The US Women's National Team after their heartbreaking loss in the World Cup Final. Photo from ESPN.com
Whenever my team is beaten on the field of play I always get the desire to be mad or hate the other team. It is just so hard to be mad at the Japanese. While I am really sad for the Women’s National Team and their defeat in the World Cup Final, I am happy for Japan. Since I have been alive this has been the most excitement I have seen the country display for a soccer team. The tweets were strong about not understanding why we were rearranging our Sunday schedules for a soccer game, but everyone was captivated by this hard working, gritty, tough, can do, American team.
It almost felt like it was the Americans destiny to win this World Cup. They had this tumultuous year leading up to the World Cup, where they lost several games, an uncharacteristically Women’s National team thing. They lost for the first time in group play, but the comeback started in the knock out round of the tournament. They played in what was one of the all time most exciting men’s or women’s World Cup games against Brazil with a goal “at the death,” and an amazing win in a shootout. It was almost like this come from behind underdog team had just the pluck and luck to pull this thing off.
Sadly it did not play out that way. Enter a Japanese team, who was under matched physically, but played a beautiful ball control game. They ended up taking out several teams which were heavily favored on their way to the final knocking out Germany and Sweden. They took that step again in the final, coming back from behind twice to get to PK’s where they dominated and won their first World Cup.
This might be my bias coming out, but I just felt the Americans had the better team on the pitch yesterday. Looking at the stats they lead in almost all categories except time of possession. They also had all of these beautiful chances where they just could not finish. It’s hard to watch a team be up for mostly the whole game, and still lose in the end. But, I just could not feel bad or ill will towards the Japanese. There was a moment in the broadcast where they showed a viewing party in Japan, and the excitement was palpable. Japan was the team of destiny, fighting for their country which was ravished by the earthquake and tsunami back in March, followed by the nuclear disaster. It was a tough year, and you just feel the uplifting moment this was for their country.
Hope Solo the US goalkeeper put it best, “I truly believed this was our tournament to win. I felt that the entire time. At the same time I think there is something bigger pulling for Japan. They are the team of the tournament, and if there’s any team that you’re going to lose to, I’d put my hat off to them because they have so much class and they play with so much passion. They fought and they fought.” Even Japan coach Norio Sasaki described his soccer god made it possible for Japan to pull out the victory. While the soccer gods were not on our side, we got a beautiful match today. Sometimes fate steps in and shows the way, and yesterday was not our day.
