Women's World Cup 2015: Brazil Team Guide
The 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada is just seven days away, and Brazil coach Oswaldo Alvarez is working on his final preparations as he tries to guide As Canarinhas to their first-ever World Cup victory.
Brazil are the only side from South America to have reached every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Runners-up in 2007, with Marta still at the head of the attack, they will be hoping they can finally be crowned as the best team in the world.
The Road to Canada
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Brazil qualified for the Women’s World Cup in Canada by winning the 2014 Copa America Femenina in Ecuador.
They lost 2-0 to Argentina in the group stage, but had already qualified for the final stage at that point. With two wins and a draw, they finished two points clear of Colombia to crown their victory.
2014 Copa America Femenina
Group B:
Second stage:
Top Scorers
Cristian - 6 goals, Andressa - 3, Maurine - 3, Fabiana - 2, Formiga – 2
FIXTURES
Group Stage
September 12, 2014: Brazil 6-0 Bolivia
Goals: Formiga (19', 73'), Andressa (30'), Darlene (51'), Thaisa (84'), Fabiana (92')
September 14, 2014: Paraguay 1-4 Brazil
Goals: Fleitas (9')
Andressa (35'), Cristiane (45+5', 56'), Fabiana (57')
September 18, 2014: Chile 0-2 Brazil
Goals: Maurine (22'), Cristiane (49')
September 20, 2014: Brazil 0-2 Argentina
Goals: Cometti (23'), Banini (73' pen)
Final Stage
September 24, 2014: Brazil 4-0 Ecuador
Goals: Cristiane (14', 17'), Maurine (37'), Raquel (87')
September 26, 2014: Brazil 6-0 Argentina
Goals: Cristiane (32'), Andressa (36'), Maurine (58'), Tayla (66'), Tamires (71'), Raquel (84')
September 28, 2014: Colombia 0-0 Brazil
Squad List
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The squad was announced on May 25:
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Coach Profile: Oswaldo Alvarez
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Life has been kind for Brazil coach Oswaldo Alvarez. He is the man credited with the early development of both Rivaldo and Kaka – former Ballon d’Or winners – and now he gets to guide FIFA Women’s Ballon d’Or holder Marta, and the likes of Cristiane, Andressa and Formiga into this summer’s World Cup.
The 58-year-old has been around the houses of the men’s game, but called his appointment to As Canarinhas as one of the biggest challenges of his career. Although he said he was a follower of the female game, he admitted he never imagined that he would become the head coach.
Known for his attacking style, and the ability to develop young players, he is very tactically astute. After being appointed, he studied games from all over the world to not only help Brazil’s tactics, but to help understand the type of challenges he would face if they reached Canada.
Winning the 2014 Copa America was his first success, cementing their place at the World Cup. In preparation he took Brazil to the Algarve Cup, in order to play against styles of teams.
The man known as Vadao is leaving no stone unturned in Brazil’s quest to win their first-ever World Cup title.
Star Player: Marta
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Even if your knowledge of women’s football is limited, you will still probably know about Brazilian superstar Marta. She is a five-time FIFA Women’s Player of the Year, and has been voted in the top three for the past 10 years.
Blessed with outstanding pace, incredible awareness and a level of technical guile that even Pele himself admires, it is extremely hard to argue that she is the best player in the women’s game.
It was during the 2007 World Cup in China that she caught the world’s attention, scoring seven goals as Brazil finished runners-up. Awarded both the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe, there was little doubt of her ability.
Eight years on, Marta is still on top of the game, but as a 28-year-old forward, she has had to adapt her style in order to keep her place at the very top.
"It is obvious that I can’t run for 90 minutes with the same intensity as when I was 20 to 18 years old,” she told Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated. “I try to read the game situations a little better in order to bring in my rhythm, according to the opportunities that arise during the match. But my playing style is the same."
Any question of her abilities beginning to fade was dismissed last year when she burst past three American defenders to score a stunning goal with her left foot.
The peloton behind her are definitely closing the gap. Current FIFA Women’s Player of the Year, Nadine Kessler, will miss the tournament through injury, but there are others that could make a case, if they perform this summer.
Marta is the joint all-time leading scorer at the Women’s World Cup with 14 goals. If she can shine on the biggest stage once again, then she could regain her title as the best the game has to offer.
One to Watch: Cristiane
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Football has enjoyed some great partnerships over the years: Yorke & Cole, Shearer & Sutton, Rush & Dalglish, and you can add Cristiane & Marta to that list.
For all the plaudits her teammate receives for being one of the greatest women’s players the game has ever seen, you can’t have Marta without Cristiane.
The 30-year-old is an excellent striker in her own right, which she proved as she finished top scorer in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, with six goals. That same amount saw her fire Brazil to qualification for this summer’s tournament.
When defences are too busy worrying about Marta, Cristiane uses her strength and guile to cause maximum damage. She has that beautiful and deadly combination of speed and power that helps her beat players out wide, but cause havoc in the penalty box.
World Cup Record
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1991 China: Group Stage (3rd, Group B)
Their 1-0 win over Japan was their only goal and only win.
1995 Sweden: Group Stage (4th, Group A)
They finished bottom of the group on goal difference after winning one of their three games.
1999 USA: Third place
After topping their group, they beat Nigeria 4-3 before losing in the semi-finals to the USA. They would beat Norway 5-4 on penalties to clinch third place.
2003 USA: Quarter-finalists
Although they topped their group, it didn't stop them falling 2-1 to Sweden in the quarter-finals.
2007 China: Runners-up
After finishing the group stage perfect, wins over Australia and the USA set up the final against Germany—they would lose 2-0.
2011 Germany: Quarter-finalists
Heartache for Brazil—eliminated after losing 5-3 to the USA on penalties.
Group Fixtures
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Brazil should have no problem escaping Group E. Spain are up and coming, and South Korea will give them a tough fight, but the South Americans will have more than enough to advance. However, even winning the group could see them faced with either Sweden or USA in the last 16.
Brazil vs. South Korea
June 9, 2015, 7 p.m. local time
Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec
Brazil vs. Spain
June 13, 2015, 4 p.m. local time
Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec
Costa Rica vs. Spain
June 17, 2015, 8 p.m. local time
Moncton Stadium, Moncton, New Brunswick
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