We are leaving here with a very positive thinking, we will arrive strong at this World Cup. “ we couldn’t win matches even when we played well. “We are growing very well,” Borges said after Brazil’s win in Germany. One of Brazil’s new strengths that gives fans hope, even if Marta is unfit, is the young and intense midfield duo of Ary Borges and Kerolin. She scored 14 goals in 35 matches for Roma during the season, although she’d been likely to be on the bench for Brazil until Atletico Madrid striker Ludmila sustained an ACL injury that should rule her out. The 30-year-old Andressa Alves is expected to combine with Marta in Brazil’s attack. “And we did that playing against one of the best teams in Europe,” Sundhage said after the match, saying it give the team more confidence for the World Cup “including confidence for myself.” Sundhage said the win over Germany was among Brazil’s best performances since she took over. Days later, Brazil beat second-ranked Germany 2-1 in Nuremberg. Only eight players involved in Brazil’s last Women’s World Cup campaign are expected to go to Australia for the group games - goalkeeper Leticia defenders Kathellen, Rafaelle and Tamires and forwards Bia Zaneratto, Debinha, Geyse and Marta.īrazil performed well in the two latest friendlies despite Marta’s absence, holding European champion England to a 1-1 draw before losing the Finalissima on penalties at Wembley Stadium on April 6. The group also includes France, the team that eliminated the Brazilians four years ago in the round of 16, Jamaica and Panama. The coach also insists her team has improved since the penalty shootout loss in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Canada at the Tokyo Olympics, a result that cast doubt on the team rebuilding job started in 2019.īrazil, one of the three South American teams in the tournament, is expected to advance to the knockout stage in Group F. Regardless of Marta’s level of fitness, Sundhage believes Brazil is among a group of 10 teams that could win the title. She was sidelined from the national team for 11 months, only returning to play for Brazil in a friendly against Japan in February. Sundhage, who led the United States to two Olympic gold medals, called up Marta for friendlies against England and Germany in April but the forward remained in Florida to recover from a muscle injury in her left leg.īrazil, one of three South American teams in the tournament, is in Group F along with France - the team that eliminated the Brazilians four years ago in the round of 16 - Jamaica and Panama.īrazil’s first game is against Panama on July 24 in Adelaide.Marta had surgery to a repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament last year after injuring her left knee during a club game in the United States. Marta had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament last year, leading to an 11-month absence from the national team. "Having the chance of going to another World Cup, my sixth, is surreal to me.” “I can only be thankful to have lived all those years in the national team," added Marta, who is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 117 goals. Marta played for a few minutes on Sunday, when Brazil beat Chile 4-0 in its last friendly before the trip. “We have to understand that a time comes for us to prioritize other things.”īrazil coach Pia Sundhage said in an interview with The Associated Press last month that Marta, who has been the world player of the year six times, may not be in the starting lineup for Brazil right away while she continues to recover from a left knee injury. “Yes, it will be my last World Cup," Marta told journalists in Brasilia on Monday, shortly before the squad boarded a plane to the tournament in Australia and New Zealand. The 37-year-old Marta is widely considered one of the best players in the history of women's soccer but has yet to lift the World Cup trophy in five previous attempts. SAO PAULO (AP) - Going into her sixth World Cup, Brazil star Marta said Monday that this will be her last.
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