What Japan's Women's World Cup Team Means For The Country

Okay, here’s a silver lining if the U.S. doesn’t win the Women’s World Cup finals on Sunday: Japan could use all the happy news it can get after this year’s earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster.

The New York Times, in noting this, acknowledges that it’s a longshot for Japan: “The Americans have won three times against the Japanese this year and are 22-0-3 over all.” But after their coach showed them a slideshow of the aforementioned disasters before their game against Germany, commentators agree: Japan is playing with “more fire and bite.”

And the country is watching, despite previously being more interested in baseball and sumo. Daichi Miura, 22, told the Times that if they win Sunday, “It will cheer up the whole country.” Now do you feel guilty for rooting for U.S.A?