Lucy Ward
Former Leeds United Ladies striker on BBC Two

Japan got in behind but it was neither a cross nor a shot from Emi Nakajima. It's the first time they've got behind the Argentina defence properly.

Image source, Getty Images

Nice play from Japan as the ball is delivered to Emi Nakajima on the right of the box, but she sends her shot across goal and no-one sticks out a foot to tap it in.

Moments later, a beautiful ball is sent into the box, Yuika Sugasawa heads it back across the face of goal but Correa is able to grab hold of it.

Japan are quickly finding their feet here.

I'm expecting Argentina goalkeeper Vanina Correa to be very busy today.

At 35, this is her third World Cup.

She actually retired from international football in 2012 and went on to have twins. But she returned to the Argentina set-up in 2017 after a visit by head coach Carlos Borrello.

Luna and Romeo will be very proud of their mum today.

Image source, Getty Images

Oh Estefania Banini, that was lovely!

What Hasegawa can do, the Argentina captain can do just as well as she switches the ball from foot to foot to beat her defender.

Still no shots on goal yet from either side. Argentina haven't made a bad start at all.

Prior to the match, midfielder Hasegawa said: "In order to advance through to the knockout stage as the group leaders, the first match will be a pivotal match for us.

"The result of the match will either give us great momentum or cast a long shadow for the remainder of the tournament, so we hope to get off to a good start."

A lot of early pressure from Japan.

We've already seen a lovely bit of skill from Yui Hesegawa, effortlessly chipping the ball over a defender's head.

• Argentina have faced Japan in the group stage of each of their previous two WWC appearances
• Japan have won all four previous meetings with Argentina in all competitions, scoring 12 goals overall and are yet to concede
• Japan won the last meeting 3-0, a friendly in Coquimbo in January 2010
• Argentina’s 11-0 defeat v Germany in their opening game of the 2007 tournament is the biggest margin of defeat in WWC history
• Argentina’s Mariela Coronel could feature at her second WWC – 16 years after her first appearance. She would become the second player (male or female) to have 16 years between World Cup appearances after Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon
• Japan’s Mana Iwabuchi has made 10 WWC appearances – all as a substitute. She has made more substitute appearances than any other player at the WWC

We are go. French referee Stephanie Frappart gets us under way.

Casey Stoney
Manchester United Women manager on BBC Two

Japan's philosophy is to get the ball down and play. They're looking to prepare for Tokyo 2020 so this tournament will be a good barometer.

I don't think you can read too much into England's win over Japan at the SheBelieves Cup. Only five that started that game are starting today. Japan have got more experienced, more creative and better players for this tournament and this game.

Check out this photo I found from the last time these two sides faced each other at a World Cup.

Women's football has come a long, long way since 2007.

For a start, players are no longer wearing men's kit that is far too big for them...

Image source, Getty Images

The teams have emerged onto the Parc des Princes turf - it's time for the national anthems.

*Clears throat*

Image source, Getty Images

Japan's captain Saki Kumagai may be familiar to many of you as she was one of the five nominees for the 2019 BBC Women's Footballer of the Year award.

The defender (who sometimes strolls into midfield) plays her club football for Lyon, and has won six league titles, five Coupes de France and four Champions League titles.

England's Lucy Bronze, Kumagai's Lyon team-mate, describes her as the "ultimate perfectionist", adding she wants "every single pass to be inch perfect".

With 17 of their 23 players taking part in their first World Cup, Japan have candidly admitted they will struggle to match some of their opponents' physicality in France.

With so many inexperienced players, that will, of course, make it difficult for opponents to prepare for facing Japan, something which head coach Asako Takakura makes them the "ideal team".

Phil Neville and Shelley Kerr will no doubt be watching this game closely.

Japan, meanwhile, could make history this summer by becoming the first side to reach three successive World Cup finals.

They won the trophy in 2011 before the USA exacted revenge four years later to beat them in the final.

Since then, they've undergone a huge squad revamp and this time round are the second-youngest team in the tournament - they will be relying on a new generation of talent if they are to get to the final on 7 July.

BBC Two

Live build-up to the game is just getting under way on BBC Two.

Eilidh Barbour is joined by former England internationals Laura Bassett and Casey Stoney in the studio, with match commentary provided by Robyn Cowen and Lucy Ward.

You can, of course, also watch the game at the top of this page if you're nowhere near a TV.

Argentina are ready.

My A-level Spanish translates Adriana Sachs' message as: "Let's go team! Let's go Argentina! Today is the first World Cup match. Neither 11 nor 23, we are many more!"

Keep an eye out for Argentina captain Estefania Banini.

She's dubbed "La Messi" because of her playing style, and like compatriot Lionel, has spent her entire career playing abroad.

Banini is on the books at Washington Spirit in the NWSL but spent last season on loan at Spanish side Levante.

Image source, Getty Images

Argentina's head coach Carlos Borrello led La Albiceleste to their previous two World Cups, in 2003 and 2007, as well as to their only title - the Copa America in 2006.

Argentina didn't play a single game between July 2015-October 2017 because the Argentine Football Association provided them with no financial support.

When they reformed, Borrello came back on board and they qualified for the World Cup, finishing third in the 2018 Copa America before beating Panama in a play-off.

Since reforming, they've been on strike over their meagre expenses (roughly £5 a day), been forced to play on synthetic pitches, and had to sleep on the team bus rather than hotels rooms.

They will be wanting to prove a point in France over the next few weeks...

Image source, Getty Images

Argentina's World Cup form doesn't exactly sparkle.

They have lost all six games at their two previous World Cups, and in four of those, they conceded six or more goals. Ouch.

Granted, 12 years have passed since their last World Cup appearance, time in which A LOT has happened to the team.

Whether you're in France, at home, in the pub or in the office (I won't tell your boss), hello and welcome.

We've got around 25 minutes to go until kick-off, so let's take a little look at the teams contesting today's game in Paris.

Starting with Argentina...