Japan and the United States set for spicy Women’s World Cup final rematch

VANCOUVER — The United States arrives at the Women’s World Cup final battle — hardened and seeking revenge, while Japan enters Sunday’s match determined to retain the trophy it denied the Americans four years ago.

It all adds up to a spicy finale to the global showcase that began on June 6 under the shadow of a FIFA corruption scandal, but ends with the players in the spotlight and an intriguing contest that is set to cap off a month of record-smashing television ratings and attendance figures.

Another capacity crowd of over 50,000 is expected to fill BC Place and once again most of those will be flag-waving, face painted Americans who have poured across the Canadian border to support their girls, who start firm favourites with the bookmakers.

Downtown Vancouver was awash in red, white and blue on Friday as smiling packs of American fans began a weekend of partying, they hope will culminate with the US hoisting the trophy for a record third time following victories in 1991 and 1999.

“These are two talented teams with a lot of history and rivalry and I think it will be a classic match-up,” said US coach Jill Ellis.

“Both teams have a lot of the same players from 2011, but that said, this is a different team on a different journey and I know all 23 players and our staff are tremendously excited for this next challenge.”

The final will offer a fascinating contrast of styles and personalities as different as the two nations — the big, brash, athletic Americans who take a very direct approach on the field facing a clinical Japanese side that relies on a clever, short-passing game.

“In 2011, both teams had a wonderful game in the final and for women’s football in the world, I hope that we will have a wonderful game like the way we did then,” said Japan coach Norio Sasaki.

No team had a harder path to the final than the US who emerged at the top of the Group of Death that featured three top-10 ranked teams and then stormed through the knockout phase without conceding a goal, dispatching Colombia, China and top-ranked Germany

As always, controversy has never been far from the US camp with goalkeeper Hope Solo refusing to deal with new domestic abuse allegations, and Abby Wambach, women football’s all-time leading scorer, dispatched to the bench.

But the distractions have had no impact on the Americans, who have been impenetrable in defence and not conceded a goal since the 27th minute of their opening match against Australia. In the process, Solo has piled up five clean sheets.

Certainly there is no shortage of extra motivation on both sides.

Many members of the US team were also on the squad that fell to Japan on penalties in the 2011 final in Germany.

For Japan, there is also a little bit of revenge to be extracted from Sunday’s game, as the Asian champions seek to get one back on the Americans for the London Olympics gold medal game, which the US won 2-1.

The Japanese have quietly gone about their business, going through the tournament unbeaten, notching six straight wins, all by one-goal margins.

After topping its group, Japan methodically disposed of the Netherlands but struggled to break down Australia in the quarter-finals, before netting a late winner that television replays suggested was offside.

Japan also needed a bit of good fortune to sink England in the semi-finals when Laura Bassett scored a stoppage time own goal to gift the “Nadeshiko” a spot in the final.

“In order to be the best team in the world at the World Cup, you have to beat the best teams,” said Wambach.

“It [Japan] has an amazing team and it’s the reigning World Cup champions so I think it’s going to be a fantastic final.”

No Blatter, no problem

Players do not care who hands out trophies and the absence of embattled FIFA President Sepp Blatter will not have any impact on the Women’s World Cup final, organisers said on Friday.

With world football’s governing body embroiled in corruption investigations, Blatter’s US based lawyer has told Reuters the FIFA chief will not travel to Vancouver for Sunday’s final between the United States and Japan.

It will be the first time Blatter has not presented the trophy to the winners of the women’s competition, which is held every four years, since he became FIFA president in 1998.

“The players don’t care who gives them the trophy to be quite frank with you,” Canadian Football Association President Victor Montagliani told reporters during the tournament’s final press conference.

“It’s the prerogative of the president, or anybody at FIFA, to go to whatever competition they want.

“The choice was made but I actually think in light of the circumstances, the focus needs to be on the games and the players not the suits that run football like myself or anybody else.

“As I said, whoever wins the World Cup, whether it’s you or me who hands them the trophy, I’m sure they are not too bothered by it.”

Blatter, the self-styled “godfather of women’s football”, said before the tournament began on June 6 that he was looking forward to being in Canada.

FIFA said in a statement that Secretary General Jerome Valcke would also not travel to Vancouver.

Reuters was unable to determine the specific reasons why Blatter, a Swiss national, had decided not to attend the final.

Some lawyers with experience in international criminal cases said that Blatter would be ill-advised to travel after an indictment announced on May 27 by US prosecutors against nine current and former FIFA officials and five sports marketing businessmen.

US prosecutors have not accused Blatter, 79, of any wrongdoing, but his stewardship of world football’s governing body is under scrutiny, sources familiar with investigations in the United States and Switzerland have said.

Richard Cullen, Blatter’s attorney, told Reuters that that FIFA Senior Vice President Issa Hayatou of Cameroon would preside at the trophy ceremony.

But Tatjana Haenni, the FIFA deputy director of the competitions division and head of women’s football, would not confirm who would take over the duty.

“I think who hands the trophy over and what kind of dignitaries we have and what kind of politicians are in the stands is maybe for the teams and spectators maybe not so important,” Haenni told reporters.

“People come to watch the players and watch the game and want to be part of it in the stadium or on TV or whatever means they have that is what people are excited about.

“Mr Blatter and Mr Valcke are not here, I think that is another topic.”