Women's World Cup 2015: Ranking the Best Performers in Japan vs. US Final

Japan will take on the United States Sunday in final of the 2015 Women’s World Cup due to outstanding tournament performances from players on both teams. 

The United States have turned a corner in their last two matches and are looking like a squad worthy of a world championship. The team followed up a strong 1-0 win of China in the quarterfinals with a phenomenal 2-0 triumph over a German team favored to win the World Cup. 

A revamped offensive attack sparked by stellar midfield play from the likes of Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Morgan Brian and Lauren Holiday along with a suffocating defensive effort from Julie Johnston, Becky Sauerbrunn, Ali Krieger and Meghan Klingenberg are responsible for the U.S.’ recent excellence. 

Japan have looked fearless and in control for most of the tournament as it defends its World Cup title. They team ran into a little trouble against a high-pressure style from England, but were bailed out from a unfortunate deflection from England defender Laura Bassett.

Looking at the best performers between the teams thus far, individual performance combined with the player’s impact on the entire squad will be used for ranking. 

Individual performances includes statistics, accolades and creating plays by themselves. Player impact is gauged by the player's importance to her team and how her play has allowed her team to dictate the pace of the matches to her team’s preference. 

This would mean which players on the United States have allowed the team to play its high-possession, defensive style. For Japan, who is most responsible for the team’s ability to play its fluid, quick-passing style. 

Here is a look at the top five performers in the tournament between the two teams as well as some players who were considered but did not make the cut.

Honorable Mentions

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• United States goalkeeper Hope Solo
• United States midfielder Megan Rapinoe
• United States forward Alex Morgan
• Japan forward Yuki Ogimi
• Japan goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori

The United States have not allowed a goal since its opening group match and have a chance to make history against Japan Sunday, per ESPN Stats & Info. 

The record known largely as Solo’s record because she in primarily judged for how many goals she allows, but she has not been tested much in this tournament. 

Her team’s stifling defense has derailed opposing offenses. Against Germany, the highest-scoring team in the tournament, Solo faced just one shot on target and a penalty kick that missed the net. Not to say she has not played great, but her defense is putting up a huge effort for her. 

Rapinoe and Morgan have played well and are critical figures in the U.S.’ attack. Rapinoe was the team’s offensive catalyst when they struggled to score early in the World Cup. However, the play of other teammates sparked the vast improvement of the U.S.’ play, which started when Rapinoe was sidelined against China. 

Morgan has been effective in holding possession; she drew the decisive penalty against Germany. However, she has not created many opportunities for herself in one-on-one situations and has failed to convert some golden scoring chances, most notably this early one against the Germans. 

Japan’s incredible balance throughout the lineup makes it difficult to single out players. Seven different players are tied for second on the team in scoring with one goal. The team also thrives on connecting play that involves every player on the pitch. 

Ogimi is one of those seven goal scorers and is the only player other than Aya Miyama to play all 540 minutes for Japan thus far. She has been key to holding possession for her team up front as well. 

Kaihori has been steady for Japan, despite allowing a questionable goal against the Netherlands. She made some big saves against England to keep Japan in the game as well.

5. Saori Ariyoshi, Japan Forward

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What makes Japan so effective with the ball? Space, precision and a finishing touch are some of the main aspects that come to mind. 

Ariyoshi has one goal in this tournament, but her play has been instrumental to Japan’s success thus far. 

She has been effective holding possession for Japan at forward and distributing passes for teammates. As a result, her team has completed 80 percent of their passes and 458 overall, both of which are the best in the tournament, according to ESPN Stats & Info’s Paul Carr. 

Ariyoshi’s speed played a decisive role in Japan’s win over England. She beat the defense down the wing and was all alone on goal before being pushed from behind for a penalty. Miyama then scored. 

She also showed a nice scoring touch against the Netherlands with a strong finish.

Ariyoshi was named a finalist for the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s most outstanding player, the only player on Japan’s roster besides Miyama to make the list. 

On a team where individual play does not easily stand out, Ariyoshi has made her mark as an important factor to Japan’s attack. She has also been recognized by FIFA for her performance, which slightly differentiates her from some of her teammates.

4. Morgan Brian, United States Midfielder

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The U.S. was at a bit of a crossroads heading into its quarterfinals match with China. 

The team was stagnant on offense and two of their playmakers at that point, Holiday and Rapinoe, were not available for the match because of yellow-card accumulation. Head coach Jill Ellis made a lineup decision that arguably saved the U.S.’ fortunes and put Brian into the midfield. 

The U.S. offense came to life and has been dynamic ever since. Brian’s strong play in the defensive midfield allowed Lloyd to join the attack by receiving passes from Brian and connecting with the forwards while not becoming overly concerned with her defensive responsibilities. Lloyd has scored two goals and dished out an assist the last two games. 

As I wrote earlier in the week, her teammates are taking notice of her performance. She has also become an indispensible player for Ellis. She stayed in the game against Germany after a nasty collision. 

With Brian possibly concussed or at the very least physically impaired, Ellis kept the 22-year-old in the game despite star players such as Abby Wambach, Christen Press and Sydney Leroux on the bench. Brian was too important to the U.S.’ play to leave the pitch and for good reason. Take a look at her defensive stats, per SB Nation’s Michael Caley.

Without Brian's emergence, there is substantial reason to believe the U.S. would still be looking for an identity and rhythm offensively. This easily could have resulted in a loss to Germany and the end of the team’s World Cup dreams. A goal and an assist or two and Brian could have found herself at the top of this list.

3. Julie Johnston, United States Defender

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Julie Johnston’s meteoric rise from a backup four months ago to one of the World Cup’s best players has really been remarkable, and she has definitely earned her accolades. 

The American center back was also named a finalist for the Golden Ball due to her dominant performance that has been critical to the U.S.' current scoreless streak. 

She has been named by many as a primary contender for the honor of best player in the tournament, including Goal.com’s Ives Galarcep.

Johnston has shown some flash offensively as well. She set up Lloyd’s game-winning goal against China, with a beautiful cross into the box. She also displayed some nifty footwork to set up this chance for Morgan against Germany.

So why is Johnston only third on this list? Well, largely due to her position on the field and her teammates' stellar support. 

Johnston is part of a U.S. defense that collectively has been phenomenal. She has been able to use this support to play aggressive against opposing attackers because she has fellow central defender Sauerbrunn to help. 

Defensively, Sauerbrunn has statistically been better, according to ESPN’s Kate Markgraf.

Johnston also has had one significant blemish that could have cost her team a victory against Germany if they had not missed their penalty kick. 

One play certainly does not diminish Johnston’s brilliance in this tournament. However, she is benefitting a lot from a collective unit that has dominated. Fair or unfair, her performance individually does not carry the same weight as two other players in this matchup.

2. Aya Miyama, Japan Midfielder

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As the best player on the most offensively efficient team in the World Cup, it is no surprise to find Miyama this high in such a list. 

The crafty midfielder has been central to everything Japan has done in this tournament. She leads her team with two goals, two assists and 22 chances created, which is by far the most of any player in the World Cup. 

The Golden Ball nominee has played every minute for Japan while being the focal point of the team’s offense, with her remarkable ability to create space for herself to find open teammates and shooting lanes. She is also clinical at finishing penalty kicks, as seen here, which could be critical if history repeats itself in the final. 

The Japanese captain is also supremely confident heading into the match, judging by her comments leading up to the contest (via Fox Sports 1).

Miyama sits at this position in the list because she is the engine that makes Japan go. She is the undisputed superstar on a team that has not produced a plethora of standout performances. As far as importance to a team is concerned, there is no player in this match more fitting of such a title than Miyama. 

If the U.S. fail to contain Miyama, Japan will likely be looking at another World Cup title.

1. Carli Lloyd, United States Midfielder

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Statistically speaking, there is no other player in this match who is more responsible for her team’s success this World Cup than Carli Lloyd. 

Lloyd has scored in three straight games, all in the knockout round, to help guide the U.S. back into the World Cup final. Arguably one of the greatest American players ever, Lloyd is cementing her storied legacy in this tournament. 

While Brian may have been a catalyst for the improvement in the U.S.’ game, Lloyd has been the primary player who has made the team go, much like Miyama. 

She is getting into the attack, connecting with forwards and making the U.S. dangerous every time she has possession in the attacking third. This is evident by her fantastic setup for Kelley O’Hara’s goal that sealed the win over Germany.

Lloyd is also responsible for one of the tournament’s best goals when she aggressively entered the box and skied for a header against China. 

As opposed to Johnston, Lloyd has been primarily initiating the success of her unit. While Johnston is playing superbly off her teammates, Lloyd is single-handedly making plays for herself and her teammates. 

Lloyd’s success and impact on her team is similar to Miyama. However, Lloyd’s best game came against the stiffest competition in the tournament when she registered a goal and an assist against Germany. Miyama has been great, but she cannot match such a feat against a world-class team.