Wambach out for revenge against Japan in Women's World Cup final

Sport360 staff 08:27 05/07/2015
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  • WWC final: USA v Japan will be played in Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium.

    Abby Wambach insists she doesn’t care if she’s on the bench or on the pitch come tonight, all she wants when the final whistle blows is that the United States have one goal more than Japan in the Women’s World Cup final.

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    The 35-year-old forward, the United States’ all-time top scorer in men’s or women’s football, has been the star of the American female game for nearly 15 years.

    She won her first cap in September 2001 and since then has scored 183 goals in 248 appearances for the ‘Stars and Stripes’. But one date remains engraved in her memory – July 17, 2011.

    “Why is that day special?” she asks. “It was the World Cup final and we lost it. Don’t forget it. It’s constantly in our minds.”

    She has won two Olympic gold medals and was named Women’s World Player of the Year in 2012. But none of this can erase the painful defeat on penalties to Japan in Frankfurt four years ago.

    Wambach had put her side ahead early in extra-time with the scores locked 1-1 after 90 minutes, only for Japan captain Homare Sawa to score with a header in the 117th minute.

    In the final penalty shoot-out Wambach was the only US player to score as Shannon Boxx, Tobin Heath and Carli Lloyd missed. All are back with the US team, and all are determined to win in Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium.

    “There’s no more heartbreak because we’ve done everything we can now,” said Wambach. “I’m ready to help my team in this game in any capacity.

    “If it means coming off the bench, staying on the bench, all I want when the final whistle blows is that we have one more goal than them Defeat is not an option.”

    Her teammates are not short of motivation but winning for Wambach is one of them.

    “Knowing this is most likely her last go obviously it’s very important to her,” said Alex Morgan. “She’s a tremendous leader and she’s awesome to be around,” said Lloyd. “She doesn’t give herself a lot of credit, but she reads the game very well.”

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