Champions of Women's Soccer by Ann Killion

Author:Ann Killion [Killion, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2018-05-02T00:00:00+00:00

STATISTICS:

Position: forward

World Cup runner-up (2007)

Two-time Olympic silver medalist (2004, 2008)

101 appearances for the Brazilian national team

105 goals

HOMARE SAWA

Don’t just dream your dreams—make them come true.

—Homare Sawa

One of the most powerful and beautiful things about sports is its ability to unite and inspire a country. And no example of that has been more dramatic than the way Japan’s Homare Sawa and her teammates impacted their country in 2011.

In March 2011, a devastating earthquake and tsunami ravaged parts of Japan. The death and destruction was shocking: an estimated 16,000 people were killed and more than 230,000 people were displaced from their homes. A large nuclear power plant was severely damaged and leaked radiation into the surrounding communities and water supplies, causing further harm that would affect Japan for years to come.

With that national tragedy as a backdrop, the Japanese women’s soccer team arrived at the World Cup in Germany in June 2011. The team, nicknamed Nadeshiko—after a pink flower native to Japan—was captained by Homare. At each match, she and her teammates unfurled a large banner on the field, thanking the world for its support of their country. The tragedy was never far from their minds and hearts.

“As players, there is nothing much we can do for Japan, but we want do to as well as we can to help our country,” Homare said.

The Japanese team certainly did that, transfixing the entire country back home and the rest of the world. The small and underestimated team knocked off the giants of the sport on its way to a World Cup championship.

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