Japan beats Sweden 3-1 for place in final

can you people READ!? it says Japan beat sweden!! whats with all this talk about the US? SO what! they won & beat US in the last Game WE are still Allies & will always BE! when Japan beats every other country you gonna turn it around & just bash us? I hope Japan plays south Korea & then WINS! Then youll see riots in South Korea. if that happens Europeans will find some way to Blame America.

Great work Nadeshiko Japan! The more I watch them play, the more they remind me of how the Italian men played in 2006 when they won the World Cup. The Japanese women play the beautiful game of football the way it should be played: crisp, compact passing, deadly accurate shooting, great spacing, helping out each other, and playing stout defense. Nadeshiko Japan plays the possession game better than anyone I've seen. It will be very interesting to see their style going up against the power of the U.S and Abby Wambach's deadly head. I'm looking forward to that final.

good job!

tank the yanks! gambarre

Wow !!!!! Japanese women's soccer is more ACTION PACKED than Japanese men's soccer.

Go figure

I will watch this game. Hopefully it will be a high scoring game. I hate soccer, very boring. But I will watch this one.

This is a real achievement. I can only hope that this will inspire young girls to join a sportsclub instead of an AKH48 club. Go, go, go girls!

Hmm. It seems that, when it comes to East Asian countries playing in sports, be it golf, tennis, football or volleyball, the women are doing more than their fair share.

Played their hearts out...never expected them to be a good Swedish team by two goals. Cannot wait for the final, and hope they win. The US team is good, but I think the Nadeshikos are gonna take it !

The Nadeshikos are although "Pros" the pay does not pay ends meet so they all have side jobs doing everything from shop clerks to farmgirls. They purely play for the love of the game and they made it to the ultimate last match. Whether they make it to the top or not is no more important since they had already shown what they are made of. I just bow and wish them their best and hope they enjoy the last match to the fullest.

Gambare Nippon ! ! !

3:45 AM. Anyone know any place in Okinawa where it will be an event?

I really don't care who wins but it should be a good party.

Both of these teams are teams of destiny.

Especially how they won against Germany and Brazil - the very two teams favored to be in the final.

It'll be a great match either way.

Congratulations to Japan for making the final. And hope that you go on to win it.

It's just a shame that AP couldn't send a real journalist to report on this. I got halfway through and was convinced and jumped to the bottom expecting to see it was a Kyodo translation. Awful reporting.

Its funny, Japan was suppose to be the underdog according to all the news I read (outside Japan). Even the bet makers gave the odds to Sweden. However, Japan is ranked higher then Sweden and in the last four meetings between the teams, Japan won two and tied two. In fact Sweden has not beaten Japan in 15 years.

When I watched the match, although the score was only 3:1, it was clear beyond a doubt that Japan was the stronger team.

These girls are are great roll models for young Japanese girls. Best of luck to them.

I'll be so happy if America wins. Then people would stop asking me this one stupid question.

Do Americans play soccer? Soccer isn't popular in America, right?

It's almost as if you want me to say: Yeah, we don't play soccer, it's all yours, here, take the medal.

Americans play soccer. It's not a huge media sport but it will be. With all the player strikes and rule changes in the NBA and NFL, plus MLB at times...yes Americans are going to tune into soccer real soon.

America is such a huge country. We have soccer fields EVERYWHERE. Boys and GIRLS can play. We have plenty of organizations like AYSO out there playing soccer Saturday and Sunday mornings.

I'm not against Japan though. My hat is off to these women. They became professional soccer players in a country that doesn't setup soccer teams for girls at the Junior High and High School level. Currently only the rich who can pay to get their daughters in a private club can enjoy the sport.

It says alot about who could be boss in Japan and how backwards things are. Japan's WNT has gone farther than the MNT. They could win this, even though I don't want them to but they have the skill to pull it off. It's going to be a great match.

Please stop asking me if we play soccer in America. Our women are in the World Cup. I just hope they win it so the next time someone asks that silly question I can make them feel even more ridiculous.

A mouth-watering prospect for the final.... Barcelona v. Man United. For the neutral observer it should be great.

the american's are a little cocky at the moment, they are all talking about how they believe in themselves, believe they can win, etc etc. It could backfire on them Japan played well

What? Of course they believe in themselves. A little confidence is better than going into the match quaking in their boots.

I want to see a well played game that does not end with a penalty shoot out and without any controversial refereeing.

I dont care who wins, I just wanna see the girls running up and down the field. Tho it makes me think how much better both the US and Japans womens team are soooo much better at it than their male counterparts :)

Great job, ladies!

This is going to be a damn entertaining final - must see viewing. My heart is going to be torn between USA and Japan!

Excellent. COME ON JAPAN! The US are on fire, QUENCH them.

Good job, Nadeshiko!

Anyone care to make a prediction of the final score? I say 3-2 to Japan after 90 minutes.

Congratulation.I believe that Japan can win over USA at the cup final.

Best wishes to the beautiful Ladies of Japan.Win the WC and bring a big smile to Japan!

Gotta luv an underdog. Have been hoping for these teams to meet in the final since the last World Cup. As a fan of both teams & an American I have to go with...Japan for the win. The last 2 games for Japan simply laid the foundation for what will be an amazing upset on Sunday. Time to put an exclamation point at the end of this amazing run.

Well done ladies! I see no reason why they can't trounce the Americans in the final. They will probably win on pure emotion. In fact - I reckon they'd beat the Japanese men's team!

Can't wait for the finals on Sunday. I have found that I enjoy women's soccer much more than the men's matches. The women just play. The men seem to think they are trying to win an Academy Award with all of the flops and fake screams of pain. Both teams are playing well - of course; although I haven't seen a single Japanese match, just the high-lights. They look quick and like a team of destiny. The US team is determined and certainly has the depth and talent to match up with any other team. Should be a great match - hope it comes down to overtime and a nail biting finish.

USNinJapan2.

Thx, that helps a lot. Not really a follower of soccer but the ladies got many locals inspired.

If they can win the next game it would be a major emotional boost for the whole of Japan.

Zenny 11

The top 5 in the FIFA world rankings is 1) US, 2) Germany, 3) Brazil, 4) Japan 5) Sweden so the final will be between #1 and #4 ranked with Japan being the clear underdog. Judging by Nadeshiko Japan's play so far this tournament though an upset is definitely in the realm of possiblity.

anyone know what time the final will be this sunday?

the american's are a little cocky at the moment, they are all talking about how they believe in themselves, believe they can win, etc etc. It could backfire on them Japan played well

I'm not sure i know what you mean. How does believing in yourselves and thinking you can win make you cocky? Do you mean that the Japanese girls don't believe in themselves and don't believe they can win, or that they do, but it doesn't make them cocky, only Americans?

Well done Japan. The team clearly out-played/out-hustled Sweden. May the best team win on Sunday.

3:45am.

Go to sleep early and start monday with the soccer-match.

Should be interesting not sure if the USA is ranked higher than Sweden or Germany in Womens Soccer. But the ladies have done very well so far.

@movieguy - THANKS! Will set my alarm to be up. After all, the 18th is a holiday. 海の日!

@namabiru4me - It starts at 3:45 AM Monday morning Japan time.

And drink lots of coffee or beer (if you aren't working on Monday).

Unluckily for those of you in Japan I believe it will begin about 3 a.m. local time. Be sure to set your recorders.

I am happy for both teams and look forward to the match! I know they are playing on the 18th, Japan time....anyone know what time it will be aired on TV??

How about putting on a clinic for the men when you get back..particularly on putting the ball in the back of the net and good old fashioned guts.

Glad to see Japan make it to the finals! Tough to know who to cheer for in the next game though. Probably will be happy whichever team ends up winning.

Good luck Japan!!!!

i hope Japan beats America's a$$ !!!.. GO JAPAN !!!

The blue Samurai girls are playing better than the guys! I love it.

I bet either Japan or America wins the World Cup!

the american's are a little cocky at the moment, they are all talking about how they believe in themselves, believe they can win, etc etc. It could backfire on them Japan played well

They played their best match of the tournament, offense, defense and ball control. The Swedes were the tallest team in the World Cup and Japan the shortest but Japan used their quickness to compensate. Although the U.S. is also taller they are much quicker to the ball than the Swedish team. I can't rule out a Japan upset because they seem to be peaking at the best time, but I have to give the edge to the U.S. One advantage besides physical play : goalkeeping.

gambatta na! sugoi!