Women's football preview: Who to look out for as the USA take on Australia in a bid for bronze

The USA and Australia will meet for a medal at Tokyo 2020 in the women's football tournament.

The winner of the bronze medal final gets on the bottom step of the podium. The loser misses out.

It may only be for third place overall, but the players will be treating this as their final. Big performances will be demanded of the big names.

Here are some that could feature…

How the USA got to the bronze medal match

Bronze is not the medal that the U.S. wanted coming into the tournament.

Tokyo 2020 was meant to be their redemption story, after being knocked out at the quarter-final stage at Rio 2016 by eventual silver medallists Sweden.

They went back-to-back at the 2019 World Cup, winning a second consecutive title - expectations were high for these Olympics – even with the introduction of new coach Vlatko Andonovski.

They had a successful run up to the Games with their Summer Series and Olympic send-off games, but reality set in when they faced a rampant Swedish side with a vengeance for gold in their opening game.

The 3-0 scoreline told half of the story, with Sweden dominating every area of the pitch and the USA struggling to make their mark.

Their second group game against New Zealand was the only time things looked to have clicked for the USA, but it ended up short-lived, as their desire to rewrite their story of Rio came crashing down at the hands of their neighbours and rivals Canada in the semi-finals.

All is not lost. They could still walk away having medalled at the Olympic Games and, though not the standards the World champions hold themselves to, will still better their result from five years ago.

Australia's march to the verge of the podium

Led by captain Sam Kerr, Australia suffered the ultimate heartbreak when a narrow 1-0 loss to Sweden was enough to knock them back into the bronze medal match as opposed to the gold one they desired.

Perhaps the biggest sting came in that they were the better team over the 90 minutes but couldn’t quite find the clinical edge to get over the final hurdle.

It was always going to be a tough ask – going up against a side who had managed to avoid extra-time in the quarter-final, after the Aussies were forced to take Great Britain there and find another gear to get into the semis.

They’ll now have to play the USA for the second time this tournament – the first ending in a stale draw.

It could ultimately come down to the experience of the Americans, against the hunger of the Aussies, in a bid for that third place on the Tokyo 2020 podium.

Is it time to stick with what they know or roll the dice with something new for the chance to medal?

Players to watch - Team USA: Tierna Davidson, Kristie Mewis, Catarina Macario

Out of this trio, Tierna Davidson has featured the most for the USA across the Olympic competition.

The 22-year-old slots in at centre-back like a veteran that has been playing international football for years.

She got unlucky against Canada, giving away the penalty that wound up being the only goal of the game, but it’s a loss in which the responsibly did not rest solely on her shoulders.

But when it comes to the USA backline, she is one of the best at bringing the ball out, possesses an impressive passing range, and has one of the best dead ball deliveries on the entire roster.

Both Kristie Mewis and Catarina Macario have found their time on the pitch limited so far, and while there are no guarantees that will change in the next game, Andonovski could potentially turn to them for something new.

Mewis, ever since returning from an ACL injury, has looked unstoppable for club and country having rejuvenated her career since coming back.

She reads the game exceptionally well and has a knack for coming up with clutch goals.

Macario embodies what it means to be a creative midfielder, and seems to do so with ease.

She is unpredictable, difficult to get the ball off, and executes her passes in the final third to near perfection.

And it is that unpredictability that the U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) have been crying out for throughout the competition, with their previous midfield options running out of ideas too easily.

It remains to be seen whether Andonovski is ready to inject something new in the hopes that it will inspire a lacklustre side to a bronze medal, but Mewis and Macario could be just what they need going forward.

Players to watch - Australia: Teagan Micah, Steph Catley, Mary Fowler

It almost doesn't need mentioning that Sam Kerr is a key player for Australia, but this trio have also demonstrated their importance throughout the tournament.

It’s never easy to come in and fill the boots of a national legend, let alone when it's an Olympic debut, yet goalkeeper Teagan Micah made it look easy.

Micah kept a clean sheet against the USA in the group stage, no matter how much they threw at her, showing great composure at just 23 years old to go up against an attack that won the World Cup twice.

But it was the game against Great Britain where she really took her moment.

Deep into extra-time she pulled off two unbelievable saves that essentially helped Australia into the semi-finals; and with the weight of the nation on her inexperienced shoulders, she showed exactly why she was chosen to represent the Matildas at the Olympics.

Steph Catley did not have the inaugural season at Arsenal that she wanted due to injuries, and it looked like she came to Tokyo with a point to prove, as one of the most creative players of the tournament.

She has linked up well with the front line, and hugged the touchline when moving forward, allowing her side to add a different dimension to their attack when they needed it.

As for Mary Fowler, at just 18 years old, and despite her inexperience, she was given the opportunity to show exactly what she could do – and has delivered when called upon.

She linked up well with Kerr in the group games, but her moment came in the quarter-final.

On just before extra-time against Team GB, she scored a spectacular goal that got the ball rolling for the Aussies in those 30 minutes, pushing them to find an extra gear for the win.

Fowler is evidently a player for the future, but whether it is from the bench or on the starting line-up, she has shown exactly how effective she can be in the moments when her nation needs a goal.

How to watch the bronze medal match at Tokyo 2020

The USA will take on Australia at the Ibaraki Kashima Stadium, with action getting underway from 17:00 JST on Thursday (4th August).

You can find out where to watch all the action at the Tokyo Olympic Games by clicking here.

You can read more about football at Tokyo 2020, and all other events from the Games, in the official Tokyo 2020 Olympics live blog.