Japan's Homare Sawa is hugged by a teammate after scoring against Mexico on Friday. (Associated Press)
We know all about Germany. The powerful hosts are into the quarter-finals bidding for a hat trick of Women's World Cups.
We also know about the U.S. and Brazil. The Americans, twice winners and never worse than third, and the Samba Queens, full of rhythm and flair, believing 2011 is their year to finally breakthrough in the women's game.
We don't know so much about the fourth seeds. Japan stumbled in qualifying behind Australia and North Korea. Only once in five previous attempts had they survived the group stages of the Women's World Cup. Make that two in six. Japan is looking good.
Sawa the star
Homare Sawa has been this way before. The 32-year old midfielder is almost certainly playing at her fifth and final World Cup and plans to go out with a bang. Whatever happens from here on in, Sawa has left her mark on the tournament.
The former Asian Player of the Year became the 14th player to score a hat trick at the Women's World Cup as Japan tore Mexico to shreds in Leverkusen. The victory ensured Japan a place in the knock out stages for the first time in 16 years.
The ease with which Mexico was dismantled perhaps gives a clue about how Canada became CONCACAF Champions. The Canadians beat the Mexicans twice in qualifying but Leo Cuellar's team was defensively woeful against the vastly superior Japanese.
Technically assured, decisive and speedy, Japan has the ability to go deeper than ever before. Sawa may have grabbed the headlines but this is a true team effort. The players are organized, committed and comfortable in a 4-4-2 formation.
Many of them have had time to grow together. Japan reached the semifinals of the Beijing Olympics before running into the Americans. For much of the first half Japan were in front before the U.S. hit back with two quick goals shortly before half time.
Ultimately Japan finished off the podium in China. They held Germany scoreless for more than an hour in the bronze medal game before the world champions finally wore them down. 2008 may have ended in disappointment but there were plenty of positives along the way.
Japan is now learning how to win. After the near miss in Beijing, coach Norio Sasaki led his players to the Asian Games late in 2010. No Germany, U.S. or Brazil of course, but China and North Korea were both present and had to be beaten.
It took extra time before the Japanese finally found the net against the Chinese in the semifinal. Sasaki's team summoned up their remaining reserves to beat the North Koreans just two days later, ending the pair's Asian Games dominance stretching back 20 years.
Japan needs only to avoid defeat against England to top Group B. On the evidence so far that is well within their range. More importantly, Japan wants to avoid Germany in the quarter-finals, though France, the other Group A qualifiers, have been a revelation.
If, like me, you were wondering how Japan became one of the four seeded teams at the Women's World Cup, look again. They may have crept into Germany under the radar, but soon the "Nadeshiko" will be in everyone's sights.
Follow Nigel Reed on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/Nigel_Reed
We also know about the U.S. and Brazil. The Americans, twice winners and never worse than third, and the Samba Queens, full of rhythm and flair, believing 2011 is their year to finally breakthrough in the women's game.
We don't know so much about the fourth seeds. Japan stumbled in qualifying behind Australia and North Korea. Only once in five previous attempts had they survived the group stages of the Women's World Cup. Make that two in six. Japan is looking good.
Sawa the star
Homare Sawa has been this way before. The 32-year old midfielder is almost certainly playing at her fifth and final World Cup and plans to go out with a bang. Whatever happens from here on in, Sawa has left her mark on the tournament.
The former Asian Player of the Year became the 14th player to score a hat trick at the Women's World Cup as Japan tore Mexico to shreds in Leverkusen. The victory ensured Japan a place in the knock out stages for the first time in 16 years.
The ease with which Mexico was dismantled perhaps gives a clue about how Canada became CONCACAF Champions. The Canadians beat the Mexicans twice in qualifying but Leo Cuellar's team was defensively woeful against the vastly superior Japanese.
Technically assured, decisive and speedy, Japan has the ability to go deeper than ever before. Sawa may have grabbed the headlines but this is a true team effort. The players are organized, committed and comfortable in a 4-4-2 formation.
Many of them have had time to grow together. Japan reached the semifinals of the Beijing Olympics before running into the Americans. For much of the first half Japan were in front before the U.S. hit back with two quick goals shortly before half time.
Ultimately Japan finished off the podium in China. They held Germany scoreless for more than an hour in the bronze medal game before the world champions finally wore them down. 2008 may have ended in disappointment but there were plenty of positives along the way.
Japan is now learning how to win. After the near miss in Beijing, coach Norio Sasaki led his players to the Asian Games late in 2010. No Germany, U.S. or Brazil of course, but China and North Korea were both present and had to be beaten.
It took extra time before the Japanese finally found the net against the Chinese in the semifinal. Sasaki's team summoned up their remaining reserves to beat the North Koreans just two days later, ending the pair's Asian Games dominance stretching back 20 years.
Japan needs only to avoid defeat against England to top Group B. On the evidence so far that is well within their range. More importantly, Japan wants to avoid Germany in the quarter-finals, though France, the other Group A qualifiers, have been a revelation.
If, like me, you were wondering how Japan became one of the four seeded teams at the Women's World Cup, look again. They may have crept into Germany under the radar, but soon the "Nadeshiko" will be in everyone's sights.
Follow Nigel Reed on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/Nigel_Reed
