Japan knock Germany out of women's World Cup

Japan coach Norio Sasaki said he hopes his team's historic 1-0 win over holders Germany at the women's World Cup will help cheer victims in the areas of his homeland devastated by the tsunami. Japan are in the semi-finals for the first time in their history after beating the hosts in extra-time in Saturday's quarter-final as captain Homare Sawa's pass found substitute Karina Maruyama who fired home in the 108th minute. With his country still devastated by the earthquake and tsunami which hit north-east Japan in March, Sasaki said he is grateful for the support his side is getting at Germany 2011 and hopes the win inspires tsunami victims back home. "Whether our motivation is influenced by it or not, we want to show the people of the world we are grateful for their support," he said. "Hopefully our play is also encouragement for the victims of the disaster. "We have seen pictures of those affected by the disaster and to see them toil in such adversity gives us strength." Japan have now got beyond the quarter-finals for the first time at a World Cup as their previous best performance was a last-eight appearance in 1995 in Sweden. The victory is all the more remarkable, because this is the first time Germany have lost at a women's World Cup since they were beaten 3-2 by hosts the USA in the quarter-finals of the 1999 tournament. Japan will now face either Australia or Sweden, who meet on Sunday, in the semi-final in Frankfurt on Wednesday. With the game heading for a penalty shoot-out decider, Sasaki says he is glad his team did not have to take on the Germans at high-pressure spot-kicks. "We knew the German goalkeeper (Nadine Angerer) is excellent and you need to shoot very hard against her and even then your chances are only 50/50," he said, "I think maybe Germany would have done better than us, so thank god we didn't have to have a penalty shoot-out. "We wanted the players to show intuition, they are short little ladies, but they achieved a lot and I am very proud of my girls." Sawa, who is playing her fifth World Cup, admitted she wept at the final whistle. "We have never beaten Germany, so to do that at the World Cup is something special. I am very happy about, I cried with all the emotions at the final whistle," said the 32-year-old. She showed signs of fatigue after 120 minutes of football by refusing to sit down during the post match press conference, through fear of cramp. "Frankly, I am surprised we won," she said. "My goal has always been to play Germany on this great stage and beat a strong Germany team, so that is something I am pleased about. "Of course, we are all tired. "The ball came to me and I had to react, I saw the gap in the defence and I put the pass in. "The Germans were under more pressure than us, they had to win and that made things easier for us. "Of course we want to get a medal and that is still our goal."