It’s the U.S. and Japan in the FIFA Ladies’ Final, But the Sentiment is With Japan
Well, it’s official: The United States will play Japan this Sunday for the title in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. For the U.S., which last won the women’s title in 1999, getting to the final match took a tough but decisive victory over the French ladies’ team. Meanwhile, Japan beat Sweden in a come-from-behind 3-1 victory. Ironically, Sweden had beaten the U.S. earlier in the tournament, winning a match in group play by two to one. For the championship game, objective observers say the teams are not quite evenly matched. The U.S. has size and experience on the world stage superior to their Japanese counterparts. However, Japan is currently the world’s sentimental favorite, largely due to the March 11th earthquake and tsunami disaster in Tohoku and the nuclear meltdown in Fukushima. At the link, you’ll even read quotes from U.S. ladies’ team members Hope Solo and Rachel Buehler giving Japan a lot of love and encouragement for what the country has been through the last four months. Will sentiment and ganbare gain victory over grit and experience? At this point no one can say. But it will sure be a thrill finding out this Sunday. (CNN World Sports – USA vs.Japan in FIFA)