3 reasons why Japan will win the Women's World Cup

Japan hopes to breathe rarefied air at the conclusion of the Women's World Cup final against its old, increasingly familiar foes from the United States.

The Nadeshiko are defending champions after a triumph over the Americans four years ago. Japan can join Germany as the only nation to retain its crown as the planet's best women's team with a victory Sunday at BC Place.

The only team to win every match thus far at the 2015 competition, the Asian juggernaut heads into the contest as a clear underdog. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Here are three reasons why Japan will win the Women's World Cup ...

Japan's tiki-taka style and movement off the ball is second to none

"The final against the U.S., it's going to be a tough game, but we'd like to have good pass work," said defender Saori Ariyoshi. "I would want to win, so we'd like to stick to our plan of passing."

Simple. To the point.

The Japanese, not overly fast and not remotely physical, are masters of the pass, moving the ball around the pitch in a manner rivaled only by France. Always providing an option, or two, for the player in possession, Norio Sasaki's team is capable of slicing through even the most stout defense with its combination of clever movement and quick touches around the penalty area.

The Americans, though domineering defensively, have not seen anything like this tiki-taka style thus far in Canada.

Aya Miyama is a magician

Though it's not always the case - hence, our infatuation with unlikely scorers in important matches - a team's best players are the ones that often make the difference against fellow heavyweights.

The United States, ranked second in the world and boasting a dominant defense, is obviously a heavyweight. To fell the giant, Japan will need its most lightweight player to conjure some attacking magic. Captain Aya Miyama, who stands just 5-foot-1, will need to put in a performance that far outweighs her diminutive frame.

If anybody on the reigning world champions is capable, it's the 30-year-old midfielder. Much like Megan Rapinoe for the U.S., Miyama is the attacking engine for her side. She operates out on the left side of the pitch, from which she can beat her marker and provide a pinpoint ball into the box, or cut in and slice right through the heart of a defense.

Shifty with the ball at her feet and able to pick out passes others can't even see, Miyama is Japan's best - and most crucial - attacking outlet. She was one of the heroines in her team's victory against the Americans in 2011, scoring once and converting her penalty in the shootout, and she'll need to be equally involved this time for the Nadeshiko to retain their crown.

Japan's defense has been pretty good too, you know

The United States gets all of the attention when the topic of the tournament's best defense is broached - with good reason. The Americans have conceded just once in six matches, and are riding a 513-minute shutout streak since that solitary goal in their tournament opener against Australia.

Japan, though not quite as stingy, has proven difficult to break down in its own right. The Nadeshiko have conceded a measly three goals in the competition - one of them a freak howler by Ayumi Kaihori - and limited the opposition's scoring opportunities by cherishing possession and not turning the ball over in dangerous positions. When Japan concedes control of the 16-ounce, air-filled sphere, it's generally deep on the opposing side of the pitch. That's a good way to ensure you don't have to pick the ball out of your own net very often.

Defense wins championships, but there are many ways to play defense.

For the conspiracy theorists out there, the perennial Asian powerhouse has alternated between 1-0 and 2-1 victories throughout the competition - which means, judging by their victory over England in the semifinal, that a slender 1-0 win is on the cards.