Nadeshiko Japan beat Australia Westfield Matildas 3-0 in a international friendly at Tokyo's National Stadium

Asia's two biggest women's football teams went head to head today (Wednesday 11th July 2012) at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.

The deadlock was broken between the two sides when Tameka Butt gave away a penalty. Miyama converted the penalty to give Japan the lead. The game continues to be dominated by the Japanese side and in injury time Ogimi scores from a cross to double the lead before the break.

The Matilda's come out fighting in the second half, creating a couple of chances but in the 58th minute, Homare Sawa increases the Japanese lead as she scores from a corner.

The game ended 3-0 at the National Stadium, Tokyo. The international friendly will have been great preparation for Japan's upcoming London 2012 campaign. Their opening game at the London 2012 Olympics is against Canada, here is the full Olympic women's football schedule.

Japan Starting Line-up	Australia Starting Line-up
Fukumoto, Kinga, Iwashimizu, Kumagai, Sameshima, Sakaguchi, Miyama, Kawasumi, Sawa, Ando, Ogimi	Barbieri, Foord, Brogan, Slatyer, Catley, Brown, Uzunlar, Kennedy, Butt, Simon, Gill

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

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Tags: 3-0, Australia, Japan, Matildas, Nadeshiko, National, Stadium, Tokyo's, Westfield, friendly, More…international

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Comment by A-Hamm on July 13, 2012 at 23:03: There's already buzz about Japan for 2019. Wiki says Poland & South Africa might bid, but they have a ways to go to support the women's game. If Japan can get 20,000+ for a friendly they can do much more for the WWC. FIFA doesn't really like joint-bids anymore, so it'll prob just be one nation. Hopefully they air the matches so the times are better for us in North & South America. 2007 were at like 6AM, which is why there was little buzz in the US. 2015 will be almost like a home one though. Vancouver is right outside soccer hotbed Seattle. Montreal isn't too far from NY/New England. I hope USA plays in Montreal so I can go, but that's still a ways off.

Speaking of WWC, I wonder when the logo for 2015 will be released.

Comment by Gromit on July 13, 2012 at 15:11: To share such an event as a WC is not very French, I'm afraid, Lars ;).

France is a very big country (in space) and to co-host with Switzerland for instance seems to be impossible.

And don't forget that France will host Men's 2016 Euro, with plenty of brand new stadiums. It's still much too early to know if feminine football will keep on rising in France in the next 11 years (I hope so, of course) and which teams will reign over the League (and over CL ?) at the time.

For UEFA 2016 Men Euro, the cities and stadiums that could be concerned for a feminine WC in 2023, that is 7 years later, are : Paris (Stade de France - 81,000), Marseille (renovated - 67,500), Lyon (new one - 58,000), Lille (new one - 53,000), Paris (Parc des Princes, renovated - 47,500), Saint-Etienne (renovated - 41,000), Toulouse (renovated - 41,000), Bordeaux (new one - 43,500) and Nice (new one - 35,600).

As you can see, there will be 4 new stadiums and 4 renovated. Only le Stade France (built for the 1998 WC) will remain untouched. What is interesting is that almost half of those cities have already a good feminine team (Lyon, Paris, Saint-Etienne), one is joining Premier League next season (Toulouse), one should be there in next years (Marseille who joined 2^nd league at the end of last season). The French Federation gives an obligation to all professional clubs to develop a feminine team. So, maybe that in 11 years from now, Lille, Bordeaux and Nice will have grown something interesting…

But all that is very far from us... Canada first, then - I really hope ! - Japan. And we already know who will be the 2019 Steffie Jones : Homare Sawa :)

Comment by Gromit on July 13, 2012 at 12:49: Usa already hosted two WC (1999 and 2003), as well as China (1991, 2007) and one for Sweden (95), Germany (2011) and Canada (2015). So... 2019 in Japan ? Good ! Why not with Korea ? Which one ? ;)

Then Africa maybe in 2023 or Brazil ? Then back to Europe in 2027 (England, France) ?

Comment by A-Hamm on July 13, 2012 at 7:01: Japan will probably get the 2019 WWC. Was hoping USA for 20th anniv. of '99, but can't with Canada having '15.

Comment by Gromit on July 12, 2012 at 19:55: Thank you very much, dear Hiroshi, for this video. Fukumoto was very impressive that day indeed !

@Lars : Dear Lars, you can put your 185 cm of money in your banks, I'll put my 183 on Barthez who was everything but Le Degré zéro du Football ;)

Comment by Hiroshi Umezu on July 12, 2012 at 19:51: @Lars

Please don't get me wrong. I did not mean that Fukumoto is better than Kaihori. There is not much choice between the two. They are both one of the best Japanese goalkeepers. I wish to discuss this matter later.

Comment by Hiroshi Umezu on July 12, 2012 at 19:00: For reference, strictly speaking, Miho Fukumoto is 165 cm tall, while Ayumi Kaihori is 170 cm tall.
Miho Fukumoto made more than several excellent saves and thereby kept clean sheet against INAC Kobe Leonessa, the reigning L. League champions. INAC Kobe Leonessa actually had a 17-4 shot advantage on May 26.

Okayama Yunogo Belle Club 0-0 INAC Kobe Leonessa

Comment by Gromit on July 12, 2012 at 18:12: Well, it's quite understandable, isn't it ? A goal-keeper needs, more than anybody else, self-confidence and to know in advance who will be the regular player for the turnament. France being the last warmly match before the start of the Olympics, one can imagine that the one who will start against Les Bleues will be the the same one as for the first official match.

I fancy little Kaihori (who in fact seems a little taller than Fukumoto, but she looks small)...

Comment by Hiroshi Umezu on July 12, 2012 at 16:24: According to informed sources, it matters to both Kaihori and Fukumoto which goalkeeper will be in the starting lineup in a practice match against France's national team on July 19.

Comment by Hiroshi Umezu on July 12, 2012 at 14:45: Related Article (English): http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Westfield-Matildas...