Friedemann Vogel/EPA, via Shutterstock
When Yuka Momiki of Japan scored a late goal to salvage a tie against the United States in an important tuneup for the Women’s World Cup in February, she danced a brief shimmy, then laughed about it afterward. Several days later, Momiki cleverly chipped a shot over Brazil’s goalkeeper and set up two other goals in a resilient Japanese victory.
After being humiliated by the United States in the 2015 World Cup final and failing to qualify for the 2016 Olympics, Japan embarked on comprehensive makeover as it approached another world soccer championship this summer and the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020.