The Americans got what they wanted.
The U.S. will play Japan for the World Cup title Sunday in a rematch of the 2011 final. You know, the one the Americans lost on penalties after having the lead not once but twice, extending their oh-fer streak at the World Cup to 16 long years.
They got a measure of revenge in 2012, beating Japan for the Olympic gold medal. But it’s the World Cup title that determines greatness in soccer, and no matter how diplomatic the Americans tried to be after beating Germany, they wanted Japan.
Bad.
“It’s so hard to get to a final. This is our journey this time, and whoever we face, we’ll be happy with,” Megan Rapinoe said Tuesday night before pausing, a grin creeping across her face.
“But, obviously, if we could get one back on Japan, that would be great.”
With the game knotted at 1-1 and less than a minute left in extra time, Nahomi Kawasumi floated a ball forward. Knowing Yuki Ogimi would have had a clear shot at the goal, Laura Bassett came in behind Ogimi and tried to clear it.
But it went horribly wrong. The ball hit the crossbar and, despite Karen Bardsley’s desperate swat, rattled into the net for an own goal.
Bassett was inconsolable when the final whistle blew seconds later. Sampson and Bassett’s teammates tried to comfort her, but she sobbed uncontrollably for what seemed like hours, her face buried in her hands.
“Ah, what a tough one. What a tough one to take,” Sampson said, his eyes red-rimmed.
“(Bassett) knows she’s got the support of this whole group,” he said when someone asked whether Bassett can ever get over the gaffe. “There’s not one manager in the world who wouldn’t want Laura Bassett in their group.”
Brutal as the loss was, and as much as the U.S. players surely feel for Bassett, the Americans aren’t upset at getting another shot at Japan.
“I think it’s fantastic,” U.S. coach Jill Ellis said. “These are two talented teams with a lot of history and rivalry, and I think it will be a classic match-up. Both teams have a lot of the same players from 2011, but that said, this is a different team on a different journey, and I know all 23 players and our staff are tremendously excited for this next challenge.”
Especially knowing they’re heading into the final as the stronger team — the much stronger team.
