Canada and Italy met during round robin play with Canada having won, 1-0.  Not only was it just a one-run game, but Italy had their opponent locked in a scoreless tie until the bottom of the seventh inning.  After beating Venezuela - who'd come in at 5-2 - in their first playoff game (2-1), Italy shows no reason why they won't play Canada close again.  Even the round robin game between Italy and Canada at the 2004 Olympics was close, with Italy having lost then by 1-0 too.  With an 08 berth on the line, both of these teams will give it everything they have ¨C even if it doesn't mean a medal at this tournament.

 

Medals will be on the line, however, when USA plays Australia at 15:00 Tuesday.  The loser of this game gets the bronze medal while the winner goes on to play Japan for the gold medal at 19:00.

 

The U.S. and Australia played in the gold medal game at the 2004 Olympics, with the Americans prevailing, 5-1.  Australia will come in licking their chops at a chance to spoil USA's world championship title defense, not to mention avenging the 11-2 defeat they suffered at the hands of the Americans on Sunday's opening day of the playoffs.  Team USA, on the other hand, will be looking to make a statement after being defeated by Japan on Monday, 3-1, for their first loss of the tournament.

 

Even though Australia (7-3) would face the same decision, a lot more focus is being put on who will Team USA (8-1) start in the pitching circle?  Since the winner has to play again at 19:00, can a team go with their number one pitcher at 15:00 and then use her again just a couple hours later in the biggest/last game?  Australia used ace Melanie Roche in both of their games Monday, although there was a much bigger gap in time between the two contests.  While the softball world looks on to see if the Aussies have what it takes to dethrone the 2004 Olympic gold medalists, many would argue that there¡¯s more pressure on U.S. coach Mike Candrea than on his counterpart, Fabian Barlow.

 

Japan will be watching closely and, more importantly, getting a little more rest.  There should be no doubt that regardless of their opponent they will start pitcher Yukiko Ueno.  The Japanese have again proven that they can be the best by beating the best.  So far at the 2006 world championship they are undefeated (9-0) and are going to be ready for whichever opponent comes out of the "bronze medal game."  Could Japan now be the favorite?

 

(Medal ceremonies will follow shortly after the conclusion of the grand final.)