Women's Olympic Soccer 2012: 5 Lessons US Learned from World Cup Loss to Japan

There is no doubt that the players on the U.S. Women's National Team enter the Olympic soccer final against Japan with revenge on their minds.  Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe and Co. are green from their World Cup loss in 2011, in which the Japanese women equalized a lead twice, ultimately beating the U.S. 2-2 (3-1 PKs).

It was the most gut-wrenching loss in U.S. Women’s soccer history, let alone for this recent American cast.

Not everybody gets a second chance. These women will. The loss that has haunted the United States Women’s National Team can be vanquished once and for all.

Here are the truisms from last year’s match that the U.S. women can take to the field against Japan.

Stay Aggressive (Especially with a Lead)

In that World Cup final in 2011, the U.S. women held the lead on two occasions, only to relinquish it before time had expired.

In that tournament, surprisingly, the Americans had played an inordinate amount of time from behind. In their quarterfinal game against Brazil they were a player down as well.

The World Cup team was criticized for too much dribbling and not enough attacking in those stretches with the lead. The Olympic team will have to do a much better job of creating chances if it has the advantage. The U.S. midfielders need to push the ball down to Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan in the final third, where the dynamic duo can do the rest.

With a lead or not, the Americans should have a firm killer instinct to shut the door on the Japanese.

Ride Momentum, Not Emotions from Previous Wins

The similarities between these two finals are numerous, but none more obvious than the fact that the United States will be fresh off a dramatic high from its previous bouts in both instances.

The Olympic team heads into the final after scoring a late goal in extra-time from Alex Morgan. It was only a year ago when Abby Wambach did the same at the World Cup in the against Brazil.

The Brazil win last year set a precedent for emotion and intensity to be a part of the American psyche in the final moments. Now with the World Cup final squarely on their minds, one hopes that the experience has more of a calming effect than a vengeful one.

Having beaten the Americans at their best, the Japanese will come in with the mental advantage at the start. Hope Solo and the U.S. will need to keep their wits about them as the game turns.

Make Their Height an Advantage in Set Pieces

On Japan's second tying goal of the World Cup final, Japanese midfielder Homare Sawa stunned the U.S. with a header in the waning minutes of extra-time. The Japanese player was one of the shortest players on the field, leaping over the taller U.S. players like a human soaring over giraffes.

Whether it was pure will by Sawa or a misjudgment from the U.S. defense, there’s no reason for the Japanese to have any headers on goal against the taller American squad in the Olympic final.

The Japanese women’s team in 2011 had an average height of 5’3”; the Americans, in comparison, have nine players 5’7” or taller.

There is cause for concern though; Canadian star Christine Sinclair used her head to knock in a score against the U.S. on Monday.

Regardless, the Americans should score on a set piece against their much smaller foes, while maintaining a clean sheet on those plays defensively. 

Play Bend but Don't Break Defense

One could say Japan did not earn its two scores in the World Cup final by its own merit, rather the virtue of poor American defense.

Gone from the World Cup squad is one of the goats from Japan’s tying goal in regulation, Alli Krieger. Rachel Buehler, the other culprit on that weak clearance attempt, still holds a roster spot and will try to exercise some demons.

The Americans won’t win an Olympic gold by playing their best individual defense. Their shoddy performance versus Canada won’t cut it. Japan looks like they’re playing on a much higher level, exhibited by their easy dispatching of Brazil in the quarters.

The offense will be present for U.S., it’s just a question whether they will play gold-medal calber defense.

It's Not over Until It’s over

To borrow a saying from the great Yogi Berra, "play until the final whistle."

As much as the phrase seems to get used ad nauseum, the U.S. women’s soccer team has recalled this when they need a score, not with a lead.

There’s no doubt the American women will have revenge on their minds. There is nothing wrong with a little motivation. If they do have a hold on this final, though, a lesson from youth soccer can go a long way to winning the ultimate prize.