17 July,2011 08:04 AM IST | | AFP
Japan coach Norio Sasaki has said his side are ready to pull off another giant-killing in Sunday's women's World Cup final when they take on two-time winners the USA.
Japanese players celebrate after winning their women's World
Cup semi-final against Sweden in Frankfurt, Germany on
Wednesday. PIC/Getty Images
Despite their nickname Nadeshiko -- a flower symbolising grace and beauty -- the Japanese have earned a reputation as giant-killers by knocking out the hosts in the quarter-finals and Sweden in the last four.
They face a formidable challenge in the USA -- traditionally the super-power of women's football -- who are bidding for a third World Cup title after their victories in 1991 and 1999. History is against the Japanese who have never beaten the Stars and Stripes in 25 meetings with the USA enjoying 22 wins to three draws.
Sasaki said: "We won against Germany and Sweden, that was empowering and it helped to let us know how strong we really are, the players have got stronger so why not tomorrow?," he said.
"As trainer of Japan, I have lost five times to America, so this is a good time for the gods of football to give me a victory over them."
