The Olympics women's soccer final between the United States and Japan has kicked off. The teams from last year's World Cup final meet again at Wembley Stadium, with a huge crowd turnout to watch women play the sport at a Summer Games. Scroll down to watch the match live online.
The Japanese are attempting become the first team to win World Cup and Olympic titles in back-to-back years. They won the women's soccer gold medal at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008. The Americans are bent on mending the heartache from a penalty kick shootout in Frankfurt 13 months ago in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.
"I've been hoping for this final," U.S. forward Abby Wambach said, according to the Associated Press, "from the moment I stepped off the podium in Germany." Wambach, who missed the 2008 games with a broken leg, has scored in every game at these Olympics, while Alex Morgan is flourishing as a starter. The U.S. has scored 14 goals in five games, and most expect it to add to that tally against Japan.
Led by 2011 FIFA World Player of the Year, Homare Sawa, Japan returns the same players from last summer's World Cup title team.
Click here to watch the Olympic women's soccer 2012 final between USA and Japan at NBC Olympics.
Click here for a live blog of the match at the Wall Street Journal.
Here are the line ups:
United States
Hope Solo (1), goalkeeper
Amy Le Peilbet (6), left back
Christie Rampone (3), center back
Rachel Buelhler (16), center back
Kelley O'Hara (5), right back
Shannon Boxx (7), midfielder
Carli Llloyd (10), midfielder
Heather O'Reilly (9), midfielder
Megan Rapinoe (15), midfielder
Alex Morgan (13), forward
Abby Wambach (14), striker
Japan
Miho Fukumoto (1), goalkeeper
Yukari Kinga (2), right back
Azusa Iwashimizu (3), center back
Saki Kumagi (4), center back
Aya Sameshima (5), left back
Aya Miyama (8), midfielder
Mizuho Sakaguchi (6), midfielder
Homare Sawa (10), midfielder
Nahomi Kawasumi (9), midfielder
Shinobu Ohno (11), striker
Yuki Ogimi (17), striker
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