A little less than a year after their 5-2 loss to USA in the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015™ Final, Japan will have a chance to gain a small dose of redemption when they meet the world champions in two matches over the coming week. While these two sides are old rivals - they have met a total of 35 times - things are looking quite different for Japan as they head into their latest match-ups against the Stars and Stripes.

In their last meeting at the global showpiece in Vancouver, Japan were the defending champions. They were coached by Norio Sasaki, who took Japan to their maiden world title at Germany 2011 with a penalty shoot-out victory against none other than USA. But now, 11 months on the Nadeshiko have found themselves struggling in their own region, after crashing out in March's continental qualifying for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Rio 2016. Sasaki stepped down in the wake of that failed campaign, and filling the void is Asako Takakura, a former midfielder of some renown who represented Japan at Atlanta 1996.

Japan, needless to say, enter the two matches against USA desperate to rebuild credibility. But for the new coach Takakura, playing against the world champions is more than just an opportunity to redeem themselves, as she told FIFA.com. "Of course, it is one of our initial goals to win the games," said the 48-year-old ahead of the matches in Commerce City on Thursday, and in Cleveland on Sunday. "But we are expecting more than just results. I want to see what our team can do and what they can't. It is my first game in charge and we play against the world's best team. I am excited about that.".....

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