Women's World Cup: United States vs. Germany preview

And now, in our best Bruce Buffer impression, we're proud to present the main event of the 2015 Women's World Cup. It's time.

No, it isn't the grand finale, but Tuesday's semifinal between Germany, the top-ranked team in the world, and the United States, coming in at No. 2 on the board, promises to be one of the most enticing clashes in recent memory.

The Americans, largely underwhelming to this point, have always asked for trust that they can take their game to another level when it matters most. Now would be a good time to make good on that promise.

The Germans, meanwhile, looked unstoppable until they reached the quarterfinals, where France showed the world that Silvia Neid's machine has more than just a few cracks that can be exploited.

Both teams can be felled. Neither has been yet. Something has to give.

Here's what you need to know about the first semifinal match of the 2015 Women's World Cup.

The Details

Time: 7:00 p.m. (ET)

Venue: Olympic Stadium, Montreal

Television: FOX (U.S. - English), NBC Universo (U.S. - Spanish), CTV, TSN, RDS (Canada), BBC3, Eurosport 1 (U.K.)

Injuries and Suspensions

Or, conversely, this section can be referred to as the Dzsenifer Marozsan question. The 23-year-old midfielder, one of - if not the - best in the world at her position, suffered an ankle injury in the final seconds of extra time in Germany's quarterfinal win over France. That she was able to convert her spot-kick was surprising as it was impressive.

Putting in the necessary running against a physically superior American team, though, is another matter entirely.

As for suspensions, both teams are in the clear. As it should be at this stage, we're getting best-on-best.

Projected Lineups

Germany (4-2-3-1): Angerer; Kemme, Bartusiak, Krahn, Maier; Leupolz, Goessling; Popp, Mittag, Laudehr; Sasic

As noted above, the only real question clouding Silvia Neid's team selection is the fitness of Marozsan. If she can give the Germans 90 minutes, that would signal a monstrous advantage for the top-ranked team in the world.

Given how much pain she appeared to be in after sustaining the injury, it seems more likely that the Frankfurt star will be called upon off the bench as Neid's (super) super-sub. Not ideal, but not a bad weapon to have at your disposal.

United States (4-4-2): Solo; Klingenberg, Johnston, Sauerbrunn, Kreiger; Rapinoe, Lloyd, Holiday, O'Hara; Morgan, Wambach

Your guess is really as good as mine.

U.S. manager Jill Ellis has been criticized throughout the tournament for her team selection, which has seen stalwarts like Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd keep their places in the team despite being shadows of their former selves - or, in Lloyd's case, being played out of position.

Playing without midfield duo Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday in the quarterfinal against China forced Ellis to make changes that gave the Americans greater balance in the center of the pitch, but it's widely expected that the personnel in tonight's contest will revert back to something resembling Ellis' group stage lineups.

Rapinoe is guaranteed to start. That's as much a certainty as the sun rising tomorrow morning.

After that, though, it gets hazy. Is Holiday immediately reinserted, or does Morgan Brian keep her place at the base of the midfield? Does all-time leading scorer Wambach replace Amy Rodriguez? What about dribbling wizard Tobin Heath?

So many questions.

Key Matchup: Celia Sasic vs. Julie Johnston

Get your damn popcorn ready. One bag probably won't be enough.

The best defender in the tournament (forgive me, Kadeisha) will be tasked with stopping the competition's leading scorer, as Johnston - and partner-in-crime Becky Sauerbrunn - will collide with Sasic in a battle of the titans that will be equal parts exciting and intriguing.

Germany has been frighteningly good at creating gilt-edged chances thus far in the tournament, with Sasic the benefactor on many of those occasions.

The 27-year-old's link-up play with Anja Mittag has been glorious to watch, as many opposing center-backs have been caught following Sasic when she drops deep, opening up gigantic lanes for fellow midfielders to run into.

Johnston won't be uncomfortable stepping out of the back, as she showed on numerous occasions against China, but just how far she will need to venture forward will be dependent on the help she receives from whoever Ellis selects to play in the holding midfield role. Even then, is there any reason to think she can't do it all be herself, based on her imperious performances thus far?

It's going to be a glorious duel.

3 Things to Watch

Anja Mittag and the battle in central midfield

As anybody watching the U.S. at this tournament can attest, the glaring, punch-you-in-the-face issue with the team has been the massive hole in front of the defense where a legitimate defensive midfielder should be.

Lauren Holiday, Carli Lloyd and Morgan Brian are all very talented, but none of them is defensive-minded in a way the position obviously requires to provide balance to the midfield. Shannon Boxx is, but she's also 38 years old, and has played a mere 16 minutes in the tournament.

Against lesser teams like Colombia and China - particularly the latter, who offered less than zero attacking threat in their match - Ellis has been able to get away with having offensive-minded players in defensive roles. Against Germany, who will have Anja Mittag playing in the hole and looking for space to exploit, that could finally come back to bite her in a big way.

Can the United States exploit Germany on the wings?

If Germany, this imperious, soul-crushing offensive juggernaut, has shown one weakness during its time in Canada, it has been down the flanks, where they were torched time and again by French duo Elodie Thomis and Louisa Necib in their quarterfinal victory escape.

The Americans don't have a true, out-and-out winger, but they do boast someone affectionately known as Pinoe, who will once again need to be an all-conquering attacking force of nature.

We like her chances against right-back Leonie Maier.

Hope Solo vs. Nadine Angerer

Regardless of whether you think Solo should be playing in this tournament at all, the fact remains that she is the very best female shot-stopper on earth. Period. End of story. Need a reference? Ask Australia.

As Kevin McCauley of SB Nation so accurately opines, unless Solo outplays 36-year-old counterpart Nadine Angerer, the Americans will be watching the World Cup final from across the border:

Even if the U.S. plays a great game and Ellis has the perfect tactical game plan, the Americans aren't winning unless Solo is excellent and Angerer is slightly less than excellent. The U.S. can create more quality shots and restrict Germany's quality shots, but it's not going to stop Germany from getting shots off. Solo has to be great.

Yup.

Prediction

Most will agree with the declaration that Germany, based on what the two teams have shown until this point, is the better of the sides. Of course, the best team doesn't always win. Just ask France.

Tonight, though, look for the Germans to rebound from their near-exit in the quarterfinal, and book a spot in the showpiece match of the tournament with a thrilling, narrow victory after Marozsan comes off the bench in the second half to score the winning goal.

Germany 2, United States 1