a bit less confident in taking advantage of their attacking ones than usual.
Match date: Saturday, Aug. 6
Match Time: 4 p.m. ET
Venue: Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
TV: NBCSN (U.S.), France 4 (France)
Online: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.)
