U.S. looks to defend World Cup title against the Netherlands

Brace yourselves.

The 2019 Women's World Cup will come to a close on Sunday in Lyon when the defending champion United States takes on the upstart Netherlands in the tournament final, which kicks off at 11 a.m. E.T.

Both sides are coming off close semifinal wins — the U.S. defeated England 2-1, while the Netherlands advanced past Sweden 1-0 thanks to a 99th minute goal. Neither team has lost a game yet in the tournament. The U.S. is seeking its second consecutive and fourth overall World Cup title, while the Netherlands, the reigning European champion, has never reached this stage before.

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Both sides could be without key players — Megan Rapinoe insists she'll be ready to go for the U.S. after missing the semifinal with a hamstring injury, but it remains to be seen whether she'll be at full strength. Meanwhile, the Netherlands star Lieke Martens, who is nursing a foot injury, is a game-time decision.

The U.S. team, as it has been all tournament, is the heavy favorite, but that doesn't mean the Netherlands will roll over, ESPN writes. However, most analysts expect the American side to come out on top. Read more at ESPN.