Last year, long-time British soccer announcer Ian Darke, who joined the ESPN family for the 2010 Men’s World Cup in South Africa, brought a nation together, when Landon Donovan scored late against Algeria and Darke made the memorable call.

Just like the men a year ago, the US women’s team was on the brink of being eliminated during this year’s Women’s World Cup in Germany. However, superstar Abby Wambach brought the nation together, again with a tremendous header to tie last Sunday’s quarterfinal against the dangerous Brazilian team. Darke, once again used his famous phrase.  O f course, you know that the Americans won the game in penalty kick shootout.

The whole nation is in love with this team, just like 12 years ago, when the Americans last won the World Cup. You remember the names from that team, Hamm, Foudy, Lilly, Chastain, Scurry and many others. That group was very dominate, which also won gold twice and one sliver at the Summer Olympics.

 The players that have replaced that group have had very high expectations put on them to repeat the same success that their mentors accomplished. Of course, they finished third in the 2007 World Cup and won the gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics. However, the nation until now has not gravitated to them like in 1999.

Yesterday, the Americans did just enough to beat France in the semifinals, 3-1. Wambach once again broke a 1-1 tie in the second half with another wonderful header into the back of the net.

This team has a chance to make their own history on Sunday in the finals against a Japanese team that beat the two-time defending champions, Germany in front of their home crowd and defeated a Sweden team that earlier beat the Americans in group play in the other semifinal.

The Americans have shown they might be the fittest team in the tournament, since they pull away late from their opponents. However, they will need a better performance in the title game in hopes of hosing the trophy on Sunday. I believe like the rest of the nation that they will do it.