The-Ave.US

 The United States lost to an inspired team from a nation that has sustained a triple blow of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear breakdown.

The U.S. World Cup fever has gone even intergalactic: Atlantis astronaut Sandy Magnus, a soccer fanatic who has been following the American women’s team, requested to receive score updates in space for the important games.

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WATCHME Jul 17, 2011 – The USA Women’s Soccer Team will be looking for an unprecedented third FIFA Women’s World Cup championship Sunday afternoon when it takes on Japan in Frankfurt, Germany. The match will be broadcast by ESPN beginning at 11 a.m  on ESPN3.com. The match will also be broadcast on ESPN Radio.

The goalie’s name is Hope Solo. You couldn’t make up a better name for a goalkeeper. And her spectacular saves against Brazil – allowed and disallowed – made the difference in one of this country’s most dramatic wins since Mike Eruzione was skating around in Lake Placid. Even the Brazilian public, soccer-mad by anyone’s estimation, embraced her as a conquering hero after the big win.

Abby Wambach has become one of the most prolific performers in U.S. soccer history, using her head to win in the most literal way possible. Not since Michelle Akers and Alexi Lalas were outjumping opponents for winning headers in the 1990s has U.S. soccer had someone so adept at scoring with the noggin. Wambach has 12 career goals in the World Cup, which ties her for the most by a U.S. player and third most for any World Cup player.

Megan Rapinoe, born and bred in Redding, has emerged as the team’s killer waif, finding a way to impact most every game of the tournament in dramatic fashion. Her left-footed cross to Wambach with seconds to go against Brazil soared across the pitch and into history as one of the great passes of all time. And she’s not too bad with a microphone in her hand, either, singing “Born in the USA” into one of the field mikes during a game and charming the world with pithy quotes in her postgame interviews.

Cal’s own Alex Morgan has emerged, as photogenic as she is talented, providing late spark and scoring opportunities as a substitute while winning over photo editors around the world with her exuberant celebrations. As her father, Mike Morgan, told The Chronicle’s Tom FitzGerald, “I didn’t think she’d be anything like this. I don’t think she’s reached the top of her game even yet.” At 22, Morgan has a lot of soccer in front of her.

And on the sideline, coach Pia Sundhage has pulled all the right levers. One of the greatest female players in history for her native Sweden, Sundhage scored 71 goals over a 22-year career. And as a coach, she’s known for her unorthodox methods. When she first took over the U.S. squad, she famously walked into the locker room, pulled out a guitar and started singing Bob Dylan‘s “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” Four years later, Sundhage pulled off an absolutely brilliant substitution in the semifinal against France, playing Lauren Cheney and Rapinoe together for the first time. It resulted in an offensive surge that capped the win.

So, here they stand. America’s team in Germany. Poised to make history. They face a Japanese squad that is playing brilliantly on behalf of a nation that was nearly broken by a brutal tsunami in March. It will be emotional on both sides of the ball.

Win or lose, women’s soccer has the world’s attention. And it couldn’t have happened to a better group of athletes.