D-Day for the girls from Brazil

Brazil, beaten finalist at both the 2004 Olympics and last year's World Cup, has another chance to win its first major women's football title when it faces the United States in today's final.

Brazil goes into the match as favourite after destroying Germany, who had not previously¹ conceded a goal, 4-1 in their semi-final with sparkling displays from forward Cristiane and World Player of the Year Marta.

Germany's Renate Lingor (left) challenges Brazil's Marta during the semifinal match at Shanghai Stadium on Monday.

Brazil also beat the US 4-0 in their last competitive meeting, a semi-final at the 2007 World Cup.

But both Brazil and Marta have earned a reputation for failing at the crucial moment.

The South Americans lost 2-1 to a golden goal against the US four years ago and were beaten 2-0 by Germany in last year's World Cup final, when Marta missed a penalty.

Brazil coach Jorge Barcellos warned his team about the euphoria which followed their semi-final.

"We haven't won anything yet," he said. "We are one game away from the gold medal and we can't repeat the mistakes we made in the first half against Germany. There were lapses² in concentration which could be fatal."

The US, under former Swedish player Pia Sundhage, has gained momentum³ during the Games after a shock opening match defeat to Norway.

"We're pumped. Bring it on," said midfielder Heather O'Reilly.

"We've played Brazil before and we know they're a pretty awesome⁴ team with a lot of great personalities⁵. But this team player for player is unified⁶ and strong, and we're together."

The US beat Japan 4-2 during its semifinal match and is generally regarded as the team to beat in women's football.

The US side has a good chance at the final, and it has a lot to prove. It is trying to get out from under the shadow of former stars like Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy, who not only gave the women's game cache in the eyes of millions of new viewers but developed fan bases in their own right.

The current team is harder to pin down, the names are not as recognizable.

The best known of them, Abby Wambach, is out of the tournament with a broken leg. But the rest of the team is still eager for today's match up and to prove what it is made off.

Cristiane, the 23-year-old Brazilian striker who has been the face of women's soccer in her country, has taken part in two Olympics. She was there, in Athens, when her team gave up its gold medal shot to US.

Now, she has a chance at a rematch.

"It's always special playing against a team of the stature⁷ and pedigree of the United States. And more so having lost to them in that final in Athens," she said in an interview with FIFA.

"Now we're coming up against them again in a decisive game, but I'm sure that things are going to end differently this time," she said.

"Everything is falling into place for that to happen. It seems like someone has written this story just for us: First we beat Germany, who beat us in the final of the World Cup last year, and now we find the United States blocking our path once more, just as in the final in 2004. I firmly believe that it will be a different story this time around."