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Japan's World Cup triumph an inspiration for now and the future

The morning of July 18 was a happy one in Japan, energizing the entire country. The Japanese people, faced with so much sorrow over recent months, were able to rejoice at the news that the national women's soccer team had defeated the top-ranked United States in the Women's Soccer World Cup final, bringing the championship to Japan for the first time.

The match, held in Germany, started at 3:45 a.m. Japan time, when most people are still in bed. However, for such a great event, there were many here that gave up sleep to stake out a place in front of the TV and cheer Japan's ladies on.

The odds were not in Japan's favor. The U.S. had won 21 of the two teams' 24 previous contests, with the remaining three matches ending in draws. In the World Cup final, too, Japan gave the lead to the U.S. not once but twice, fighting back to tie the score both times with tenacity and steadfast determination, finally forcing the game into a penalty shootout. At this do-or-die moment, Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori proved her mettle with a truly spectacular save, giving her side the chance to seal a worthy victory against a team called the best in the world.

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http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/news/20110719p2a00m0na008000c.html