The chance for the USWNT to defend their Women’s World Cup title is finally here. The tournament got underway on Friday with the hosts France demolishing South Korea by a score of 4-0. Since then most of the other teams have gotten their quest for glory under way, but now it’s time for the reigning champions to take center stage. Will they become the first time to win the Women’s World Cup four times? Will this be the last major tournament for Carli Lloyd? Or does their grip on international soccer start to slip away? The answers start to come as the US gets set to take on Thailand.

The roster that Jill Ellis brought to France is a very experienced roster and by the standards of soccer, could be considered an old roster. There are no players under the age of 20 and only two players under the age of 24 (Mallory Pugh and Tierna Davidson). There are also a total of eleven players over the age of 30: Alyssa Naeher, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O’Hara, Carli Lloyd, Ali Kreiger, Megan Rapinoe, Tobin Heath, Ashlynn Harris, Allie Long, Jessica McDonald, and Christen Press. In terms of experience, this roster is loaded. Over half the roster has more than 50 caps, six players have over 100 caps, and Carli Lloyd has over 200 caps. Goal scoring is an interesting look here. Only eight of the players on this roster have scored 10 or more goals and two of those players have hit the century mark: Lloyd with 107 goals and Alex Morgan with 101. But outside of that, some might wonder where the goals are going to come from. Press does have 47 goals and Rapinoe does have 44 but if opponents are able to figure out a way to shut the best players for the US down, the Americans might be in a spot of trouble.

The US is currently in a very good run of form (not that they really ever aren’t), having won six in a row (the last four without allowing a goal) and having lost just once since July of 2017 (3-1 loss against France in Le Havre this past January). They did fail to win the She Believes Cup on home soil in March, losing out to England on goal difference. But during their send-off series of friendlies they were a well oiled machine beating Australia 5-3, Belgium 6-0, South Africa 3-0, New Zealand 5-0, and Mexico 3-0.

Thailand is making it’s second ever appearance at the Women’s World Cup, after debuting at the last edition four years ago in Canada. They actually gave a good account of themselves in 2015, finishing third in Group B with three points (behind Germany and Norway). They lost their opener 4-0 to the Norwegians, bounced back with a 3-2 win over the Ivory Coast, and then fell 4-0 to the Germans in the group finale. The experience from four years ago could prove to be invaluable this time around and they are once again, not really tipped to get out of the group but another 3rd place finish is certainly a possibility. Their form coming into this game is not great, however. They’ve lost five in a row and 11 of their last 12. The sole win in that stretch (which dates back to August of 2018) was a 4-0 win over Hungary at the Cyprus Cup in February. Thailand does feature a pair of players that are based in the US, both college soccer players: Suchawadee Nildhamrong of Cal and Tiffany Sornpao of Kennesaw State.

Notes:

1. The US is in Group E with Thailand, Sweden, and Chile.

2. The US hasn’t always fared well in their opening game at the Women’s World Cup, posting a record of 4-1-2. They have won their last two openers however.

3. The top two teams from the group automatically advance while the 3rd place team may or may not depending on how other 3rd place teams do.

4. The US is the only team at this tournament whose entire roster is domestically based.

When and where to watch the game on US TV and streaming

Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Stade Auguste-Delaune
Reims, France
3pm ET
Live on FOX, Telemundo, fuboTV, Hulu Live and PlayStation Vue (free trial)

All-Time Series

USA leads 1-0-0

Last Meeting

September 15, 2016
Mapfre Stadium
Columbus, OH
USA 9-0 Thailand

Current FIFA Ranking

USA: 1
Thailand: 34

Next Game

Women’s World Cup
Sunday, June 16, 2019
USA vs. Chile
Parc des Princes
Paris, France
12pm ET
FOX, Telemundo