Yesterday, Americans joined other countries to watch the final match of the Women’s World Cup, showing an interest in the world’s most popular sport. The world collectively watched the struggle between two teams to win the ultimate honor.

The final match between Japan and the United States was an intense match for both teams. Tweets about the final broke the record for tweets per second, according to MSNBC.com. Facebook statuses and tweets about the game flooded news feeds.

“And the first 45 involves the US missing -___-” wrote Omar Soliman in a status update yesterday.

 The intense game-watching was shared amongst many individuals and families. On the White House and Barack Obama’s feeds, a picture of the First Family watching the game was shared.

 Ultimately, Japan beat about the American team. While two Americans won top awards, both players expressed the desire to have won a team award instead of individual honors.

“I’m honored to have won these two awards but I’m heartbroken not to have achieved just a little bit more,” said Abby Wambach, according to the official website of the International Federation of Football Association, better known as FIFA.

Wambach’s teammate, Hope Solo, expressed a similar sentiment.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” Solo told FIFA.com.  “My goal has always been to be the top goalkeeper in the world and it’s also been my goal to be world champion too…it’s been a bit tough to come out here and collect these prizes. I’d have preferred to be up there picking up another trophy with my team-mates rather than the individual awards.” 

While these two Americans earned their achievements, it was the Japanese team that was labeled the champions. A leader from that team, Homare Sawa, told FIFA that ultimately it was her team’s ability to work together and persevere that enabled them to win.

“None of our players gave up and they worked hard until the last minute,” said Sawa to FIFA. “When the score went to 2-1, I thought it might be difficult for us but nobody gave up and that’s how we made it. We were a good team throughout the tournament and remained united as one.”

Sawa said that the Japanese people have been very supportive of the team, something that she expressed gratitude towards

“This is something that we gained as a team and we’ve had a lot of support from the Japanese people back home. I feel very grateful and thankful for all of those fans who supported me and the rest of the team.”

"Sawa’s abilities were even praised by Wambach. She indicated that while her team lost, Sawa should be applauded.

 “I feel sad,” said Wambach about the Americans’ lost. “We should be applauding Japan though. What a fantastic game Sawa had. She was magnificent, and she worked so hard she deserved it.”

Wambach also expressed the sentiment that the Japanese needed their team to win because of the events of this past spring.

‘I think that Japan has suffered so much and needed to win more than we did. I’d like to think that this win can bring a little hope and joy to the Japanese people,” said Wambach.