In athletics relay events, the passing of the baton from one athlete to another is symbolic. It means saying: “I did my part, now it’s your turn”. This year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand has this context for Brazil. At the same time that Marta, the best scorer in the history of the national team (between men and women) will be in a World Cup for the sixth and last time, another 11 Brazilians will debut in the biggest event of the modality, in the search for an unprecedented title. Once more with feeling. 🇬🇧❤️ @ MartaVieiras10 confirms that her sixth #FIFAWWC will also be her last. #BeyondGreatness — FIFA Women’s World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 4, 2023 Marta, 37, is the current generation’s link to the World (2007) and Olympic (2004 and 2008) runner-up team. It is the first time that the ace competes in a championship of this level without having midfielder Formiga and striker Cristiane by her side. The latter, aged 38, had already been out of the Tokyo Games, in Japan, and was again not called by Pia Sundhage, despite popular outcry. In the press conference she gave after the call-up, the coach declined to comment on the striker’s absence. Other 11 players called up by Pia have already competed in the competition before, but the protagonist among the veterans is from Alagoas from Três Riachos, elected six times the best player in the world and scorer of 17 goals in Cups, being the top scorer of the tournament (men included). . In the five appearances she had, between 2003 and 2019, the number 10 scored at least once in each edition, which only Canadian striker Christiane Sinclair also managed. It’s time to smile! Lots of work and joy around here… 😁🇺🇸📸 Thais Magalhães/CBF pic.twitter.com/RRwoT4rURA — Women’s National Football Team (@SelecaoFeminina) July 8, 2023 And who will take over the baton left by the Queen? Some candidates are already in the current group. Midfielders Ary Borges and Kerolin, both 23 years old, gained space after the Olympics and became starters with Pia. Midfielder Angelina, also 23 years old, was another one to establish herself after the Tokyo Games, for which she was called at the last minute. Due to an injury to her right knee, which left her out of action for almost a year, the player is not part of the 23-man squad, but traveled to the Cup as one of three substitutes. Another substitute to keep an eye on for the future, although she is already shining in the present, is Aline Gomes. In a span of just 11 months, the 18-year-old attacking midfielder, who turned 7 on July 7, defended Brazil in the under-17 and under-20 World Cups (being a regular in both) and was called up to the senior squad. Photos of the birthday girl? We have! 🥳Congratulations, @ AlineGomesx07! May it be another very special year! 📸 Thais Magalhães/CBF pic.twitter.com/RZ7oc9edbz — Women’s National Football Team (@SelecaoFeminina) July 7, 2023 In addition to Aline, winger Bruninha (21 years old) and defender Lauren (20 years old) ) – present among the 23 summoned – were in the last sub-20 World Cup and helped Brazil to conquer the third place. Outside of Pia’s list, names such as defender Tarciane (20) and defensive midfielder Yayá (21) were also part of that campaign, were observed by the Swedish coach and are athletes with the right space in the next steps of the women’s team. Proximity to the base teams was one of the hallmarks of Pia’s work. The coach took office in August 2019 and had the renewal of the selection as a goal. It was the Swede who took players like defender Tainara (24 years old), midfielders Micaelly (22), Jaqueline (23), Ana Vitória (23), Duda Sampaio (22) and striker Nycole (22) to the team. The last three got the call to the Cup, while Tainara, just recovered from an injury, was called as a substitute. 📍 Gold Coast, AustraliaGood morning Brazil! We started our activities routine on Australian soil with the usual joy! 😁🇺🇷📸 Thais Magalhães/CBF pic.twitter.com/c4JxiLVYdE — Women’s National Football Team (@SelecaoFeminina) July 5, 2023 Pia herself, incidentally, has the opportunity for an unprecedented title at this year’s World Cup. The 63-year-old coach led the United States to Olympic gold in 2008 (beating Brazil in the final) and in 2012. At the World Cup, however, she was shortlisted almost a few times. As an athlete, she helped Sweden to take third place in the first edition, in 1991. As a coach, she was runner-up in 2011, leading the USA, defeated by Japan in the decision. The numbers of the coach in charge of Brazil are significant. In 54 games, there are 33 wins, 12 draws and nine defeats, with 124 goals scored and 40 conceded. In Tokyo, Pia’s selection fell to Canada in the quarterfinals, on penalties. Last year came the first official title with the Brazilian team: the Copa América, in 2022, which guaranteed the team a place in the Paris Olympics, in France, in 2024. An eye on rivals Brazil is one of the seven nations that participated in all the eight Women’s World Cups. In this year’s edition, the first with 32 teams and played in two countries, the Brazilians were drawn in Group F, based in Australia, alongside France, Jamaica and Panama. The debut will be next Tuesday (24), at 8 am (Brasília time), in Adelaide, against the Panamanians. On the 29th, at 7 am, the opponents will be the French, in Brisbane. Finally, on August 2, the Brazilians face the Jamaicans, again at 7 am, in Melbourne. The World Cup group stage is just around the corner! So, have you got all the details down? We count on your fans! Let’s go together #ForFirstStar! ⭐️🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/h25sCEHn3J — Women’s National Football Team (@SelecaoFeminina) July 7, 2023 Brazil’s first opponent, Panama is one of the eight debutants in World Cups and the worst placed team in the ranking of the International Football Federation ( Fifa) among those in the Brazilian bracket, in 52nd position. The Central American team qualified for the world play-off, eliminating Paraguay. The selection of Mexican coach Ignacio Quintana has 12 athletes who play in the country and 11 who play abroad, three in Europe and two in the United States. Of those in the US, 20-year-old defenseman Hilary Jaén is still in college football. Forward Riley Tanner, 23, in turn, is the first Panamanian player to play in the American professional league, one of the top in the world. Interestingly, she was born in North American territory, but chose to defend her mother’s home country. 🔥 THE MUNDIALISTS STILL PREPARING 🔥 The Women’s Major Team continues with its preparation with its sights set on its first participation in a @FIFAWWC Women’s World Cup 🏆. pic.twitter.com/45dOAnXljv — FEPAFUT (@fepafut) July 5, 2023 Next, the Brazilians will face their tormentors from the last Cup, France, who at that time got the better of the Canarinho team, then led by Vadão, for 2 to 1 in extra time. In relation to the last edition, when they fell to the USA in the quarterfinals, the French have 11 remaining in the squad of coach Hervé Renard (the same one who led Saudi Arabia in the last men’s World Cup). Hervé took over in March, replacing Corinne Diacre, who was sacked after disagreements with some of the main players of the national team. A month earlier, for example, defender and captain Wendy Renard said she would no longer defend the team under Diacre’s command. The decision was followed by other important names, such as strikers Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto. The début of a great adventure ✈️🇦🇺🌏 #FiersdetreBleues pic.twitter.com/i70gpvW8yy — France Féminine team (@equipedefranceF) July 8, 2023 The coach’s departure stopped the bleeding, making it possible for the players to return. Even so, the France team will have significant absences in the Cup, such as midfielder Amandine Henry (who scored the goal that eliminated Brazil four years ago) and forwards Delphine Cascarino and Katoto herself, all injured. Jamaica, the last rival of the first phase, is also not an unknown opponent. The teams faced each other in the last Cup, with a 3-0 Brazilian victory in the duel that opened the participation of both. From that team, there are 11 remaining members, including Khadija Shaw, the main name of the team. The 26-year-old striker defends Manchester City (England) and was the second top scorer in the last Premier League, with 20 goals in 22 games. In the season, including other competitions, she found the net 31 times in 30 games. The Reggae Girlz are ready for the Down Under challenge! 👊🇯🇲 @JFF_Football | #FIFAWWC — FIFA Women’s World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 4, 2023 The Jamaican team is another that has gone through recent (and tumultuous) changes of ownership, with Lorne Donaldson taking over from Vin Blane after the Caribbean team’s players wrote to the federation asking for a coach change. Blane, meanwhile, was himself a replacement for Hubert Busby Jr., who was suspended after allegations of sexual harassment while working in Canada in 2011. Busby Jr. he had been an assistant to the national team in 2019. The top two in Group F advance to the round of 16, where they will face the two classified in Group H, which has Germany, Colombia, South Korea and Morocco. The team with the best record in one bracket will face the runner-up in the other.
Agência Brasil
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