SENDAI, Japan (AP) — As far as Pia Sundhage is concerned, her U.S. women’s soccer team outplayed Japan in last year’s World Cup final. The coach still thinks her American side should have won.
Sundhage says the U.S. has “something to prove every time we play Japan.”
With the London Olympics just around the corner, the Americans will get a chance to do that Sunday, when they take on Japan in the Kirin Challenge Cup.
The exhibition tournament features three of the top four teams in the world. The U.S. is ranked No. 1 just ahead of Germany, while Japan is No. 3 and Brazil is No. 4.
After Sunday’s opener, the U.S. plays Brazil on Tuesday. The final game, Brazil vs. Japan, is on Thursday.