6. 2011 Women's World Cup

10 Most Memorable American Efforts

Just about every American game in the tournament was a heart-stopper. The most memorable moment came when Abby Wambach's header in stoppage time of a quarterfinal game against Brazil forced penalty-kicks. Team USA won in PKs, handled France in the semifinals and lost a heartbreaker to Japan in the final. Regardless, at no point did the run lack drama. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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There are fleeting-moment stories and then there are forever stories. Even though they lost in the final of the 2011 World Cup on Sunday, the U.S. women fall into the latter category. For better and worse, they redefined drama.

No matter, what they did over the last month was create lasting memories for a captivated nation. Their scintillating journey to the final was one of the greatest American team sport runs of all-time.

But just how does it compare to some of the other great U.S. team sport marches? Let's find out:

(AP Photo/Michael Probst)

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10. 2008 Redeem ... With a sour taste still lingering from the squad's 2004 failure, Team USA won all eight of its games at the 2008 Olympics. Led by Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, the Americans won each of their games by an average of nearly 30 points, and scored at least 100 points in all but two of their outings. (AP File Photo)

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9. 2009 Confeder... After lopsided losses to Brazil and Italy, Team USA needed a lopsided win over Egypt to advance, and that's exactly what the Americans got. Then, a surprising win 2-0 win over powerhouse Spain sent Landon Donovan and Co. into the final, where a rematch with Brazil awaited. Team USA took a 2-0 lead and the impossible seemed possible, but the South American side rallied for a 3-2 win. Nonetheless, it was perhaps the best run ever by a USA men's soccer team. (AP File Photo)

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8. 2010 Men's Ho... USA goalie Ryan Miller reacts after giving up the game-winning goal to Canada's Sidney Crosby in overtime of the men's gold medal ice hockey game at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. While this may not be a great memory in the minds of American sports fans, just getting to overtime of the gold medal game against the heavy favorite in its home country was quite an accomplishment, especially since the young USA team was projected by few to make any noise. (AP File Photo)

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7. 2008 Ryder Cu... Inspired by captain Paul Azinger, a young American side showed the passion and fire typically seen in its European counterpart and thoroughly blasted the foreign contingent at Louisville's Valhalla Golf Club. (AP File Photo/Morry Gash)

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6. 2011 Women's ... Just about every American game in the tournament was a heart-stopper. The most memorable moment came when Abby Wambach's header in stoppage time of a quarterfinal game against Brazil forced penalty-kicks. Team USA won in PKs, handled France in the semifinals and lost a heartbreaker to Japan in the final. Regardless, at no point did the run lack drama. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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5. 2010 Men's Wo... Just two or three minutes away from another disappointing World Cup effort, Landon Donovan's goal-heard-round-the-world lifted the Americans to a 1-0 win over Algeria and a spot in the Round of 16. A truly legendary moment. (AP File Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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4. 1972 Summer O... Clock issues, impromptu buzzers, phantom timeout calls and replayed inbounds passes made the final three seconds of the gold medal game between USA and Russia perhaps the most controversial finish at any Olympic games. The Russians were awarded the win, and the Americans protested and later skipped the medal ceremony. It was the first time in Olympic history that Team USA did not win the gold in men's hoops. Because of the controversial ending, it's one of the most memorable moments in U.S. Olympic history. (AP File Photo)

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3. 1999 Women's ... How good was the '99 World Cup run? Brandi Chastain wasn't just a penalty-kick hero, but the Sports Illustrated cover of her the following week, with her jersey ripped off to expose her celebrating in a sports bra, is perhaps the most iconic image in the history of women's sports in America. The march was among the most visible in U.S. history, in part because it all unfolded on our home turf. (AP File Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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2. 1992 Dream Te... The American men's basketball team with Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird that won the 1992 gold medal in Barcelona is arguably the best team ever assembled by any country for an international competition. The only thing that marred their march to gold was a lack of worthwhile competition. (AP File Photo/Ed Reinke)

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1. 1980 Miracle ... Since we're handing out superlatives, Team USA's hockey defeat of the Russians and eventual claiming of the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics is regarded by most as the biggest upset by an American sports team. It was also the best run in American team sports history. (AP File Photo).

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World's Most Val... Click here for a look at the world's most valuable teams.