Final
So Japan are World Champions. I think it hasnt quite sunk in for anyone, neither the japanese nor the americans nor myself, that japan are world champions.
i have been saying that usa shouldnt be here, but today, they showed up and were the better team. japan never played to their level, and the back 6 were somehow leaden in their movement. it seemed as if the americans were always one step faster, one step stronger. i think the japanese were maybe a little rattled by the americans' strong and physical start, and maybe gave the americans too much respect because of their really inferior record against the americans. what the us did really well was that their front 6 formed 2 banks in the middle of the pitch, preventing the japanese from passing their way through the middle. there was really very little space and the japanese were forced to play long balls which the defence handled. the fact that the 2 fullbacks were stuck in their half showed how pegged back the japanese were. and that was a key reason why the japanese couldnt really get their game going, although when they did somehow get the ball into the attacking third, they could play balls right through the middle of the us defence, causing some panic.
it was only in the second half where japan raised their game a little. the us started leaving gaps as well, and the japanese fullbacks managed to get forward more. usa scored first through alex morgan. and i thought the centrebacks were just caught out by that long ball.
miyama stabbed home the equaliser 8 minutes from time.
the match went into extra time and abby wambach headed in alex morgan's cross at the end of the first period. and i thought japan were buried. but miyama's corner was flicked home by sawa and the match went into penalties.
to be honest, i thought the americans would be clear favourites in penalties because they had won one here and hope solo is the better keeper.
but kaihori saved with her legs against boxx. great reflex save. carli llyod, who was for me a contender for player of the match, blasted over. and tobin heath's was saved by kaihori as well. nagasato's miss was irrelevant as miyama, sakaguchi and kumagai all dispatched theirs with zen-like composure. japan won 3-1 on penalties.
over 120 minutes, usa had more chances, especially in the first 20 minutes. but japan kept coming back. i think the pressure got to the americans in penalties, while the japanese kept their cool.
i think the god of football was with japan today.
japan had played the best football in the tournament. it is a pity that they didnt win this game with the football that they have shown so far. not that they would care.
it is funny how sometimes you play well but lose and you get outplayed but win. i wouldnt have begrudged an american victory today.
i have been saying that usa shouldnt be here, but today, they showed up and were the better team. japan never played to their level, and the back 6 were somehow leaden in their movement. it seemed as if the americans were always one step faster, one step stronger. i think the japanese were maybe a little rattled by the americans' strong and physical start, and maybe gave the americans too much respect because of their really inferior record against the americans. what the us did really well was that their front 6 formed 2 banks in the middle of the pitch, preventing the japanese from passing their way through the middle. there was really very little space and the japanese were forced to play long balls which the defence handled. the fact that the 2 fullbacks were stuck in their half showed how pegged back the japanese were. and that was a key reason why the japanese couldnt really get their game going, although when they did somehow get the ball into the attacking third, they could play balls right through the middle of the us defence, causing some panic.
it was only in the second half where japan raised their game a little. the us started leaving gaps as well, and the japanese fullbacks managed to get forward more. usa scored first through alex morgan. and i thought the centrebacks were just caught out by that long ball.
miyama stabbed home the equaliser 8 minutes from time.
the match went into extra time and abby wambach headed in alex morgan's cross at the end of the first period. and i thought japan were buried. but miyama's corner was flicked home by sawa and the match went into penalties.
to be honest, i thought the americans would be clear favourites in penalties because they had won one here and hope solo is the better keeper.
but kaihori saved with her legs against boxx. great reflex save. carli llyod, who was for me a contender for player of the match, blasted over. and tobin heath's was saved by kaihori as well. nagasato's miss was irrelevant as miyama, sakaguchi and kumagai all dispatched theirs with zen-like composure. japan won 3-1 on penalties.
over 120 minutes, usa had more chances, especially in the first 20 minutes. but japan kept coming back. i think the pressure got to the americans in penalties, while the japanese kept their cool.
i think the god of football was with japan today.
japan had played the best football in the tournament. it is a pity that they didnt win this game with the football that they have shown so far. not that they would care.
it is funny how sometimes you play well but lose and you get outplayed but win. i wouldnt have begrudged an american victory today.
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