The coach of the Brazilian Women’s National Team, Arthur Elias, turned 43 on Monday (5) and received a cake during lunch, along with congratulations from the athletes, coaching staff, delegation members, and the president of CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues. He joined in the “Happy Birthday” song led by the players at the hotel hosting the team in Marseille, France.
In his gratitude, he mentioned that he is experiencing a special moment in his personal life and in leading the Brazilian National Team, expressing hope that his gift would arrive tomorrow (Tuesday), without needing to specify that he was referring to the team’s qualification for the final of the Olympic football tournament in Paris.
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“My gift will be for all of us, I hope. It’s a very big dream that we are very close to achieving, as you know, and I’m sure it will work out,” said Arthur before blowing out the candle on the chocolate cake provided by chef Eduardo Menezes.
In Marseille, Brazil faces Spain in the semifinal of the competition on Tuesday at 9 PM (4 PM Brasília time). The other match in the round, between the United States and Germany, will take place three hours earlier in Lyon.
The Brazilian delegation was in Nantes, where Brazil played against France on Saturday (3) and won 1-0, marking their first victory in history against the French national team. On Sunday afternoon, the group flew to Marseille. It is very hot in the second-largest city in the country, one of the venues for the Paris Games.
On the morning of Monday (5), around the hotel located in the Vieux Port area—Marseille’s Old Port—many people were seen wearing jerseys of the Spanish national team, with only a few sporting something representing Brazil.
Part of the reason for the large presence of Spaniards in the city was the upcoming match on Tuesday against the Brazilian Women’s National Team, as they were also gathering for the men’s semifinal match between Spain and Morocco today in Marseille.
