Big guns Japan, USA kick off World Cup campaigns

Japan's women's World Cup title defence gets underway on Monday when the Asian champions take on Switzerland in Vancouver as 2011 runners-up the United States play Australia in Winnipeg.

Japan won the title in dramatic fashion four years ago in Germany, lifting the spirits of a nation battling to recover from a deadly tsunami and nuclear crisis.

The "Nadeshiko" -- named after a frilly pink carnation -- toppled the mighty United States in a dramatic final in Frankfurt, winning in a penalty shootout.

Now Japan, ranked fourth in the world, will need to upset the odds again starting with the 19th-ranked Swiss newcomers as they bid for a second straight World Cup win, a feat last achieved by number one ranked Germany in 2003 and 2007.

Monday's third day of action in Canada features four games with Japan's Group C rivals Cameroon and Ecuador, both competing in their first World Cup, going head-to-head in Vancouver, while over in Winnipeg, two-time winners the United States' Group D rivals Sweden play African champions Nigeria.
Japan coach Norio Sasaki has recalled former FIFA women's player of the year Homare Sawa, 36, with some 17 players having appeared in a World Cup, including skipper Aya Miyama, a two-time Asian player of the year.

The Americans won the first global women's football showcase in 1991 and took it again in 1999 on home soil.

This year, 13 players from the 2011 US squad return with their first test against two-time quarter-finalists Australia -- runners-up to Japan in the 2014 Asian Cup and ranked 10th.

Striker Lisa De Vanna, with 33 goals in 97 internationals, will be a key player for the Matildas, with coach Alen Stajcic also counting on playmaker Katrina Gorry to test Hope Solo in the US goal.
The second-ranked Americans will look to former World Player of the Year Abby Wambach, pacy Alex Morgan and Sydney Leroux to spark their attacks.

The US have gone 16 years since they last lifted the trophy. When results dipped early in 2014, ex-Matildas boss Tom Sermanni was sacked after just 15 months and replaced by coach Jill Ellis, who saw the US arrive in Canada on a nine-game unbeaten run.

"It has been 16 years since we last won a World Cup. We're ready and hungry to win," said Ellis.

"Because it's close to home it's great for us. We're hoping for a big fan base to cheer our players, our team, on."

Former US coach Pia Sundhage's Sweden, the 2003 runners-up, open against Nigeria in their difficult Group D.

"Certainly if you roll over and die it's the group of death. We have no intention of doing so," warned Ellis.
Source: AFP