Watch fifa women's world cup final live usa vs japan

by PLR

After exorcising the ghosts of embarrassing World Cup semi-final exits in 2003 and 2007 with a last-four victory over France, former women's superpowers USA have the chance to climb back to the sport's summit this Sunday. Only minnows Japan, who have exceeded all expectations in making the final for the first time in their history, stand in the way of Christie Rampone's side securing a record-breaking third World Cup triumph.

USA opened their World Cup campaign in morale-boosting style by seeing off North Korea and Colombia with relative ease. But the rollercoaster restarted with a loss to Sweden in the final group game and they were left with an unenviable quarter-final clash with 2007 runners-up Brazil. Marta ran the show, scoring twice to put the South Americans 2-1 up going into the final seconds of extra-time, but a resilient USA outfit strained every sinew for an equaliser. In the 122nd minute in extra-time, Abby Wambach came up with the goods in dramatic fashion, heading home a leveller to pave the way for a penalty shootout victory. The Washington Post described the goal as an "act of spellbinding theatre" and it may prove to be the defining moment of the tournament.

A sixth straight women's World Cup semi-final saw the USA come up against a gifted and emerging group of French players. Despite being comprehensively outplayed again, Rampone's battling side ground out a place in the final - with Wambach once more bagging a crucial strike, the second goal in a 3-1 win. Though not as dominant as their predecessors of the 1990s, who claimed glory in 1991 and 1999, this USA team are nonetheless enthralling and deserving finalists.

As are their shock opponents, Japan. The Asians' previous best World Cup campaign came in 1995 when USA ruthlessly dispatched them 3-0 in the quarter-finals and they had not made it past the group stage until this year. Like USA, though, they finished this year's group stage in second place before coming to life in the last eight. The Nadeshiko produced the most unlikely of results as they beat reigning champions, hosts and favourites Germany 1-0 thanks to Karina Maruyama's extra-time winner.

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