The Brazilian Women’s National Team faces France this Saturday (3rd) in search of a spot in the semifinals of the Paris Olympic football tournament. The match against the hosts will kick off at 9 PM (4 PM in Brasília) at La Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes.
If the game ends in a draw, the qualification will be decided by penalty shootouts. On Wednesday night, still in Bordeaux, after confirming Brazil’s presence in the quarterfinals, the coaching staff began analyzing France’s playing style.
The team, led by Arthur Elias, will be missing two players: Marta, who received a red card in the match against Spain and is serving a suspension, and Antônia, who suffered a fracture in her left fibula.
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Due to the team’s fatigue from the match against Spain, which included 20 minutes of stoppage time with two players less on the field, the Brazilian National Team did not hold any training sessions the day before the match. The athletes underwent physiotherapy sessions and other recovery procedures.
At their hotel in Nantes, they participated in technical meetings with Arthur Elias and his assistants, where they discussed game strategies to face France and identified the opponents’ strengths that need to be neutralized.
With the knockout stage featuring the eight best teams, the nature of the matches changes: each game is like a final. This is how the Brazilian athletes are approaching this “first decision.” There is no lack of optimism. They know that France is a tough opponent but value their own team’s potential.
“If we are among the eight, it’s because we have the ability to compete and advance in the tournament, and I am very confident that we will secure this spot,” said Arthur Elias, who confirmed Rafaelle’s return to defense—she missed the match against Spain due to muscle discomfort after the game against Japan.
Although absent from the match in Nantes, Marta has been very involved with the group, interacting with her teammates and boosting morale. She also expressed confidence about the outcome of Brazil vs. France. “We’re going for it, we’re going to win this spot; the girls are focused.”
