Women's World Player of the Year Homare Sawa hopes Japan's silver medal-winning performance at the London Games will inspire the country's Under-20s at the World Cup beginning in Japan later this month, but remained tightlipped over her national team future.
The 33-year-old veteran, widely expected to be playing in her last Olympics here, was looking to add gold to the title Japan won at last year's World Cup in Germany, where she was named tournament MVP and also finished top scorer.
But a double from Carli Lloyd broke Japanese hearts in Thursday's final as the United States avenged their World Cup final 3-1 penalty shootout defeat to Norio Sasaki's side, winning 2-1 to take Olympic gold for the third time in a row.