For the United States Women's National Team, it all comes down to this. After a drama-filled run through the knockout rounds of the 2011 Women's World Cup, the USA faces one final test for the title. Standing in the American side's way is Japan, a team whose play has been outstanding throughout the tournament, leaving plenty of world soccer powers in its wake. The 2011 Women's World Cup Final is here, and if the rest of the tournament is any indication, it should be a good one.
Japan boasts victories over host country Germany and Sweden in the knockout rounds and has lost just once in the 2011 Women's World Cup. In the final group stage game, England downed Japan, 2-0, to advance as the top seed. The United States boasts a similar story, having lost just once, in the final group stage match, to Sweden. Since then, the American side has been unflappable, clawing back to force a penalty shootout with a 122nd minute goal against Brazil and finishing off France in the semifinals with more late heroics.
The two sides square-off for the tournament's biggest prize on Sunday. Here's the basic information for the Women's World Cup Finals.
Start time: It's a late start for the Women's World Cup Finals, with first kick set for 11:45 a.m. PDT. The match will take place at Frankfurt FIFA WWC Stadium in Germany.
TV information: The beginning of Sunday's match between the USA and France is scheduled to bump up against ESPN's coverage of the British Open. Coverage of the Women's World Cup Finals matchup between the US and Japan is set to begin at 11 a.m., with a pre-match show set for 10:30 a.m.
Online stream: In addition to the television broadcast, ESPN will be providing an online stream of the match, as it has throughout the Women's World Cup. Coverage begins at 11 a.m. and can be found at ESPN3.com.
For more on the tournament, be sure to visit SB Nation Soccer's 2011 Women's World Cup StoryStream. Stay with this StoryStream for more on Hope Solo and the United States Womens National Team.