World Cup of Softball 2011: USA vs Japan Is Must Win for US After Loss to Canada
By on July 22, 2011
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The US had it in the bag. After taking down Australia, it the US controlled their own fate today. A win against Canada would almost certainly spell a berth in the 1st place game, regardless of what happened in their second game of the day, against Japan.
The US may have been looking at the tougher of the two opponents prematurely. They failed to take care of Canada in the first game, losing 4-3 and acquiring their first loss in the 2011 World Cup of Softball.
Their loss has blown the tournament wide open. Now the pressure going into the game against Japan is exponentially heightened.
Three teams have solidified themselves in the running. Canada and the US each have a loss. Japan remains undefeated, which means a victory over the US could knock the Americans from 1st place contention entirely.
Their confidence has to be shaken, but the US need to put their last game behind them and focus on redeeming themselves with a victory over Japan.
Japan is a valiant opponent. They took down Canada by three runs in their opener, which points to their ability to compete against the best of the best in this tournament.
The US can't afford to stumble again here. Playing two games in a day and losing the first could snowball into successive losses, which they would probably not recover from.
At this point, the US may be fighting to medal. Winning the third place game would be a letdown, but it's important to look at the bigger picture.
The US are in transition. This isn't the Jennie Finch-led team we are accustomed to seeing take the diamond. The US are trying to reestablish themselves with new talent by creating a legacy of their own.
A bronze medal in this competition shouldn't be seen as a complete failure, given the circumstances. Even so, beating Japan and getting right back in the mix of things would obviously be ideal.
It's far too early for the US to hang their heads and quits. They still control their own destiny, as they are getting a second chance at taking hold of this tournament.
This win is going to be even more challenging to attain, but the US are capable of earning a victory against the tournament favorite.
For all of your non-stop coverage of the event, keep it locked to Bleacher Report, where we'll have you covered every step of the way.
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