Alex Scott
Ex-England international on BBC Four

There is a different type of pressure on America because the gap is narrowing.

They have drawn against England and Japan but nothing else is good enough for this team unless they are winning.

Image source, Getty Images

Away we go in Reims.

Biggest shock in World Cup history if Thailand get anything from the game?

Hope Solo
Former US goalkeeper and World Cup winner on BBC Four

What I would like people to understand is that more than anything America loves winning and I have to give credit to Jill Ellis and the entire coaching staff for helping us to win that World Cup in 2015.

Unfortunately winning that World Cup has overshadowed many inadequacies that need to be addressed. I think it's a mistake to not show errors because it doesn't help players get better and perhaps we need to do something about it.

Image source, Getty Images

Think of football and quite often Brazil will come to mind as an example of success.

But not for the followers of the women's game.

While in the men's version the South American country has an enviable collection of five Fifa World Cup titles and a legion of legendary players, it is the United States who are the powerhouse in the female landscape.

Out of seven World Cups, the Americans have won three and finished as runner-ups once. They have also won four Olympic gold medals in six attempts.

But Brazil's best result in the tournament is a solitary second place in 2007, though they do also have two Olympic silver medals.

In fact, the only country with success on both fronts is Germany, with four men's and two women's titles.

But what explains the reversal of scenarios in the US and Brazil?

Read the full piece

Tom Garry
BBC Sport at Stade Auguste-Delaune, Reims

Image source, BBC Sport

To say that the majority of this crowd are supporting the USA tonight would be a real understatement. Rivers of people wearing red, white, blue and stars are flowing in to the stadium.

Question is though Tom, have you been on the Champers too...?

Tom Garry
BBC Sport at Stade Auguste-Delaune, Reims

Image source, BBC Sport

We're expecting a sold-out crowd of around 20,000 here in Reims, which sits in the heart of France's Champagne region, around an hour east of Paris by train.

They used to coronate French monarchs here - before the rise of the republic - so the city is popular with tourists even when there isn't a World Cup going on, and many fans have been enjoying tasting sessions in the Champagne cellars through the day.

Yet, while the USA are the holders, there'll be no crowning them as champions-elect even if they win in style today. They'll face much, much tougher tests than Thailand later in this tournament.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

The only previous meeting between the sides was a 9-0 friendly win for USA in Colombus in September 2016.

Legendary skipper Carli Lloyd bagged a hat-trick that day.

Tom Garry
BBC Sport at Stade Auguste-Delaune, Reims

Speaking on Monday, USA boss Jill Ellis wouldn't be drawn on criticism of her from former goalkeeper Hope Solo, who told BBC 5 live on Friday that Ellis "cracked under pressured" at 2016's Olympics and wanted to "brush mistakes under the carpet" rather than reviewing footage.

In response, Ellis told BBC Sport: "Comments are comments. I feel, over the past five years, I’ve made a lot of important decisions. I have processes to make those decisions and own those processes.

"At this point, everything and every focus is about this group of players that are here and now.

"Pundits out there, that’s part of it. Part of the message is to always make sure that the focus is on the internal part of the game and that’s where we are."

It was absolutely teeming it down and the game in Rennes has just finished.

Sweden's win over Chile was interrupted due to severe adverse weather but the Duckworth Lewis-Stern method did not have to come into play.

The covers were on for 40 minute before Kosovare Asllani and Madelen Janogy netted in the second innings.

Image source, .

The USA make one change from their their 3-0 win over Mexico on 26 May, as midfielder Lindsey Horan comes in for defender Becky Sauerbrunn, so it looks like the USA could switch to just three at the back with a 3-4-3 formation against the world's 34th-ranked side.

Utah Royals' Sauerbrunn reportedly has a quad strain.

USA Ladies: Naeher, O'Hara, Dahlkemper, Ertz, Dunn, Lavelle, Mewis, Horan, Heath, Morgan, Rapinoe.

Substitutes: Harris, Pugh, Sauerbrunn, Brian, Lloyd, Krieger, Davidson, Sonnett, Long, McDonald, Press, Franch.

Image source, .

As for Thailand, compared to the side that lost 3-0 to France in their penultimate warm-up game, they've made three changes.

Thailand XI: Chor Charoenying, Phetwiset, Saengkoon, Chinwong, Srangthaisong, Sung-Ngoen, Boothduang, Phancha, Intamee, Thongsombut, Nildhamrong.

Substitutes: Boonsing, Sritala, Khueanpet, Chucheun, Srimanee, Pengngam, Waenngoen, Saengchan, Dangda, Sornsai, Philawan, Sornpao.

Image source, Getty Images

Defending champions.

Favourites.

Record three-time winners.

The World Cup really gets going this evening with the United States getting their campaign under way.

Jill Ellis' side are up against Thailand and another heavy victory for the Stars and Stripes.