Reigning Olympics champions USA face world champions Japan in the final of the women’s football tournament at the London 2012 Olympics. The match will be played at Wembley Stadium in London on Thursday 9 August 2012 with a kick-off time of 19.45 British Summer Time/Nigerian Time.

[img]http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Olympics+Day+1+Women+Football+Japan+v+Sweden+xhp98IRgHqfl.jpg[/img]
_{Japan's Women Olympic Football Team}

[img]http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Olympics+Day+2+Women+Football+USA+v+France+5mEz6vdDWwql.jpg[/img]
_{USA's Women Olympic Football Team}

But as well as a match between the two best women’s teams at the moment, it also represents a clash of belief. The USA have won this tournament on three of the four occasions it has been held, their only blip being in 2000 when they finished runners up to Norway. It therefore comes as no surprise that they regard the Olympics as the most prestigious women’s football tournament. However, for most of the rest of the world outside of North America, the Women’s World Cup is the premier trophy, and Japan are the current holders, and the team they beat in last year’s final was the USA.

The USA have only won the World Cup twice – in 1991 and 1999 – and will feel they have a point to prove after their defeat by Japan last year. Japan meanwhile will be keen to add the Olympics title to their world champions status. For them, this is uncharted territory as the best they have done in the Olympics is a fourth place finish last time out in 2008.

Both these teams have medals in the bag, with the winner taking gold and the loser silver. The teams they beat in the semi-final – Canada and France – though still have to fight for a medal in the bronze medal match at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.


Japan’s Route to the Final
They won four and drew one of their five qualifying games. Japan finished second in Group F on goal difference to Sweden, with whom they drew 0-0 in their second match after opening with a 2-1 win over Canada. They drew their final game 0-0 against South Africa.

Japan soaked up wave after wave of attack by Brazil in the quarter-finals before hitting them hard twice on the break to win 2-0.

Japan looked to be coasting in the semi-finals against France after Yuki Ogimi’s first half goal was added to early in the second half by Mizuho Sakaguchi. And they were well deserving of their 2-0 lead having dominated the match so far. But the second goal seemed to act as a trigger to the French team and they then put the Japanese goal under siege, with the reward being pulling one back with just fifteen minutes to go. And it could have all gone pear-shaped for the Japanese a few minutes later when the French won a penalty. This was missed and the Japanese held out to win 2-1.

Norio Sasaki is team coach


USA’s Route to the Final
USA qualified impressively, without conceding a goal in their five matches in the Concacaf Championship while knocking in 31 at the other end

They won all three of their matches to top Group G but had a scare in their first game when they found themselves two down to France, but they rallied to win the game 4-2. They then had a comfortable 3-0 win over Columbia but could only beat North Korea 1-0 in the last game despite dominating most of the match.

The USA beat New Zealand 2-0 in the quarter-finals. A first half goal by Wambach and a late clincher by substitute Sydney Leroux were enough to see off the Kiwis.

The USA were behind three times in their semi-final against North American neighbours Canada but fought back well. Canada were 1-0 up at half time thanks to the first of three goals by captain Christine Sinclair. Megan Rapinoe equalised ten minutes into the second half. Sinclair made it 2-1 on 67 minutes but Rapinoe levelled the match again three minutes later. Canada may have thought they’d won it when Sinclair got her third three minutes after that but a penalty converted by veteran striker Abby Wambach took the game into extra time. But there was more drama to come when the USA snatched a 4-3 victory thanks to a goal by Alex Morgan three minutes into injury time at the end of the second period of extra time.

They are coached by Pia Sundhage.

ebamma: toto football

justwise: USA all the way, those girls are just good.

Team Japan all the way. . . .

The US don't deserve to be in this Final as they were helped in no small measure by the referee in their Semi-Final match against Canada.

USA has won Gold 3 times (Atlanta 96, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008) in the last 4 Olympics. . . Haba! Shey na only dem

Moreover, I support any country that stands in the way of the USA winning gold as I want the "Chinks" to win this Olympics overall

Go Nadeshiko, do me proud

semid4lyfe:

Team Japan all the way. . . .

The US don't deserve to be in this Final as they were helped in no small measure by the referee in their Semi-Final match against Canada.

USA has won Gold 3 times (Atlanta 96, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008) in the last 4 Olympics. . . Haba! Shey na be only dem

Moreover, I support any country that stands in the way of the USA winning gold as I want the "Chinks" to win this Olympics overall

Go Nadeshiko, do me proud

Pharoh: This is a repeat of the women's world cup final and its definitely going to Japan.

oubi: Pls who knows the time for the 200m final

mukina2: heheheheh Us don score

1 - 0

mkmyers45: freedoo?

mukina2: hahahaha The Us coach go kill persin

fredoooooo:

muki !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mukina2: rudisha sha new world record .my cousin

shussh no one fit i will dash dem carzola


US will win this sha. lots of bullying going on