They knocked out Brazil then France — two teams who are technically far superior to the United States outfit. Next, in the final, they take on Japan — a team of tiny little girls who are just as technically gifted as the French and the Brazilians.

The typically determined and ruthless display of raw \’woman power\’ of the Americans reminds me of soccer made in England. The U.S women are strong, big and run like horses — just like the English have been doing for years. The Barclays Premier league is often a track meet smothered in hard leg-breaking tackles and long balls.

In the past, men\’s teams with limited technical ability still had a chance,\” notes Jonathan Clegg.

The big and typically European defenders are no longer needed because very few opposing teams still employ an intimidating colossus at center-forward, and at a time when bone-crunching slide tackles have effectively been outlawed, it\’s become the key to regaining possession. And it\’s a tactic that favors finesse over physique. The result: A sport that once favored often unskilled behemoths now favors waif-like wizards like Messi, Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder and Spanish duo David Villa and Xavi, adds Clegg.

Women\’s soccer has not evolved to that stage yet — but, the Japanese, the French and the Brazilians are rapidly inching there. Meanwhile, the United States teams (both men and women) — have adopted the same English style — which will ultimately become a perennial failure — as is already very evident in the U.S. men\’s soccer team.

The \’Kick & Run\’ strategy worked for England in the 50\’s and 60\’s. They even managed to squeak in a World Cup win in 1966. Since then, England has barely won anything.

England has perennially been technically inept in the last forty five years. The incessant harping that the English \”Premier League\” is the \”best league in the world,\” by sports marketers — is patent falsehood and hopelessly absurd.

The best managed — perhaps.

But, on Sunday despite Japan\’s tactical discipline and sublime skills, I won\’t be surprised if big, tall Abby Wambach and the speedy U.S girls thump and out-muscle the tiny little Japanese women in the world cup final. This final will be a clash of styles — as American power goes up against the slick passing and skill of the Japanese, but I am afraid brute strength will win over finesse.

Whether the U.S. wins or not — this might be the last time they reach a cup final in a long time, for other countries who really never took women\’s soccer seriously, allowing the U.S. to \”power\” in two world-cups, have caught up — and are developing the sport the right way — \”Barcelona style,\” where \”little\” Messi has more than proven that brute, unskilled and physical soccer is out while tactical finesse is in.

On the other hand, if the U.S. can combine power and aggression with skill and finesse — they will remain a power for a long time to come.

Author Bio: James Opiko operates and writes for http://www.politicalarticles.net and http://www.afroarticles.com. Follow him in twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/padotnet.

Category: Sports
Keywords: U.S. Women\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s Soccer, Brazil Womens Soccer, Marta, France Womens Soccer, Japan Women\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s Soccer, Messi,