With their lightning quick passing and slick combination
play, the Japanese may well have a grip on the future of the game.
The physical, sweeping game of the Americans stands in sharp
contrast with the close, possession-oriented game of Japan, turning Sunday's
match into an intriguing clash of styles.
The United States beat Japan in two pre-World Cup
friendlies, but that will count for little in the final.
"They're a different team here in the World Cup,"
United States captain Christie Rampone said. "It brings a different
level." The accolades for Japan have been coming in from all angles,
comparing its style with that of Barcelona and even Brazil's "beautiful
game." Japan has sought to develop that flair for years, but only this
time do they have the confidence to execute it at the highest level. Japan
coach Norio Sasaki said his team was ready to reach the Olympic semifinals
three years ago in Beijing and "this time we said, let's go to the final."
Twice he delivered.
Japan's breakthrough victory came in the quarterfinals last
weekend when it beat host Germany, the two-time defending champion, in extra
time when it proved fitter than its big, lumbering opponent.
Even if Sunday is Japan's first final in the record books,
Sasaki said his players already have one under the belt — against Germany.
"This was almost like playing the final in term of
pressure, attitude and expectations," Sasaki said of the game against the
hosts. "The actual final will be a very similar situation." That same
weekend the United States had a similar experience; surviving a match of
suffocating intensity against Brazil, with a come-from-behind effort that ended
with a penalty-shootout win. It was perhaps the best Women's World Cup game
ever and created a groundswell of grassroot support across the United States.
"Obviously coming from behind against Brazil is
historic," said Abby Wambach, who scored in the last minute of extra time
to level the score at 2-2 and force a shootout. "It's one of those moments
that may never happen again.
"I want it to be life-changing at the end of the road.
Because right now, I'm still very much involved in this and I'm not trying to
think anything other than Sunday and winning," Wambach said.
Both rode their emotional surge through the semifinals, with
Japan beating Sweden 3-1 and the United States getting the same score over
France.
For Japan it again proved that a wide-open direct game, like
the United States often relies on, suits it. The Americans can draw inspiration
from beating the only side that comes close to Japan's level of skills.
"Playing France and the amazing team France was, it was
kind of good preparation for Japan," Rampone said. "They're both very
technical teams, both very patient on the ball, very offensive, attack with a
lot of numbers." Another American confidence boost is in the history
books. In 25 matches dating back to 1986, it has beaten Japan 22 times and
remains unbeaten.
There is a first for everything and Japan already reached it
first semifinal, and first final. A first win over the United States would suit
them fine.
"We are just ready to face that challenge," Sasaki
said.
So is the nation, which has been lapping up the feel-good
story of its overachieving women while it is still recovering from the
devastation the March 11 earthquake and tsunami caused. Already tight as a
group, it has bonded the women even closer together as they are playing for a
cause bigger than football itself — providing some balm for a nation in pain.
Right before the match against Germany, Sasaki showed
pictures of the devastation to his players to heighten their focus and
determination. They responded in kind.
Sasaki will keep the pictures under wraps this weekend.
"I don't have to remind them of the disaster in Japan
before the match against the United States because they know exactly," he
said.
Back home, their story has even bumped baseball and sumo off
the sports front pages.
"They're not just playing a soccer game, they're
playing to heal a wounded country," said Tony DiCicco, the United States
coach of 1999 World Cup-winning team. "They have won fans not just in
Japan and not just here in Germany but all over the world."
