The United States and Brazil, two of the Women's World Cup pre-tournament favourites, meet earlier than expected, in the quarter-finals on Sunday, and much of the pre-match talk has focused on the 2008 Olympic final, and one moment in particular.
In the final at the Beijing Olympics, Brazil's Marta, a five-time World Player of the Year, had the goal at her mercy in the 72nd minute, but somehow goalkeeper Hope Solo saved it as the US went on to win 1-0 in extra time.
"I just remember Marta being point-blank cracking it, and Hope stretching out and getting a hand on it," said Christie Rampone, the US captain.
Sunday's meeting is their first since that Olympic final, and Brazil would seem to have the advantage. They won their group with ease while the Americans lost for the first time in the World Cup group stages and could make their earliest exit from the tournament.
Solo gives the US expectation. She has conceded just five international goals since the Olympics and has kept a clean sheet in all four of her games against Brazil.
"Of course, she's a great player," Marta said of Solo after Brazil's training Friday night. "But I hope I would have the opportunity to score."
"There's a rivalry, definitely," Solo said. "We know each other, we respect one another, we've played on all-star teams together. Yet we don't speak a lot."
But there is more to this game than simply Marta v Solo. This is one of the great rivalries in women's football, with Brazil losing to the US in the last two Olympic finals but knocking the Americans out of the World Cup in 2007. The US beat Brazil in the 1999 semi-finals, then beat China for a second World Cup title.
"It's Brazil-US. It's a big game," Marta said. "It's special."
The winner on Sunday will play France in the semi-finals on Thursday. Sweden and Australia, who meet in Sunday's other quarter-final, will face the winner of Saturday's late game between Germany and Japan.
