Sundhage hails USA juggernaut

The USA won 2-1 in the women's final at Wembley to complete a hat-trick of titles in an event it has dominated since it was first included at the Games in 1996.

The victory helped make up for the heartache of last year's World Cup final penalty shootout loss to Japan and Sundhage was already looking to regain that title last night.

"I'll tell you this: 2015, there'll be a World Cup in Canada and I think that USA could be unstoppable," she said.

"We always said that the USA are physical, they have a great attitude.

"Now, if you add to that some technique, like Tobin Heath, like Megan Rapinoe, and other players, and there are younger players coming underneath, that is very exciting just to look what could come 2015."

Despite holding off a Japan fightback, the match proved the USA still has some way to go to match the technical ability of its opponent.

"I painted a picture that we'd keep possession," Sundhage said.

"But Japan were too good for us."

That they did not make that tell was down to Sundhage's players reacting to what was in front of them.

She said: "They found a way to win. Phenomenal. Because that is not easy.

"They played with a huge heart and they changed the tactics and little bit. Wonderful."

The American side also had a trump card in Carli Lloyd, who was its Olympic hero yet again with two goals, having also scored the winner in the 2008 final in Beijing.

Lloyd, who missed in last year's World Cup final shootout, said: "Maybe for my third Olympic final, I'm going to have to score a hat-trick."

But Lloyd admitted it would be hard to top a double at the home of football in front of a crowd of 80,203; a record for an Olympic women's match.

"Wembley was amazing," she said. "To play in all these historic stadia is amazing.

"80,000 people for a women's final is unbelievable - it says a lot and we feel very lucky.

"I don't know exactly how many were in Beijing but this is definitely some kind of record. it was a very special moment.

"It says a lot about the growth of women's soccer and that's amazing."

Japan boss Norio Sasaki declared the women's game had taken another step forward at London 2012.

"Yes, I believe it's changing and it is developing currently," he said.

"I don't think it's only about skill and physical aspects.

"The defence and organisation have been developing."