Olympic Soccer Semifinal: U.S.-Japan

6 a.m. on MSNBC.

Notable:
*Japan's run in the Olympics is its best ever in a world championship and the first time it has made the semifinal of a FIFA tournament.
*The U.S. and Japan will play for the second time in 10 days after the USA's 1-0 victory on Aug. 9 in Qinhuangdao.
*The U.S. outshot Japan 18-9.
*Japan's captain Homare Sawa, a former WUSA star for the Atlanta Beat, is the nation's all-time greatest player. She has played in four Women's World Cups and three Olympics, played more than 100 games for her country and scored more than 70 goals. She was the MVP of the 2008 Asian Women's Cup.

Quotable:
*U.S. Coach Pia Sundhage on the play of USC''s Amy Rodriguez:

"She is a young player and inexperienced, but we gave her a small role and asked her to do certain things, and she's done those certain things very well. I have so much respect for fast players. It's good to have her there because if you want to get behind the back line she gives us that opportunity."