Coach Pia Sundhage summoned, this Tuesday (31), the Brazilian women’s team for the She Believes Tournament, a friendly competition to be played between February 16 and 22 in the United States. The highlight is the return of Marta. The attacking midfielder is recovering from an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee, which she suffered in March last year. “Marta is ready in the physical part. She did all the tests. She is very competitive, as everyone knows. Over the [ritmo de] game, not so much, so we’ll take care to make sure she feels the game and has a chance to play at her highest level again. I’m very happy, because she is a model of behavior, technique and game reading. We need to be smart. She hasn’t acted in a few months,” Pia said at a press conference. Marta has not played since suffering the knee injury, on March 26 of last year, in the defeat of Orlando Pride, the team that defends in the USA, against North Carolina Courage, by 1-0. 31 minutes. The injury led her to be cut from the friendlies that Brazil played in Spain, in April, against the hosts and Hungary. Striker Gabi Portilho, from Corinthians, was then called to replace the 36-year-old star. Timão, by the way, is the team with the most representatives in the list released by Pia: four. Goalkeeper Lelê, defender Tarciane and sides Yasmin and Tamires were summoned. Another highlight is the presence of six players who, in addition to Marta, play in the North American league: winger Bruninha (NY/NJ Gotham), midfielders Ary Borges (Racing Louisville), Júlia Bianchi (Chicago Red Stars) and Kerolin ( North Carolina Courage) and forwards Debinha (Kansas FC) and Adriana (Orlando Pride). In addition to Brazil and the USA, She Believes will have the participation of Canada and Japan. The four participants are classified for the World Cup of the modality, which will be played between July and August this year in Australia and New Zealand. The debut of the Brazilians in the friendly tournament will be on February 16, starting at 6 pm (Brasília time), against the Japanese at Exploria Stadium, in Orlando. Three days later, at Geodis Park, in Nashville, at 8:30 pm, the opponents will be the Canadians, gold medalists at the Tokyo Olympics (Japan). Participation will end on the 22nd, again at 8:30 pm, against the hosts, current world champions, at Toyota Stadium, in Frisco. Goalkeepers: Lelê (Corinthians), Lorena (Grêmio) and Luciana (Ferroviária) Defenders: Bruninha (NJ/NY Gotham-USA), Tainara (Bayern Munich-ALE), Rafaelle (Arsenal-ING), Kathellen (Real Madrid) -ESP), Lauren (Madrid CFF-ESP), Tarciane (Corinthians), Yasmin (Corinthians) and Tamires (Corinthians). Midfielders and forwards: Adriana (Orlando Pride-USA), Marta (Orlando Pride-USA), Ary Borges (Racing Louisville-USA), Ana Vitória (Benfica-POR), Nycole Raysla (Benfica-POR), Júlia Bianchi (Chicago Red Stars-USA), Kerolin (North Carolina Courage-USA), Bia Zaneratto (Palmeiras), Geyse (Barcelona-ESP), Gabi Nunes (Madrid CFF-ESP), Debinha (Kansas FC-USA) and Ludmila (Atlético de Madrid- ESP).
Agência Brasil
Folha Nobre - Desde 2013 - ©