The United States women's soccer team will try to reach the finals of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup today when it faces France in the semifinals. ESPN will broadcast the game live beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET.
The U.S. reached the semifinals with a dramatic quarterfinals victory over Brazil on penalty kicks. In the other semifinal, Japan will face Sweden (ESPN, 2:15 p.m. ET). Live online streaming is available at ESPN3
"We are feeling good. We are riding high a wave of confidence right now. France are an excellent team. They put on a great show against England and threw them out the tournament, kept the ball well and played an attractive style," said USA midfielder Megan Rapinoe. "I think it's going to be a pretty good game."
The USA has reached the semifinals of the World Cup in all five previous tournaments, winning the tournament in 1991 and 1999.
In a preview of the event, SBNation.com summarized the matchup between France and the USA this way:
France and the United States have a lot in common. They're both wildly talented teams who have enough firepower to win the tournament, but both have made things very difficult on themselves so far.
Wednesday's winners will meet in the World Cup final Sunday.