U.S. vs. JapanWOMEN’S WORLDCUP’S WOWOWO

NO. POS NAME Projected

18 G Ayumi Kaihori5 D Aya Sameshima4 D Saki Kumagai3 D Azusa Iwashimizu19 D Saori Ariyoshi8 M Aya Miyama13 M Rumi Utsugi6 M Mizuho Sakaguchi9 M Nahomi Kawasumi17 F Yuki Ogimi11 F Shinobu Ohno

SUBSTITUTES

20 D Yuri Kawamura*10 M Homare Sawa*16 F Mana Iwabuchi*15 F Yuika Sugasawa*1 G Miho Fukumuto2 D Yukari Kinga12 D Megumi Kamionobe14 M Asuna Tanaka21 G Erina Yamane22 M Asano Nagasato23 D Kana Kitahara7 M Kozue Ando* – Likely substitute

JAPAN LINEUP

NO. POS NAME Projected

1 G Hope Solo22 D Meghan Klingenberg4 D Becky Sauerbrunn19 D Julie Johnston11 D Ali Krieger14 M Morgan Brian12 M Lauren Holiday15 M Megan Rapinoe10 M Carli Lloyd17 M Tobin Heath13 F Alex Morgan

SUBSTITUTES

3 D Christie Rampone*5 M Kelley O'Hara*23 F Christen Press*20 F Abby Wambach*2 F Sydney Leroux6 D Whitney Engen7 M Shannon Boxx8 F Amy Rodriguez9 M Heather O’Reilly16 D Lori Chalupny18 G Ashlyn Harris21 G Alyssa Naeher* – Likely substitute

U.S. LINEUP

17 11

8 9

13 6

4 3

5 19

18

OhnoForward

OgimiForward

MiyamaMidfielder

KawasumiMidfielder

SakaguchiMidfielder

UtsugiMidfielder

SameshimaDefender

AriyoshiDefender

KumagaiDefender

KaihoriGoalkeeper

IwashimizuDefender

JAPAN’S FORMATION

UNITED STATES’ FORMATION

Keep the pressureFor as pretty as Japan's playing style has been in theWorld Cup so far, it was clearly rattled by England'swillingness to come right at them. The United States willdo that even more than England did, especially if AbbyWambach is on the bench. Even the Americans' mostfamous attacking stars, such as Megan Rapinoe and AlexMorgan, aren't afraid to press high up the field defensivelyand try to force turnovers.

Keep the ballSometimes, the best defense is a good offense. This maysound simplistic, but it's incredibly important: The morethe United States keeps the ball, the less Japan will have it.And the less Japan has the ball, the less it will be able towork the wizardry that has defined its run to the final.

Keep the faithNo team on the planet has the mental strength, will power, andsheer determination to win that the United States has. Thosetraits have helped this team reach its second consecutive final.Just look at the mind games Hope Solo played with Germany'sCelia Sasic before her penalty kick in the semifinals, or CarliLloyd's staring at the ball for 103 seconds before her attemptfrom the spot. Mix that with enough skill to match Japan's style— and a pro-American crowd in Vancouver — and it should bethe right recipe to deliver the trophy.

Three Keys For a U.S. Victory

Championship Sunday at 7 p.m. | BC Place Stadium, Vancouver | Fox29

1

SoloGoalkeeper

22

KlingenbergDefender

11

KriegerDefender

15

RapinoeMidfielder

17

HeathMidfielder

19

JohnstonDefender

4

SauerbrunnDefender

12

HolidayMidfielder

14

BrianMidfielder

10

LloydMidfielder

13

MorganForward

By Jonathan Tannenwald | philly.com | @thegoalkeeper

KEY PLAYERKEY PLAYER

Aya MiyamaShe's the chief architectof Japan's stylish passinggame, able to createchances for teammatesfrom the left wing or themiddle of the field.

MorganBrianThe 22-year-old's willing-ness to do the dirty workdefensively in the midfieldhas freed up Carli Lloydand others to finally bringthe American attack to life.

PHOTOS by GETTY IMAGES

Norio SasakiNow in his sixth year incharge of the defendingWorld Cup champions, hehas overseen the team’srise from doormat topowerhouse. Under hiswatch, the team has nearlyperfected a fluid passingstyle that is the envy offans around the world.And if other teams don’tmatch his side’s skill, heisn’t afraid to call themout. After the semifinal winover England, Sasaki saidthrough an interpreter thatJapan struggles againstopposition “which is verypowerful and has simpletactics.” That might havebeen aimed at his ownteam, but it came acrossas a shot at the English —and perhaps theAmericans, too.

COACHCOACH

Jill EllisThroughout thisWorld Cup— indeed, throughoutmuch of her 14-monthtenure in charge — she hasbeen hit hard by critics.Time and again, they haveaccused her of anoveremphasis onlong-ball-oriented attacks,and an overreliance onaging veterans at theexpense of developing anew generation of stars.But Ellis has said all alongthat she picks teams to suitsituations. The wins overChina and Germanymightjust have proved her case,especially the long-awaitedformation switch thatcaught the Germans offguard. If she makes theright moves in the final, hercritics will have to eat theirwords once and for all.

The 22-year-old's willing-ness to do the dirty work

upny18 G Ashlyn Harris21 G Alyssa Naeher* – Likely substitute

88

1

HeatHeatMidfielKEY PLAYER

MorganBrian

12 D Megumi Kamionobe14 M Asuna Tanaka21 G Erina Yamane22 M Asano Nagasato23 D Kana Kitahara7 M Kozue Ando* – Likely substitute

1111

OhnoOhnoForward

ATION

15

RapinoeRapinoeMidfielder

BrianBriaMidfielderderder

3

rganward

KEY PLAYER

She's the chief architectof Japan's stylish passing

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999 Aya MiyamaShe's the chief architect

D10 | THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER | SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2015 C | PHILLY.COM