SANTA CLARA, Calif. - With just over four months until the opening kickoff at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, the United States is ramping up its training in anticipation for the sport's pinnacle competition. Santa Clara alum Julie Johnston will represent the red, white and blue in two upcoming matches across the pond as she fights to make the final roster that will represent the American side in Canada this summer.

Johnston and 23 fellow Americans will embark on a 13-day excursion in Europe in the coming days. The squad will face off against perennial power France on Feb. 8 before clashing with England on Feb. 13.

Playing on the back line, Johnston is one of nine defenders to be named to this latest roster. The Mesa, Ariz. native and former Bronco has competed on the American side for a number of years. In 2012, she received the U.S. Soccer Young Female Athlete of the Year Award in addition to captaining the Americans to victory in the U-20 Women's World Cup.

Now as a member of the senior squad, Johnston and her teammates face formidable competition in their upcoming tuneup matches. Both opposing sides cruised through qualifying to punch their respective World Cup tickets. The No. 3 ranked French squad netted 54 goals in qualifying en route to a 10-0-0 record. England, ranked No. 6 in the world, also finished with the same record while scoring 52 goals.

Both upcoming matches will be televised. The Americans and French kick off at 9 a.m. on ESPN2 and the matchup against the English will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1 at 12 p.m.