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If Thursday's news conferences are any indication, Japan is the more relaxed team headed into the rematch. Sasaki and his players smiled and cracked jokes throughout. Through a translator, the coach introduced goalkeeper Miho Fukumoto as a "goddess." When asked to explain, he laughed and realized the word lost something from Japanese to English because he was trying to make a pun.
Sasaki acknowledged the Americans perhaps "have a greater incentive" to win after last year's result, so he said his challenge is to see "how much stronger we can make our incentive to have a win and beat the United States."
Here's a possible incentive: Maybe his players will get better seats on the plane ride home if they get the gold. The Japanese delegation was heavily criticized for putting the world champion women in economy while the men's soccer team -- made up of younger, less accomplished players -- flew business class on the way to London. Midfielder Homare Sawa said at the time that it "should have been the other way around."
Team captain Aya Miyama laughed off the subject Thursday, saying: "We're pretty small, so it doesn't matter." But then she added: "When I think about a more expensive cabin, it makes me feel good."
The Americans revived their flair for the dramatic on Monday with a last-minute win over Canada in the semifinals, and few would be surprised if the gold medal game is just as close -- perhaps ending with penalty kicks once again. Sundhage said she learned a lesson from last year: The team that scores the final goal to force the penalty kicks is usually happier and more loose, something she didn't realize until she saw her more tense players fall flat in the shootout.
This time, she said she will step into the huddle and make sure the players' heads are in the right place.
"I will give them a big smile," she said, "and make sure that they enjoy the moment."
[Associated
Press;
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