USWNT striker Wambach expecting thrilling final against Japan
EDMONTON, Alberta -- United States forward Abby Wambach is expecting a thrilling Women's World Cup final against reigning champions Japan (live on FOX, Sunday, 7p.m. ET)
The game will be a rematch of the 2011 final when Japan prevailed in a penalty shoot-out after the USWNT had led twice during normal and extra time.
Japan booked their place in Sunday's showpiece in Vancouver by defeating England courtsesy of a stoppage-time own goal from Laura Bassett.
The USWNT had secured their place a day earlier with a 2-0 victory against pre-tournament favorites Germany.
"In order to be the best team in the world at the World Cup, you have to beat the best teams," Wambach said. "'We just beat the No. 1 team in the world in Germany and now we face Japan, another team that we have so much respect for. They have an amazing team and they're the reigning World Cup champions, so I think it's going to be a fantastic final."
The second-ranked Americans are 5-0-1 this tournament, with a preliminary-round tie against Sweden.
U.S. defender Ali Krieger likes the way her squad is performing heading into the final. The Americans have played, by far, their best soccer in their last two matches, wins over China and Germany.
''I'm excited,'' Krieger said. ''It is fun to face Japan again, but we are really focusing on ourselves. We have good momentum, there's a really positive feel around the team, and we will be ready for a great final.''
Japan coach Norio Sasaki believes the pressure is off now that his team has given itself the chance to defend its title.
And not even the prospect of facing the suddenly surging United States is enough to worry him.
Japan's coach was in a philosophical mood after his normally fluid-passing team showed uncharacteristic tentativeness in pulling out a 2-1 win over England in the semifinal on Wednesday night.
''I think they (Japan) desired too much to go to the final and that might have affected the mentality in some players,'' Sasaki said through a translator. ''But now we are going to the final, and I don't think that kind of pressure is there anymore because they're in the final.''
There was also a personal objective that played a factor, Sasaki added.
His players wanted to win for injured defender Kozue Ando, who broke her left ankle in a tournament-opening 1-0 win over Switzerland.
After having surgery in Japan, Ando is scheduled to rejoin her teammates in Vancouver.
''We can invite her back, so we can fight together,'' Sasaki said.
Fourth-ranked Japan will face what has become a familiar foe with a championship on the line. It beat the Americans on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw in the 2011 World Cup final.
The U.S. responded by beating Japan 2-1 to win the gold medal at the 2012 London Games. Overall, the U.S. is 24-1-6 against Japan.
''Only the god knows the outcome,'' Sasaki said. ''And Japan needs to build up on our power. And that's what I take away from this game.''
Japan came out flat against sixth-ranked England, which bottled up the middle to prevent the Japanese from gathering momentum from their ball-control approach.
The teams traded penalty kick goals in the first half. Japan's Aya Miyama scored in the 33rd minute, and Fara Williams tied it in the 40th.
Then England took control in the second half, in which it dominated much of the play.
The game was decided when Nahomi Kawasumi drove up the right side and sent a cross into the middle for Yuki Ogimi. Bassett was in full stride when she reached out with her right foot, caught the ball flush and inadvertently directed it toward her net. The ball struck the crossbar and bounced in just before goalkeeper Karen Bardsley could get across.
''I was very happy,'' said player of the match Saori Ariyoshi, referring to watching the ball go in. ''Well, we did it. That's how I felt.''
It was a withering moment for England, which had no time - or energy - to gather itself and make a comeback.
After the final whistle, Bassett lay face down on the field sobbing, and had to be helped off by her teammates and coach Mark Sampson.
''Oh, what a tough one, what a tough one to take,'' a red-eyed England Sampson said. ''I can't speak about the game. I can only speak about how incredibly proud I am of my group.''
The sixth-ranked Lionesses made their deepest run in four World Cup appearances. England, which had never won an elimination game until this year, will remain in Edmonton to play top-ranked Germany in the third-place match Saturday. Germany lost 2-0 to the U.S. on Tuesday.
Japan is 6-0 this tournament, and has won nine consecutive World Cup games since losing to England in the preliminary round in 2011.
