Nadeshiko Japan give country huge lift
Japanese women stun USA
with victory in World Cup Final
Nadeshiko show resilience
The Japanese women’s soccer team is nicknamed ‘Nadeshiko’, after the pink plant that is used to personify the attributes of an ideal Japanese woman – neatness, resilience and loyalty. Yesterday in Frankfurt, Germany all those qualities, and more, were on display as they lifted their first World Cup from under the noses of a dominant but wasteful American team.
Before every game the Japanese team thanked the world for their help and support following the March 11 earthquake and Tsunami
Since the March 11 earthquake, tsunami then the Fukushima catastrophe, Japan has been reeling. Thousands dead and missing, tens of thousands of lives ruined, a tanking economy and the Fukushima nuclear plant will be dealing out bad news for many years. But for a few hours yesterday Japan and it’s people had something to feel good about.
Nadeshiko and the power of sport
When the team returns home to Japan they will receive a heroes welcome and thanks from a grateful nation for giving them the opportunity to think about something a little more trivial than death and disaster.
Nadeshiko Japan won the World Cup by beating the biggest women’s soccer power in the world game. A team they had never beaten in 25 previous meetings. Team USA dominated Nadeshiko Japan for long periods, led the game twice, but could never put the game to bed. The game finished 1-1 and a 30-minute extra time was played. After 120 minutes of play it was 2-2 forcing the dreaded penalty shoot-out.
Taking penalties can test your nerves in a regular game, in a World Cup Final, it will twist your guts into knots. Nadeshiko Japan held their nerve to win the shoot-out 3-1. The first Asian team to win a world title. of either gender, at any level.
Americans give Nadeshiko Japan credit
Team USA goalkeeper Hope Solo offered her congratulations to Japan, saying: “I truly believe that something bigger was pulling for this team. “As much as I’ve always wanted this, if there were any other team I could give this to it would have to be Japan. I’m happy for them and they do deserve it.”
Solo’s team-mate Abby Wambach added: “Japan just kept coming and they never gave up, and in the end they’re the world champs.”
The next Women’s World Cup finals will be held in Canada in 2015.
The editor at MadMikesAmerica watched the game and was rooting for the USA. When it was over drank a toast to Nadeshiko Japan.