Head scratcher: Abby Wambach and the rest of the U.S. women's team were left to rue what could have been after Sunday's World Cup final loss to Japan (AP Photo).

You could talk about the jillion wasted first half chances the U.S. women missed in the first half of a World Cup final they would eventually lose to Japan.

*Soccer in insignificant compared to the misery inflicted by earthquakes and other natural disasters. But the power of sport is its ability to inspire, uplift and unite as the Japanese well know in the wake of their magnificent World Cup win. I'll have more on the tournament in Tuesday's column.

*How much did this tournament capture the public's imagination?

Japan defeated the USA to win the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time

The 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup saw a new name adorn the trophy as Japan completed their epic odyssey in this year's tournament by defeating two-time champions the United States in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw after extra-time.

Suck it up guys, the ladies just put on one hell of a show.
The 2011 Women's World Cup was spectacular and a testament to the growth and development of the women's game. Every single knockout stage match was compelling and filled with dramatic moments, tension and amazing emotion. There were questionable calls, glorious goals, dramatic penalty kicks, all the things you love to see in a major international tournament and all the things we didn't see enough of in South Africa last summer.

Is Japan.

And deservedly so.

World beaters: Japan celebrates its first World Cup (AP Photo).

Game story.

Pregame is at 11 a.m. on ESPN and kickoff is around 11:45 a.m.

* Preview

*Here's the latest from the WNT blog.

Earlier:

*U.S. grooves on unfamiliar spotlight ahead of World Cup final.

*The shadow of 1999 (and the Megan Rapinoe YouTube video).

* Japan's strength is its system, not stars.

High fives, high pressure: Abby Wambach, right, high-fives teammate Christie Rampone during a U.S. training session Friday ahead of Sunday's World Cup final (AP Photo).

There were virtually no American reporters outside of those working for ESPN - which holds the broadcast rights to the tournament - planning to follow the U.

MLS Bound: Would you like to see Nicolas Anelka suit up for the Galaxy? See story below (AP Photo).

*The massive, renewed interest in the U.S. Women's National team has prompted ESPN Radio to air Sunday's World Cup final between the U.S. and Japan.

It's the first time ESPN Radio has ever aired a Women's World Cup game.

You remember that famous 1999 World Cup victory, don't you?

Watch:

And it has cast a long shadow, as Associated Press Writer Nancy Armour points out:

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- Lauren Cheney was just 11 during the 1999 World Cup,
watching from the stands and imagining what it would be like to be on that field with Mia Hamm and Michelle Akers and Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain.

Something to celebrate: Japan's inspirational win over Sweden has given the disaster-stricken country something to rally around ahead of Sunday's World Cup final against the U.S. (AP Photo).

Those who saw the 3-1 victory over Sweden in the Women's World Cup semifinals already know the disciplined Japanese approach is all about playing to its strengths and recognizing its limitations.

Rising sun: Japan, a nation that is a sentimental favorite of many soccer fans because of the recent disasters the nation has endured and a former lightweight in the sport, is now a legitimate World Cup contender displacing such former powers as China (AP Photo).

Associated Press National Writer Nancy Armour explores the new world of international women's soccer that can be summed up in one word - parity:

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- It wasn't long ago that you could predict the lineup for the final four at the Women's World Cup even before the tournament began.

The final of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup will be contested by two-time former winners United States and Japan who will be appearing in their first ever final against the odds.

Not many people tipped Japan before the tournament to go so far but they have upset the apple cart especially after knocking out tournament hosts and defending champions Germany in the quarter-finals.

Winning Wambach: Another Abby Wambach header, another U.S. win. I believe she missed this attempt, but connected on another header and scored in the 3-1 U.S. win (AP Photo).

*Southern California stars shone brightly this morning at the World Cup with UCLA's Lauren Cheney getting the first U.

Fit to be champions? The U.S. team stays limber on the eve of Sunday's Women's World Cup semifinal showdown Wednesday against France (AP Photo).

The game kicks off at 9 a.m. Wednesday on ESPN and is preceded by a 30-minute pre-game show.

Incidentally, ESPN said today that the U.

Stars of the future make their mark now: Mexico's Luis Guzman and Arturo Gonzalez hold the FIFA U-17 World Cup trophy in Mexico City Sunday after defeating Uruguay in the final (AP Photo).

This is what summer soccer weekends are about.

I can't remember a weekend packed with as many dramatic games as those we saw over the last couple of days.

Megan Rapinoe is awesome...pay careful attention to her interview.

Shocks continue to abound in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup with defending two-time winners Germany crashing out in their home tournament on Saturday whilst Brazil went out on penalties to the United States on Sunday.

Saturday saw Germany unexpectedly go out to Japan with Karina Maruyama's goal in the second half of extra-time sealing the fate of the tournament hosts who were hoping to win a third straight world crown following their wins in 2003 and 2007.

Head and shoulders above the rest: U.S. forward Abby Wambach scores the latest goal in a game in Women's World Cup history and sends the quarterfinal against Brazil to penalty kicks in Germany (AP Photo).

It was quite simply, one of the most enthralling, drama-filled, soccer games I've ever seen.

*Staff Writer Phil Collin has the Galaxy-Fire preview.

*Here is a game preview from a Chicago perspective.

*Check out a new way to get to the game.

*Relive the game between these two teams earlier this season.

*Chivas USA are in Kansas Cty where they will renew acquaintances with Omar Bravo.

The 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup reaches its knockout stage this weekend with two potential classic match-ups standing out from the rest of the draw.

Group D winners Brazil, arguably the best team never to won this tournament to date, will face-off against two-time winners United States who finished second in Group C behind Sweden.

Swedish salute: The victorious Swedes salute their fans after beating the U.S. 2-1 today at the Women's World Cup in Germany (AP Photo).

Needing only a draw to avoid meeting dangerous Marta and Brazil in the quarterfinals, the U.S. instead went out and lost 2-1 today to Sweden in Wolfsburg.

The game is under way on ESPN right now Pensive. (AP photos)

Happy.

Excited.

World Cup summer: The USWNT trains in cool and rainy Wolfsburg Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's game against Sweden (AP Photos).

Ahead of Wednesday's third and final World Cup group game against Sweden (live at 11:45 a.m. on ESPN) - with the top spot in the group and the likely added incentive of avoiding Marta and the Brazilians at stake - AP Sports Writer Nancy Armour dissects the USWNT journey under Coach Pia Sundhage:

WOLFSBURG, Germany (AP) -- Pia Sundhage came into the first meeting with her new team, pulled out her guitar and began playing the Bob Dylan classic, "The Times They Are A-Changin'.

Another one of those viral sensations has hit the net after a bizarre handball incident in the FIFA Women's World Cup currently being held in Germany.

Australia were playing Equatorial Guinea today in their Group D game at the Ruhrstadion in Bochum when, in the 16th minute, defender Bruna quite clearly handled the ball and kept it in her hands before throwing it away in full view of the referee who left the incident unpunished.

Much ado about nothing? Omar Gonzalez, Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Juan Pablo Angel model the Galaxy's new "Punjab" dark blue and "Light Old Gold" third jersey, which was unveiled Friday night at LA Live. The jersey, which isn't much different from the dark midnight blue road jersey anyway, will be worn for the first time in a game at the Independence Day clash against former Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid's Seattle Sounders (Photo courtesy LA Galaxy/Robert Mora).

The FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 Germany is poised to mark a milestone in competitive women's football with unparalleled coverage on television in terms of both production and distribution

Eurosport enhances its football offer with a 4-year agreement signed with FIFA for the 2011-2014 years