AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Brazil embarks on the Women’s World Cup with an unbeaten record in opening matches, aiming to carry their success forward with superstar Marta leading the charge in her sixth and final tournament appearance.
Achieving a 9-0 record in opening matches should be a relatively straightforward task for the Selecao, as they kick off their Group F campaign on Monday against tournament debutants, Panama, in Adelaide, Australia. Brazil stands proudly as one of the seven teams to have qualified for all nine Women’s World Cups, while Panama joins the ranks of eight teams participating in the tournament for the very first time.
Marta, an iconic figure in women’s football, will be making her sixth and farewell appearance in the World Cup. Her remarkable journey presents an opportunity to etch her name in history as the first player, irrespective of gender, to score in six different tournaments. With 17 goals under her belt, Marta already holds the title of the all-time leading scorer in the Women’s World Cup.
But to Marta, winning the World Cup is the ultimate goal, a feat that the women’s national team of Brazil has never accomplished. Despite reaching the final in 2007 and making it to the quarterfinals in 2011, they faced disappointment with eliminations in the round of 16 in the subsequent tournaments.
The pain of the 2019 loss to France was evident as Marta shed tears and passionately urged the upcoming generation of Brazilian football players to elevate their country’s performance to new heights.
“It’s about wanting more,” emphasized Marta, expressing her sentiments four years ago after Brazil’s elimination. She stressed the importance of intense training, self-care, and readiness to play the full 90 minutes plus extra time. This has been her plea to the team.
Under the guidance of coach Pia Sundhage, a former Swedish top scorer and coach of the United States’ two Olympic gold medal-winning teams, the national team seems to have responded to Marta’s call. Sundhage has instilled better balance in the team, as showcased in the Women’s Finalissma when Brazil, the South American champions, narrowly lost to England, the European champions, in a penalty shootout during April.
In recent matches, Brazil showcased their momentum, rallying to defeat Germany just five days after the Finalissma and securing an impressive 4-0 victory against Chile earlier in the month, building confidence as they head into the tournament.
While Marta has experienced teammates like Debinha and Rafaelle, all eyes are on 23-year-old Kerolin, who seems poised to become Brazil’s breakout star. With an impressive record of eight goals for the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL this season, Kerolin has the potential to make a significant impact for Brazil in the World Cup.
“We have taken significant strides in these four years,” stated Sundhage optimistically. “We’ve introduced new players, and I believe we are in a good position. We have a chance.”
On the other hand, Panama’s recent encounters with South American teams haven’t been favorable. Despite managing a 1-1 draw with Colombia in June, they suffered heavy defeats, conceding 13 goals in a 7-0 loss to Spain at the end of June and a 5-0 loss to Japan earlier this month.
Moving on to the Italy-Argentina matchup, while Argentina’s men’s team celebrated victory with the World Cup trophy, led by Lionel Messi in Qatar last December, their women’s team is yet to experience a triumph in the global tournament.
However, the women’s team is hopeful of a different outcome as they face Italy in a Group G match in Auckland. Making their fourth World Cup appearance, Argentina encountered a tough challenge four years ago in France, with a draw and two losses leading to their elimination. In the 2019 tournament, Argentina was grouped with England, Japan, and Scotland. This time around, their group includes Italy, Sweden, and South Africa.
Argentina entered the tournament with an impressive record, winning five out of six matches this year, which has fueled their ambition to achieve more.
Coach German Portanova expressed the team’s determination, saying, “We will always strive to achieve and make our dreams come true. Once you win one match, why not aim for more? We have been continuously working on improving our strategies and gameplay for years. Women’s football thrives on results, so a positive outcome here would be another significant step forward for the women’s game.”
Aldana Cometti, a defender who plays for Madrid, expressed her gratitude towards the Argentine federation for investing more resources in the development of women’s football. She highlighted the substantial changes, such as an increased medical team from two to six members, which showcases the growing support for the team. Cometti and her teammates see this progress as a significant achievement, knowing they now have the backing they need.
Italy, on the other hand, has enjoyed more success at the World Cup, reaching the quarterfinals in 2019 following a 2-0 victory over China in the round of 16. Their journey was halted by the Netherlands, who eventually lost to the U.S. women’s team in the final, leading to back-to-back titles for the U.S.
Coach Portanova had a message for the fans back in Argentina, where the match is scheduled to start at 3 a.m. local time on Monday, expressing their determination to make their nation proud.
The coach of the Argentine team has a heartfelt message for their fans back in Argentina, as they prepare to face Italy in their Group G match in Auckland. He pleads with the supporters to trust and have confidence in the team, promising that they will give their absolute best effort on the field. They are willing to make sacrifices and put their hearts into every ball and kick, determined to make their nation proud.
Moving on to Morocco’s first-ever appearance in the Women’s World Cup, the team aspires to replicate the kind of fairy tale run the men’s team experienced last year in Qatar. The men’s national team reached the semifinals before losing to France and then Croatia in the third-place game.
As the first Arab nation to compete in the Women’s World Cup, Morocco qualified as runners-up in the Africa Cup of Nations. The Atlas Lionesses are set to open their Group H match in Melbourne against Germany, who have been previous champions in 2003 and 2007.
Captain Ghizlane Chebbak expresses the team’s immense pride and honor in representing Morocco on the world stage. Despite women’s soccer still being in its early stages in the country, the team is motivated and eager to make their mark in the tournament. It’s worth noting that Morocco, being a country with a large Muslim population, faces some challenges, as religious conservatives object to women participating in sports. Nonetheless, the team is determined to overcome obstacles and make their nation proud in the Women’s World Cup.
In 2014, FIFA made a significant decision to allow Muslim players to wear a hijab during competitions. This landmark ruling has opened doors for players to express their religious beliefs while participating in football tournaments. At this Women’s World Cup, Nouhaila Benzina will make history as the first player to wear a hijab at the senior women’s tournament.
Captain Ghizlane Chebbak expressed her excitement about their team’s debut in the tournament, stating that it is a great milestone for them. They hope that their match against Germany will not only be a memorable moment for their team but also pave the way for more opportunities for women’s football in Morocco.
During the pre-match news conference, there was a tense moment when a reporter asked if there were any LGBTQ players on the Moroccan team, knowing that same-sex relationships are against the law in the country. In response to this line of questioning, FIFA moderators shut it down, recognizing that it was not appropriate to discuss such matters and respecting the players’ privacy and the focus on the sporting event itself.
