Dept. of defense

EDMONTON, Alberta – Perhaps, Australia coach Alen Stajcic was on to something when he said, “We’re not the Netherlands,” in responding to a question regarding how his team might defend against Japan in the quarterfinals.

Familiar with their Asian rivals, Stajcic said the key was pressuring Japan’s ballcarriers and clogging up the middle so they couldn’t generate chances off their crisp passing attack. That was unlike the Netherlands, which allowed Japan to create in the offensive zone in a 2-1 loss in the round of 16.

Australia was effective, but eventually wore down before giving up a goal in the 87th minute in a 1-0 loss last weekend.

England, however, was much better at containing Japan in a 2-1 semifinal loss decided on Laura Bassett directing a cross into her own net in stoppage time.

England directed 15 shots on net, while limiting Japan to just seven. And England carried much of the play in the second half, particularly during a four-minute stretch in which they generated three scoring chances. They included Toni Duggan’s shot off the crossbar.

Now the United States and coach Jill Ellis gets the task of defending against Japan, which has won all of its matches in Canada. The final is scheduled for today at Vancouver’s BC Place.

Finders keepers

After giving each of his three goalkeepers a start in the preliminary round, Japan coach Norio Sasaki has stuck with Ayumi Kaihori in the knockout stage. And that was despite Kaihori misplaying an easy shot that allowed the Netherlands to cut Japan’s lead to 2-1 in second-half stoppage time.

Ever since, Kaihori has allowed just one goal – Fara Williams’ penalty kick against England – in two games. Against England, she also made a diving save to her right to bat away Ellen White’s shot from inside the penalty area to keep the score tied 1-1 in the second half.

Overall, she’s allowed three goals and made seven saves.

Last chance

This is the last World Cup for three of the game’s best players.

German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer and Japan’s Homare Sawa both say they plan to retire from their national teams following this World Cup, and U.S. forward Abby Wambach says this will be her last World Cup.

Sawa, 36, has had limited playing time in Canada, four years after playing a lead role in Japan winning the 2011 title in Germany. Sawa, the 2011 FIFA women’s player of the year and 2011 World Cup player of the tournament, didn’t play against England.

Wambach, 35, is the all-time international leading goal scorer, male or female and was the 2012 FIFA player of the year.

Angerer was the 2013 FIFA player of the year, the first goalkeeper to win the award. She started for Germany in the 2007 World Cup and did not allow a goal on the way to the title, setting a World Cup record for most minutes played (540) without a goal.