Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of the USA's clash with North Korea in Group C of the Women's World Cup in Dresden.

Ri concedes a free-kick in the USA penalty area, seemed harsh but I think it was for shirt pulling

A Wambach flick across the box gave Rodriguez half a chance at a volley but it was very difficult and she ended up missing her kick

Cheney hits a shot from twenty-five yards and she connects well but it is staight at Hong who deals with it effectively

Kim Su Gyong goes in very late on Boxx and is extremely lucky to avoid a yellow card

Rampone floats it into the box and lloyd gets her head to it but it's a comfortable save for Hong

Strong aerial challange from Ri on Wambach results in a free-kick for the US on the half-way line

Cheney causes some problems at the back for North Korea with her harrying but they manage to clear

O'Reilly has a good turn of pace, but it's not quite enough to catch a long searching ball down the USA's right flank, goal-kick

Boxx plays a pass that goes nowehere near anyone and trickles out for a throw-in

Kim is set free down the right but her cross is poor and the danger is averted by the Americans

North Korea enjoying some good early possession and that will calm them down in the opening stages

Rodriguez gets in an early effort, but it is tame and rolls wide from twenty yards out

Both sides line-up 4-4-2 with the USA boasting the potent strikeforce of Wambach and Rodriguez upfront, whether the inexperienced North Korean defence can deal with them is an important question

The USA get the game underway in Dresden with much of the pitch in shade

The officials for this afternoon's contest are all from the host nation Germany, Bibiana Steinhaus taking charge.

Veteran defender Christie Rampone is set to make her 236th appearance for the USA, an impressive achievement but dwarved by the record holder Kristine Lilly who has 352 caps. Six players in the USA squad have over 100 caps.

North Korea have been dominant in the AFC Women's Asian Cup, winning three of the last four tournaments and finishing as runners-up in last year's competition.

The USA warmed up for this competition with four friendlies, winning the final three against Japan (twice) and Mexico, but losing the first to England.

The two teams faced each other in the group stages of the 1999, 2003 and 2007 tournaments. USA won the first two matches 3-0, but North Korea claimed their first World Cup point against the USA last time out, drawing 2-2.

The USA have a sensational World Cup record having won the competition twice and finished third in the other three tournaments meaning they have never failed to reach at least the semi-finals.

North Korea are appearing in their fourth consecutive World Cup finals and achieved their best performance last time out in 2007 reaching the quarter-finals before losing out to eventual champions Germany.