This is supposed to be a walkover.

The United States is ranked No. 1 in the world and has won two previous Women’s World Cups, as well. The Yanks have never lost to Japan, not in 25 games.

Japan had never gotten past the quarterfinals of the World Cup … until last weekend.

So, who is going to win the final of the 2011 Women’s World Cup tomorrow?

Japan, 2-1.

I’ve seen all six matches in this tournament since the quarters, and I’m calling this for Japan. They are better, and the better team usually wins. Simple as that.

More than a few people in Germany who have been watching have a similar opinion. Those are the journalists who have decided that Japan reminds them of Barcelona. Yes, Messi’s Barcelona.

And they are right.

Like Barcelona, Japan is physically unimpressive. No big people. Not great in the air. (Actually, Japan must field the smallest team in the history of the World Cup final. They are tiny.)

But like Barcelona, Japan has 11 people on the pitch at all times who can dribble, who can run, who can hold the ball and take it away from bigger and clumsier opponents, and if you thought “United States” when the words “bigger and clumsier” came up, you’re thinking along the right lines.

Germany was the two-time defending champion in the women’s universe, and Japan took them out 1-0 in the quarters. Sweden was only days removed from defeating the U.S. when Japan spotted them a 1-0 lead, then ran off three consecutive goals to win in the semis.

And both Germany and Sweden have more than a few things in common with the U.S. Size. Impressive to look at. Huge apparent advantage over Japan on dead balls and around the goal.

That meant nothing for the Germans and the Swedes, who were outplayed thoroughly, who ran themselves ragged just trying to recover the ball.

If the Yanks were playing well, this would be different. But we have seen enough of them to know they don’t have three people comfortable on the ball. They can neither hold it nor win it. Their defensive calling card is muscling opponents off the ball and picking up the scraps. They are susceptible to opponents who run right at them, as well as diagonal runs and passes.

Japan can do all that. Hold the ball, pass it, knock it around, put it in the goal.

April Heinrichs, former U.S. coach, is part of Fifa’s technical-study team in Germany, and this is what she says about Japan: “Every player is the master of the ball and good with both feet. Every player is hard to read and is moving off the ball, ready to receive it and is very confident. They are playing for each other, it is the most inspiring Japanese team I have ever seen.”

If that sounds like a Yank steeling herself for an unpleasant result … well, give yourself an “A” in reading comprehension.

I see Japan with an enormous advantage in possesion. On the order of 60 percent. Abby Wambach will get a restart goal in the air, but Japan will get two after a series of passes that bend the Yanks out of shape and ends with easy goals.

The U.S. believes they are a team of destiny, especially after the late rally against Brazil in the quarters. But Japan is playing for a country devasted by earthquakes and a tsunami and the meltdown of a power plant, and they are every bit a team of destiny too.

By Sunday night, the U.S. will be trying to figure out ways to get at least a few smaller, quicker and more skillful players onto the national team. Like Japan has. Four years from now, we will see teams with more technically sound players, and we will remember that Japan’s victory on July 17, 2011, was where it started.