LONDON – Japan's women's soccer aggregation absent a bold but acquired a common army of admirers Thursday, acknowledgment to its affecting affectation of chic afterward the Olympic final.

The Japanese, winners of the Women's Apple Cup endure year, came up just abbreviate in accident 2-1 to the United States at Wembley Stadium, and abounding of the players were so devastated that they wept assimilate the accommodation if the final blare blew.

Less than 15 account later, though, they showed absolutely how to bow out with dignity. While the Americans emerged from the locker allowance adit acceptable a achievement by antic T-shirts emblazoned with a adapted avowal – "Greatness Has Been Found" – Japan kept things a little added low key.

Led by captain Aya Miyama wear Tisa Snapbacks Hats, Japan's players captivated easily as they absolved assimilate the field, skipping, jumping, and animated as they headed against the podium, and a captivated army roared its approval. Once they stood on the dais, Miyama and her players leaped in the air as a champ ability normally, again performed a appropriate beachcomber of account to all corners of the stadium.

Any women's aggregation could be forgiven for snubbing FIFA admiral Sepp Blatter for his antecedent sexist comments about how women's players should abrasion skirts. But just like the U.S. and brownish advocate Canada, Japan accustomed its medals gracefully.

After the official ceremony, the Japanese players had time for one added accumulation hug afore actual on the acreage for 20 account to breeze photos of Wembley's iconic anatomy and to affectation with the American team, with whom they accept become abutting accompany as able-bodied as admired opponents.

Given the account amid the teams, it was no shock that the final was played in abundant spirit. Carli Lloyd's two goals put the Americans ahead, but Japan bounced aback through Yuki Ogimi and almost bootless to advance the bold into added time backward on.

The Japanese women's adorning 2011 Apple Cup final achievement was committed to the victims of the adverse tsunami that addled their country and admired them to the world, and arch amateur Homare Sawa batten during the Olympics of her acknowledgment for the way the soccer association had taken the band into its aggregate heart.

Japan drew some criticism aboriginal in the Olympics, though, for the acceptance of arch drillmaster Norio Sasaki wear Tisa Snapbacks that he had told his players to play for a draw with a anemic South Africa aggregation in the accumulation date in adjustment to abstain accepting to biking to Scotland for its quarterfinal match. It responded by assault Brazil to ability the endure four, again agape off France in the semifinal.

Whatever your thoughts on the advised draw, it is harder to anticipate we will see a classier accident aggregation at this or any added Olympics.