Japan won the Women's World Cup in Germany on penalties after a 2-2 draw with the United States last year.

Going into this summer's Olympic tournament in London, Japan and the US will again be among the favourites for gold.

"Teams will study and be prepared when they face Japan this time around," Hirata told The Japan Times, adding that the Japanese were even more motivated to do well at the World Cup after the devastating earthquake and tsunami which struck the country last March.

"They were very motivated after the March 11 disasters.

"The players were united and were ready to fight hard."

Hirata says that midfielder Aya Sameshima would be a key player for the squad, saying: "It would mean so much to the devastated areas in Tohoku for her to play well on the field, especially since she used to work at the Fukushima No 1 nuclear plant."

As well as Sameshima, Japan will look to captain Homare Sawa, who was recently awarded the 2011 FIFA Ballon D'Or prize.

Japan reached the semi-finals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, being beaten by eventual winners the US, but have never won the tournament.

Japan will compete with North Korea, France, Sweden, hosts Britain, Brazil, Colombia, South Africa and Cameroon at the Olympics this summer, with the North American and Oceania representatives yet to secure their places at the Games.

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