¡¡¡¡LOS ANGELES, Oct. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- The US women's soccer team cannot under estimate their American counterparts when they meet in the World Cup third place playoff at the Home Depot Center on Saturday.

¡¡¡¡The Canadians, led by former World Cup winning coach Even Pellerud, have surprised all by entering the semifinals at the World Cup.

¡¡¡¡Kristine Lilly, the all-time caps leader of the US side, said they will play a team with confidence and experience.

¡¡¡¡"In the last five years, I think they've put a lot more time and commitment behind their team," Lilly said.

¡¡¡¡She added: "Probably some money as well as they've invested in players. I think the WUSA has helped some of their players with confidence and experience. They've come a long way and if you lookat a lot of teams in the World Cup this year, they have all come along way. Canada is a perfect example of that."

¡¡¡¡The United States' 22-year-old striker Abby Wambach echoed Lilly's view.

¡¡¡¡"They are a great team and sometimes it isn't about how you play, it's about how you finish," she said. "Canada has definitelybeen making a name for themselves. They are a young team and they get results. That's the bottom line with Canada. You can't take a team like Canada lightly."

¡¡¡¡The United States, who won the World Cup twice in the first three editions, will take the match as an important one.

¡¡¡¡"It's very important. We want to finish this World Cup on a high note and that's what Saturday is about,' said Lilly. "This World Cup is not over. Unfortunately, we aren't playing in the game we wanted, but this is still an important game to us as a team because we want to prove to the world that we are a great team.

¡¡¡¡"Any team playing in the World Cup has the goal of playing in the Final. You could say that since we didn't achieve that goal that we were done. But for what the sport has done for us and for Women's World Cup itself, you can't disrespect it.

¡¡¡¡"Our team has never gone into a game disrespectful and I think this is a perfect example of our team stepping up again and being ready for the game against Canada. I think we have a lot to show,"the veteran midfielder said. Enditem