_Homare Sawa diz adeus à selecção

A lenda do futebol japonês e mundial encosta as botas a nível internacional.

Aug 11 (Reuters) - Japan's Homare Sawa, the reigning women's world player of the year, is set to retire from international soccer after finishing with a silver medal at the London Olympics.

The 33-year-old, who spearheaded Japan's stunning triumph at last year's World Cup in Germany, will continue her career at club level, local media reported.

"I've achieved what I can and have no regrets," Sawa told Japan's Nikkan Sports daily following Thursday's 2-1 defeat by the United States in the gold medal match in London.
"I always wanted an Olympic gold medal but I've given everything. This is the end," added Sawa, who played in five World Cups and scored 81 goals in 186 appearances for Japan.
"To be honest it's become hard to be 100 percent for Japan training, physically and schedule-wise. We finished with a medal so it's a good time to call it a day."

Sawa's goals were instrumental in Japan's astonishing run during last year's World Cup when they toppled the Americans in a penalty shootout in the final in Frankfurt.

Japan's "Nadeshiko" team, named after a frilly pink carnation, embodied the steely determination of a country coming to terms with the deadly tsunami and a raging nuclear crisis. (Reporting by Alastair Himmer; Editing by Sudipto Ganguly)

Notícia: www.reuters.com

_Suécia perde com Japão

A Suécia perdeu por 1-0 no torneio Volvo Winners Cup e acaba assim no 3º lugar. O golo japonês foi marcado pela avançada do Turbine Potsdam Yuki Nagasato.

_Volvo Winners Cup: EUA vence Suécia

A selecção norte-americana venceu ontem por 3-1 a selecção da Suécia. Os golos americanos foram marcados por Alex Morgan e Abby Wambach na 1º parte. As suecas ainda reduziram o marcador com uma boa jogada de Nilla Fischer que deu o golo a Lotta Schelin, que na cara de Hope Solo nao desperdiçou.

Na 2º parte as americanas continuaram superiores e chegaram ao 3º golo por Tobin Heath.

Na segunda-feira os EUA defrontam o Japão. Este será o 3º encontro destas equipas em 2012. O jogo está marcado para as 12h (Portugal)

_Kirin Challenge Cup: Japão goleia Brasil

Daiane Menezes, right, of Brazil and Kozue Ando (..) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO LICENSING IN CHINA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND FRANCE Photo: Kyodo News / AP

KOBE, Japan (AP) — Women's World Cup champion Japan beat Brazil 4-1 on Thursday to win the three-team Kirin Cup tournament.

Japan took a 2-1 lead in the 58th minute when Yuki Nagasato headed in Aya Miyama's corner kick. Miyama gave Japan a two-goal cushion three minutes later when she pounced on a loose ball in the box.

Yuika Sugasawa completed the scoring in the last minute of regulation to ensure the hosts edged the United States on goal difference to win the tournament.

Japan opened the scoring early in the first half thanks to an own goal by Brazil's Daiane, who headed Miyama's long free kick into her own net.

Francielle equalized for Brazil on a free kick from 20 meters in first-half injury time.

Brazil was without Marta, the five-time FIFA women's world player of the year, who was left off the squad to prepare for matches with her Swedish club Tyreso.

Notícia: www.seattlepi.com

Resumo do Jogo:

_EUA-Japão em directo

EUA-Japão

em directo aqui

_Algarve Cup - Dia 2 - Resultados

Grupo A

Alemanha 1-0 China
Golo: Melanie Behringer

Islândia 1-4 Suécia
Golos:Dóra María Lárusdóttir ; Lotta Schelin, Antonia Goransson (2), Jessica Landström
Resumo do Jogo

Grupo B

Japão 2-0 Dinamarca
Golos: Yuika Sugasawa, Shinobu Ohno
Resumo do Jogo (wsu.com)

EUA 2-1 Noruega
Golos: Abby Wambach, Sydney Leroux ; Elise Thorsnes
Golo 1 , Golo 2

Grupo C

País de Gales 0-0 República da Irlanda

Portugal 4-0 Hungria
Golos: Andrea Rodrigues, Carolina Mendes, Ana Borges, Carla Couto
Fotos
Resumo do Jogo

_Heroínas Japonesas homenageadas

As novas heroínas do Japão - as participantes campeãs do Campeonato do Mundo de Futebol Feminino - foram recebidas em festa novamente na Quinta-feira. A equipa, apelidada de Nadeshiko Japan, recebeu o "Prémio Nacional de Honra", que reconhece aqueles "cujos feitos extraordinários trouxeram a luz da esperança para a sociedade", segundo o Gabinete do Primeiro-Ministro.

--

Prime Minister Naoto Kan thanked the team members for bringing home the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in July and brightening the mood of the quake-stressed Japanese populace. He then presented the team with a certificate of commendation and a mounted medallion.

European Pressphoto Agency

Members of Nadeshiko Japan stand with Prime Minister Naoto Kan (front center) after receiving the National Honor Award in Tokyo on Aug. 18.

In a tradition that dates back to the creation of the award in 1977, the National Honor Award also comes with a supplemental prize. In the past, it has ranged from a Swiss watch to an artisan porcelain vase. But if the players, and their male coach, were hoping to decorate their wrists or apartments, they may have been disappointed with the choice this time around: a set of seven make-up brushes.

(...)

But maybe not so useful in the day job of soccer players, better known for their ball control than their skill applying mascara. While the team’s nickname comes from a pink, frilly flower which is said to incorporate the ideals of Japanese womanhood, the team members are indifferent on the pitch to cosmetology, where sweaty brows, split ends and chafed lips come with the territory.

(...)

After the ceremony at the Prime Minister’s residence, they attended a press conference at an Audi showroom in Tokyo where each of the 22 team members was handed the keys to a brand new Audi A1. The cars were provided by Audi under a free three-year lease, as part of a deal after the brand became a sponsor of the Japan Football Association in May—and before the Japanese women’s team was considered a true contender for the World Cup. The expressions of elation on the players’ faces were a study in contrast to their patient demeanor at the Prime Minister’s Office.



Notícia: blogs.wsj.com