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MONDAY, JULY 6, 2015 SPORTS Will history repeat itself? US women hope not VANCOUVER: Abby Wambach remembers Americans for the top spot in the world that would contribute to the development Solo, who won the Golden Glove award the players in the locker room on the the date by heart: July 17, 2011. That was rankings. Criticized at times for a lack of of football in the world.” for the 2011 World Cup, has put up five phone, and also she sent messages,” Sasaki the day the United States lost to Japan in offense, the US has posted five straight THE LAST TIME: Japan’s victory over straight shutouts. She has been helped by a said. “And also was the fact that she could the Women’s World Cup title match in shutouts. the United States four years ago was Asia’s solid backline of Meghan Klingenberg, come to Vancouver to cheer for us. That Germany. “I think we have really good momentum. first-ever World Cup title. The Japanese Becky Sauerbrunn, Julie Johnston and Ali was the source of our energy. So we were The Americans get a rematch on Sunday I think we have confidence as a group. But erased a pair of one-goal deficits. Krieger. The United States has gone 513 able to do that.” when the teams meet again in the final, this we need to raise our game as well,” said Wambach scored in the 104th minute to minutes without conceding a goal. Only THE NUMBERS: It will be the U.S. team’s time in Canada. The U.S. women are midfielder Carli Lloyd, who leads the give the US a 2-1 lead, and Homare Sawa Australia, in the first half of the group-stage fourth appearance in the final. The favored, and there figures to be a mostly Americans with three goals. “This is the final, tied it 13 minutes later. Japan then pre- opener, has managed to score against the Americans won the World Cup the first year pro-American crowd making the short trip everything’s on the line, there’s no holding vailed 3-1 on penalty kicks. It was an emo- Americans. of the women’s tournament in 1991, and across the border to Vancouver’s BC Place. back. There’s no reserving energy. It’s full tional victory, following the massive earth- HONORING A TEAMMATE: That white then again in 1999. Wambach and the rest of her teammates throttle.” quake and tsunami that hit the nation in teddy bear that has been a constant feature The ‘99ers, as they are called, defeated say they aren’t taking anything for granted. Japan, ranked No. 4 in the world, has March, killing more than 20,000 people on Japan’s bench throughout the tourna- China on penalty kicks in the final at the The United States, ranked No. 2 in the won each of its six matches during the and touching off the worst nuclear catas- ment honors midfielder Kozue Ando, who Rose Bowl. world, is seeking its third World Cup title, monthlong tournament, relying on its trophe since Chernobyl in 1986. Before broke her left ankle in the World Cup open- The United States has a 24-1-6 all-time but first since 1999. “We still have to win. We steady tactical skill. It is trying for its second boarding the flight home from Germany, er against Switzerland. record against Japan, and a 2-1 advantage haven’t won anything yet, and we know straight World Cup title. Sawa said: “I have to dedicate this win to While Ando returned home to Japan, in World Cup meetings. This is the third what that feels like from four years ago,” “It’s the final game, the last one, so the people who suffered the disaster.” she remains close to the players - and not major women’s soccer tournament where Wambach said. “It’s not a good feeling.” there’s no more than that and we should LIGHTS-OUT : Anchored by Hope Solo just symbolically with the teddy bear that Japan has played the United States in the The United States is coming off an really cherish this moment that we are in goal, the United States’ most consistent wears her jersey. She was in her team- final. The countries also met in the gold- impressive 2-0 semifinal victory over going to the final,” Japan coach Norio Sasaki asset in the World Cup so far has been its mates’ thoughts during the semifinal victo- medal match at the 2012 Olympics, which Germany, the team that had unseated the said. “But I would also like to have a game defense. ry over England. “Miss Ando was talking to the Americans won 2-1. — AP Man City and PSG ready to spend after sanctions lifted PARIS: UEFA lifted sanctions against both a positive financial result in 2014-15 and Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain with no debt. and both sides now freed of their financial “We still have room to progress with the shackles will launch into the transfer mar- Parc des Princes renovation project. We are ket. working on an expansion of our stadium to But while PSG president Nasser al- increase capacity to 60,000 seats. Khelaifi said there was not an “unlimited” Ultimately, this transformation of the arena budget and new purchases would be care- will increase our revenues.” fully chosen, City look set to spend bigtime. Al-Khelaifi insisted though that the Belgian star Kevin de Bruyne, presently Parisian giants, who have been linked with at German Bundesliga runners-up VfL a number of big signings, cannot splurge Wolfsburg, Juventus’ French midfielder Paul wildly on new players. Pogba and Liverpool’s English international Under the deal with UEFA that ended striker Raheem Sterling are their main tar- the sanctions, the club will “have to submit gets. That trio could cost City-who failed to financial results including balanced finan- put up a strong defence of their league title cial results” for 2015-16, the president said. and ended up trophyless last season-an “So we will spend our money on well estimated £150million ($233million, targeted players as we have always done to 210million euros). help the club grow. We will not have an Paris Saint Germain, owned by a Qatar unlimited budget,” added the Parisian pres- government company, and City were ident. among the first major targets of UEFA presi- Under the sanctions placed on the Ligue dent Michel Platini’s Financial Fair Play (FPF) 1 champions last year, the club were not rules aiming to punish clubs run at a loss. allowed to spend more than 60 million Their heavily subsidised spending and euros on transfers and could only register Champions League squads were limited 21 players for last season’s Champions under UEFA sanctions, which al-Khelaifi League campaign, in which they lost in the confirmed have been lifted. quarter-finals to eventual winners “We are very pleased with this construc- Barcelona. tive and fair decision,” the president said in Now freed from the constraints, last sea- a statement on the club’s website.”This son’s domestic quadruple winners will have decision will allow the club to resume its even loftier ambitions. “Our goals are clear development. We are now able to really act and you can be certain that Paris now, CANADA: A US fan walks near the fanzone in Vancouver on the eve of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup final against Japan. — AFP on the transfer market that opened on more than ever, has the will to fight to June 9,” he added. achieve a place at the summit of European “In the past two years, we have achieved football,” assured Al-Khelaifi. Japan set for battle in excellent financial results in all areas of the Laurent Blanc guided Paris to the French club, especially in sponsorship, revenue title, French Cup, Super Cup and League related to the stadium and merchandising. Cup as they swept all before them in France “All these measures taken by the club led to last season. — AFP Women’s World Cup VANCOUVER: Japan can expect a United States growing, it grew against China and Germany nal. “Japan are very methodical and very techni- at “full throttle” and bent on revenge late yester- and now it’s no regrets, full throttle. cal. The American style is a little bit more individ- day as the Asian champions bid to defend their “We know what’s at stake and have to play ualism in our players. “We’ve played them many title in the Women’s World Cup final. our best. We’ll be able to weather the storm, times since 2011, but their game has changed as It will be the third showdown between the we’ve fresh legs and are physically fit.” The well.” Japan defender Saki Kumagai said revenge two sides in a major championship final. United States could also be considered the will be a factor, but her fourth-ranked side will Nicknamed ‘the Nadeshiko’ - a pink flower sym- home favorite with the 53,000-plus crowd at BC be need more to lift them past the world num- bolising grace and beauty - Japan won the 2011 Place Stadium in Vancouver largely behind the ber two team. World Cup crown in dramatic fashion in Americans. “It’s a revenge (match) certainly for both sides Frankfurt, Germany. “We feel like we’re playing in the US,” Lloyd because four years ago we had the final in The United States, World Cup winners in 1991 said.