Women's World Cup: Japan ready for USA

Vancouver Japan can expect a United States at full throttle and bent on revenge on Sunday as the Asian champions bid to defend their title in the Womens World Cup final It will be the third showdown between the two sides in a major championship finalUSAs Carli Lloyd PicAFPNicknamed the Nadeshiko a pink flower symbolising grace and beauty Japan won the 2011 World Cup crown in dramatic fashion in Frankfurt Germany The United States World Cup winners in 1991 and 1999 twice relinquished a onegoal lead before succumbing in a penalty shootout But the Americans took the Olympic gold ahead of Japan in London in 2012Both squads include many of the same players who were on the pitch in the 2011 final including all four goal scorers Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach scored for the United States while Homare Sawa and Aya Miyama were on target for the JapaneseEverything is on the lineCarli Lloyd was one of three US players to miss her penalty kick in 2011 but scored both goals in the Americans 21 win in the 2012 Olympic final I want to bring everything I have to this game warned Lloyd who has been in stunning form in Canada scoring and setting up another goal in a 20 semifinal win over topranked GermanyFor me in the final everything is on the line my foot on the pedal full force Our confidence is growing it grew against China and Germany and now its no regrets full throttle We know whats at stake and have to play our best Well be able to weather the storm weve fresh legs and are physically fitThe United States could also be considered the home favourite with the 53000plus crowd at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver largely behind the Americans We feel like were playing in the US Lloyd said Japan have won all their games so far in Canada by a onegoal margin while the United States where held to a goalless draw by Sweden in their tough Group DThe Americans however have been gaining momentum with wins over China 10 and Germany 20 in their last two games while Japan beat England 21 thanks to an own goal by defender Laura Bassett in their semifinal Despite their familiarity each team expects to see changes in the otherThey are less of a surprise said American Megan Rapinoe Last time they came out of nowhere We know them a little bit better and they know us but they dont play exactly the same way as in 2011 Its a great testament to both teams that weve made it to the the finals of three big tournaments said US defender Becky SauerbrunnWere getting better and well be peaking at the right time Weve a lot of things in our arsenal Japan are very methodical and very technical The American style is a little bit more individualism in our players Weve played them many times since 2011 but their game has changed as well Japan defender Saki Kumagai said revenge will be a factor but her fourthranked side will be need more to lift them past the world number two teamIts a revenge match certainly for both sides because four years ago we had the final in Germany and for us two years ago we lost the final in the Olympics We want to face the United States with a fresh feeling but it will be a revenge for sure she said The most important thing is that we dont concede a goal in the first half thats the keyAnother key will be containing Wambach Abby is very tall and powerful we have to beware of her becoming a pivotal player Kumagai said We have to be very aggressive from the first touch and as a teamThe Americans are bidding to become the first threetime champions while Japan want to follow in the footsteps of Germany who won backtoback titles in 2003 and 2007 Kumagai believes Japan are up to the task Compared to four years ago or even two years ago all our team members have grown It will be a game where all of us will show how we have grown and developed our skills