Japan women eye World Cup/Olympics double

Posted Tuesday, July 19, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan captain Homare Sawa vowed Tuesday to go for gold at next year's London Olympics as her squad returned home to a hero's welcome following their historic triumph at the women's World Cup.

"It's human nature to want more," Sawa, with a gold medal hanging from her neck, told a packed news conference at a hotel in Tokyo after the team arrived at the capital's Narita airport, thronged by 400 fans and 250 media people.

The gutsy 32-year-old playmaker added: "With this gold medal in front of me, I really feel that my next goal is to grab the Olympic gold medal as we have yet to get any medal at the Olympics."

Japan, who finished fourth at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, came from behind twice to beat world-number ones and twice champions the United States 3-1 on penalties in the final of the World Cup in Frankfurt on Sunday.

It was the first football World Cup title for any Asian country and lifted spirits in Japan, which has been recovering from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami which left 21,000 people dead or missing and sparked a crisis at a nuclear power plant.

Alberto Zaccheroni, the Italian coach of the men's national team, was full of praise.

"They played brilliantly throughout the tournament. It proves that Japanese football as a whole is moving forward and growing in international football."

"I envy them," said Hidetoshi Nakata, a former Japan and Bolton midfielder who retired from football after Japan's early exit from the 2006 men's World Cup in Germany.

"With this victory, Nadeshiko has proven that soccer is not only about size and speed," he said, using the team's nickname which means a frilly pink flower seen in male-dominated Japan as a symbol of feminine beauty and elegance.

With their teamwork, crisp passing and never-say-die attitude more than making up for their physical shortcomings, Japan upset hosts and holders Germany and Sweden on the way to glory.

"I've come a long way as a member of the Japanese national team over 18 years. I never thought I would get the gold medal," said Sawa, whose career included a stint with US side Washington Freedom.

"The Asian Olympic qualifying round will start this year with other tournaments and matches coming up soon," she said. "I want to condition myself for the battles ahead."

Asian qualifying will be held in China in September with six nations—Australia, China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea and Thailand—vying for two Olympic berths.

"We still lag behind the United States and Germany in many aspects," admitted Sawa, who won the golden boot with five goals and was named the most valuable player at Germany 2011. "We must improve individual skills much more."

Japan coach Norio Sasaki said: "We were gutted when we finished fourth in Beijing. We will really want a medal at the London Olympics.

"We need to reinforce our basics and stay on our guard."

Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who is under fire for his handling of the March disaster and watched the match live on television in the early hours, greeted the Nadeshiko at his official residence after they returned home.

He later said in parliament: ""Nadeshiko Japan's play made me think I should not give up but must hold out as long as there are things that need to be done."