2 min: SHOT ON GOAL for Brazil. For the first time, Girma is beaten in central defense, though the real problem here was that Crystal Dunn kept Ludmila onside. The USA are a bit fortunate that the shot from 15 yards is right at Naeher and easily saved.

1 min: If you hate bunkers/low blocks, good news – Brazil are taking the fight forward.

Joe Pearson writes: “Since Rose was wearing a compression sleeve on her left leg last time out, I figure your second reason is more accurate.”

A bit surprising that Kerolin’s absence wasn’t emphasized in the announcements of the starting lineups.

The USA have broken out some striking blue jerseys with red shorts.

We’re underway …

Medal count: If you are obsessed with the medal count, this is a very important game for the USA – at least, if you’re one of those people who would rather reward China for being unbeatable in two sports (diving, table tennis) that award 13 gold medals rather than being good across the board in a multitude of sports.

China have jumped out to a lead in the gold-medal tally. The USA have plenty of opportunities to get back in it, but they’ll have to take advantage of a lot of those. This game would be a good start.

If Brazil win this, I doubt anyone will put this game in any context of medal counts. Brazil are easily the best team in the history of women’s soccer that have never claimed either of the grand prizes – the World Cup or the Olympics. They were runners-up in 2004, 2007 and 2008. Since then, the best they’ve managed is fourth in 2016.

Brazil lineup

US lineup

Preamble

Beau will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s Karen Carney on today’s game:

At the beginning of the Olympics few expected Emma Hayes to take the USA all the way to the final in Paris, months after starting her job as the coach of a struggling women’s national team – but she has made an immediate impact.

My former manager at Chelsea will take on Brazil – and one of my all-time heroes, Marta – in Saturday’s gold-medal match. I am privileged that I will witness in person Hayes’s quest to become an Olympic champion. Some doubted what she could achieve in such a short time but when I booked my seat months ago, in the back of my mind I thought Hayes and the USA would be in the final. I suspected they would come up against Spain, only for Brazil to dispatch the world champions comprehensively in the semi-finals, showing how dangerous the South Americans are.

I am sure Hayes would have accepted getting to learn about her group of young and exciting players but she always backs herself to get to a final and has quickly brought confidence to a group who are enjoying their football after turbulent times. Winning is obviously very helpful but creating the right environment has always been one of Hayes’s strengths.

Hayes has worked in the States and with plenty of Americans so she is not a complete outsider and knows what makes individuals tick. Alongside her is the American Denise Reddy, her assistant in her last four years at Chelsea, so they have a good understanding of what they want to create, which has helped accelerate the process.

You can read the full article below: