US goalkeeper Hope Solo believes the freedom of expression encouraged by coach Pia Sundhage will benefit her team in Sunday's World Cup final.
She said Sundhage had "changed the entire dynamic" of the US team when she took over in 2007.
Solo added: "She likes to sit back, she says 'you guys are creative, you are soccer players', she wants us to think and read the game for ourselves."
Japan are playing in their first final while the US have won the trophy twice.
In 25 matches between them, Japan have never beaten the US and have only managed three draws.
And in their most recent clashes, they suffered a pair of 0-2 defeats within four days of each other in May.
But Japan will head into the final with confidence after overcoming Sweden 3-1 in the semi-finals.
Germany 2011 has been anything but simple for the US. They lost 1-2 to Sweden during the group stages and only equalised in their semi-final against Brazil in the final seconds of extra-time before going on to win on penalties.
However, Solo said the flexible approach encouraged by Sundhage made the team confident of victory in the final.
"Of course we need her expertise, her input and she shows that when she brings a change of tactics," she said, "but every player likes to have a bit of freedom on the field. It brings the joy back to us, back to the time when we were little kids and just played for the hell of it."
Although Japan enter the final as underdogs, they are a team on the rise, having finished fourth in the 2008 Olympics. They are now fourth in the Fifa women's world rankings.
Midfielder Nahomi Kawasumi, who scored twice on her full debut against the Swedes, said: "Our results here in Germany have given us a lot of confidence.
"We have momentum and now we want to try and beat the US."
Beating the Americans - champions in 1991 and 1999, with third-place finishes in 1995, 2003 and 2007 - will be a tough task.
But Kawasumi insisted Japan's "strong mentality and teamwork" would pose the favourites plenty of problems.
Sundhage, who led the US to Olympic gold in 2008 in Beijing, said her team's tough time qualifying for the World Cup - securing the final place in the tournament with a play-off win over Italy in November 2010 - had strengthened their resolve.
"Because we had such a bumpy road, we came out stronger and we have learnt the lesson that we cannot take anything for granted.
"So we have tried to enjoy every day and be grateful for every day we have a game or training.
"This team has great heart and spirit and we are humble enough to recognise when we need to change some things."
Regardless of the result, Kawasumi hopes Japan's exploits in Germany will inspire a new generation of female footballers at home.
"Normally, we don't have a lot of media coverage for women's football in Japan, but when we have good results such as here in Germany or at the Olympics, people get to know about women's football.
"It is an important opportunity to promote the team and the game.
"I was inspired very much by previous national team players which, in part, is why I am here in Germany. I would be very happy if I too could be a role model for young players in Japan."
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