Updated

Goalkeeper Hope Solo says the antsy U.S. women's soccer players are ready to "unleash the beast."

The Americans open their Olympic campaign on Wednesday with a game against France in Scotland, two days before the opening ceremony. Soccer is one of two sports that starts early because the extra days are needed to play a sufficient slate of games that doesn't wear the players out.

Women's soccer isn't much of a draw in Scotland. Some 37,000 fans are expected for Wednesday's game, but organizers say about 80 percent of the tickets were given away to schools and local clubs.

The U.S. team has been in Britain for two weeks, and the practices have been getting more intense as the big moment nears.

Solo says "you can feel the tension start to rise."