Women’s soccer kicks off chaotic group stage finale at Paris Olympics

The GIST: By the end of the day, we’ll know who’s joining No. 1 Spain and the No. 5 USWNT in the women’s soccer knockout round, with six spots left and six stellar group stage finale games on deck beginning today at 11 a.m. ET. Let’s kick it.

How it works: As a quick refresher, the 12 competing squads were drawn into three groups (A, B, and C) and will play every team in their group once to earn a spot in the eight-team quarter-finals.

• A win is worth three points, a draw earns you one point, and no points are awarded for losses.

• The top two teams from each group advance to the knockouts, along with the two best third-place squads. Simple as that.

USWNT faces No. 12 Australia at 1 p.m. ET: Unlike the in-purgatory No. 8 CanWNT, the Americans already clinched their knockout spot with Sunday’s 4–1 win over No. 4 Germany...but don’t expect the red, white, and blue to take it easy today.

• A win or draw (and maybe even a loss) against Australia would win them Group B and secure an advantageous draw for the rest of the tourney.

• The Matildas have been on a scoring spree in France, a troubling prospect considering American center back Tierna Davidson will miss today’s match. Thankfully, the USWNT defense is among the strongest in the Games. LFG.