Excitement in Germany: Japan Strikes Again
At 2:30 EST, the Women’s World Cup final game was underway. A confident, fit and determined United States team faced a patient, inspiring and finessing Japanese team. Just four months after a tsunami and earthquake shook the nation, leaving 25,000 dead, the Japanese team had reached the World Cup final for the first time. With a team of vets and youngsters, Japan was confident in their abilities to participate in another upset and bring the cup home for its country.
Homare Sawa, captain and star midfielder, was playing for her 5th time in the world cup, and after tonight’s game she had surpassed Marta as the top goal scorer. For that, she received the Golden Boot and Golden Ball in addition to the cup that can be largely attributed to her final goal in the 117th minute. She put her team back in position for a shot at the cup and they took the opportunity. Their goalkeeper, Ayumi Kaihori, was named player of the match for her excellent game, including her two saves during PKs.
Though Japan had never won a game in its 25 matches against the United States, had won no world title before, and had only advanced past the first round once previously in the World Cup, they took it to us today. They showed that they too can make big plays and weave through world class defense. They disproved the notion their goalkeepers are not as good as those of other countries. They proved to the world that the game of women’s soccer is changing. That the competition is fierce and that the list of legitimate contenders for national titles is no longer short.
Whether or not you were cheering for Japan, it would be hard to call them a team that you would root against. A team, known as
Nadeshiko, a beautiful flower in Japanese, proved that they could be just that for their country that had seen so much in the past months. Some of the team had friends die in the earthquakes, and all spoke of what it would mean to take the cup home with them. After months of sorrow, Japan finally had something to cheer for. The players were fighting for their country, playing to lift a nation. They did that after making 3 of 4 PKs to the US’s 1. They played a great game and were rewarded for converting their goal scoring opportunities.
Japan won and the US goes home empty handed. Though I am disappointed, I liked what Abby Wambach said after the game. “Maybe their country needed them to win more than ours country needed us to win.” The recognition that sometimes, it just isn’t meant to be. It was Japan’s turn. And so, I will walk away happy in knowing that women’s soccer continues to spread around the world.
And in knowing that the Olympics are just around the corner. GO USA! I am proud that you’re my team.
-HD
And the ESPY goes to…
I don’t usually watch the ESPY’s, but I flipped onto the channel just to see the ESPY for best play. There were many incredible plays, including a triple flip, a full court alley-oop and a bicycle kick, but the one that was added to the contenders most recently was by far the most amazing.
Take a look at all the nominees after the jump.
Abby Wambach’s last-minute goal to beat Brazil pushed the moment passed all the other fantastic moments of the year. The team sent a message, thanking their fans for the support.
Wambach finished the message with, “We’re going to bring home the cup!”
Go USA!
-HD
The World’s Sport
As the Women’s World Cup winds down and teams prepare to leave everything on the field in hopes that this year they will take the cup, I am reminded of my love for soccer. Japan’s amazing win over Germany and the U.S.’s incredible comeback against Brazil remind me of the emotion and heart that goes into every aspect of the game.
It is certain that the sport is spreading to all parts of the world, despite political hardships, war, and economic uncertainties. Against all odds, Iraq not only qualified for the 2004 Olympics, but played with pride and made it further than anyone could have anticipated. Similar stories arise for other Middle Eastern countries as well. Though many countries in South America and Africa struggle economically and have large populations that are plagued with poverty, it seems that the one thing all classes can rally around is soccer.
A Korean friend recently commented, “We are pretty good at soccer. I mean, we’ve only been playing for about 10 years, and we are doing pretty great in this tournament.” Agreed. Even Asian countries are adopting, and excelling in, the sport. As evidenced by Japan’s recent win over Germany, any upset is possible. Even against the greatest superpower.
It is anyone’s game. It is everyone’s game. It is the world’s sport.
-HD
The World's Sport 