おめでとう 日本 | Congratulations Japan

"I think the whole world is rooting for Japan except the United States!" - American ABC Telecaster

おめでとう 日本! Or in other words, Congratulations Japan! For the first time ever, Japan's Women Football National team won the 2011 FIFA World Cup Final! !

By far, this is the best soccer game I've ever witnessed. Each minute mattered as Japan was up against the US, a team they've encountered five times in the past and have never managed to beat. The game had ended in penalty kicks with a 3-1 favor to Japan. However, the best parts of the game was in regulation and overtime. The first goal was scored by the US in the 24th minute of the second halve, at tremendous goal that got some of us thinking if it was the end as it seemed the U.S had dominated the game this whole time and Japan had not been able to get a good attempt at the goal. However, in the 36th minute as U.S fails to get the ball outside of the penalty box, their failure was Japan's Success. Aiya Miyama was there for the second touch and struck the ball right past U.S' Goalie and tied the game at 1-1. 

As regulation time finished, the score was still 1-1. Overtime was even more heart-wrenching, to say the least! With just 30 minutes to play, instead of 90, everyone could see both teams giving everything they had for that second goal. Just one minute before the first half of overtime was over, U.S' Wambach makes a header, where even myself felt that Japan was done. The score was 2-1, the goalie and many of the Japanese team had their heads down except their captain Homare Sawa who was eager to shout to her teammates like" Its okay! It's not over". You have to love Homare Sawa as her positivity and leadership had brought the game to penalty kicks because in the 9th minute of the second half of overtime, Sawa makes a spectacular goal - from a corner kick, Sawa with her back against the goal, kicks the ball with her right foot. I even jumped up and down, going crazy at 5:30am in my own living room while frantically updating my facebook status - it was just unbelievable! 

This seemed all too familar when the game went to penalty kicks. In last years, Men's Fifa World Cup - The japanese team, whos first time to make it into the final 16, had their hopes gone as they lost in penalty kicks. With that in mind, the thought of watching the Japanese team was all too hard. But, that was changed quickly as the amazing, spectacular goalie of Japan - Ayumi Kaigori saves US' first penalty kick with her leg (unintentionally)! Japan's first and second penalty kick had gone in, having the third one saved by US' Goalie, Hope Solo. Kaigori saved another one and US had missed one, during penalty kicks which left the final score of penalty kicks at 3-1, in Japan's favor! What a great penalty kick by Japan's, Saki Kamugai, as her's was the deciding factor for the Women's Win - an amazing goal right into the left hand corner of the goal. 

It was more than an amazing game and the Japanese Women are just spectacular. Their pose, sportsmanship and "never give up" attitude was something to be amazed by and looked up to. Myself and all the Alphas are so happy for these girls but more so happy for Japan as they are able to cheer and be joyus about something after all they have suffered/are suffering due to the earthquake/tsunami. Before the game, Hope Solo was interviewed and I think she said it all, "When you are up against a team that is playing for more than just the game, playing for the people of their country that have suffered so much from the earthquake/tsunami and are in rehabilitation, it definitely makes it much more difficult.". And difficult it was, Japan was just amazing! 

These Japanese women are named なでしこジャパン. The なでしこ(Nadeshiko) term in japanese society means the personification of the idealized japanese women. They definitely embody this definition. They not only won for themselves but for the whole of Japan! A moment, which would be remembered for a long time, is when the whole team held a banner saying - "To all our friends around the world, thank you for your support!" and walked around the field. 

I've never been so proud to be part of the Japanese Community. They deserve this so much and the undying support of the Japanese people as well as everyone in the world is just amazing. So proud of them!! Hopefully, this also changes the way women's sports is seen in the future. 

ありがとう　なでしこジャパン！ (Thank you) 

Congratulations also to Japan for winning the FIFA Fair Play Award! Also, for Sawa: 5-time appearance in a FIFA World Cup and receiving the Golden Boot (Most goals in the whole tournament) and the Golden Ball (the tournament's MVP)

Love,
ALPHA