Despite being considered one of the Women’s World Cup favorites, Brazil’s performance in the tournament turned out to be disappointing, leading to an early exit in the group stage. This outcome was particularly disheartening as it denied Marta, their esteemed player, a memorable farewell in her sixth and final appearance at the prestigious event.
Despite their previous successes in the Copa America Femenina, the team couldn’t replicate that form on the global stage. In a surprising turn of events, they were unable to advance to the Round of 16 for the first time in 28 years following a goalless draw against Jamaica in Melbourne. This setback highlights the challenges they faced in making a significant impact in the Women’s World Cup.
Brazil began the tournament on a positive note, buoyed by the impressive performance of young talent Ary Borges, who scored a remarkable hat-trick in a resounding 4-0 victory against debutants Panama. This promising start ignited hopes that coach Pia Sundhage’s strategic mix of youthful exuberance and seasoned experience could be the key to success.
However, their dreams of triumph were soon dampened as Brazil faltered in their subsequent match against France, suffering a 2-1 defeat. The team’s inability to convert scoring opportunities came back to haunt them, exposing their wastefulness in front of the goal. In their crucial encounter against a physically strong Jamaican defense, Brazil struggled to break through, ultimately failing to advance in the tournament. The inability to maintain momentum and overcome defensive challenges dashed their aspirations of lifting the trophy.
At the tournament, Marta, who holds the record for being the all-time leading scorer with 17 goals, displayed immense dedication in her pursuit of securing the valuable three points. However, being 37 years old, she could no longer assert the same level of dominance she once exhibited in her prime.
“For me, it’s the end of the road,” she said. “This moment is difficult, it wasn’t what I dreamed of even in my worst nightmares.”The veteran striker failed to secure the goal that would have made her the only player to have scored in six editions of the World Cup.
Marta’s tears after her farewell dried up as she spoke about the future of Brazilian women’s football, which she believes will be bright.”A lot of these talented girls are very young and have a long road ahead of them,” she said. “This is just the beginning for them. I want people to continue with the same enthusiasm for the World Cup, to keep supporting”.Swede Sundhage has a year left on her contract and will have another chance to blend Brazil’s talented players into a team that can challenge for major titles at the 2024 Paris Olympics.