The Brazilian Women’s National Team prepares for another duel. In a press conference held this Tuesday (1) alongside coach Pia Sundhage, Marta shared reflections on her career, the evolution of women’s football and also commented on the decisive match against Jamaica, scheduled for tomorrow (2), at 7 am (Brasília time), at the Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.
The retrospect is favorable for the Brazilians, who won the two previous clashes against the Jamaicans. With the possibility of entering the field, Marta designed the last duel of the group stage against Jamaica, emphasizing the importance of a victory to guarantee the classification for the next stage.
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“Every game is different, the favorite doesn’t always win. We have to respect the opponent, regardless of who is on the other side. It’s 11 against 11. I’ve never seen anyone play with 12 or 13. We have to make it happen on the pitch, so that we can feel comfortable in this situation. Before the ball rolls, everything is the same. When it rolls, we have to show our football. This will depend on our performance, until then, nothing has been defined”, said Marta.
“Of course the game will be nervous, because it is a knockout game. For us, it started ahead of schedule. We have a qualified team, but these are games for great competitions. We are playing a World Cup, we have to be prepared for everything. For those of us who have already lived through this moment, we have to be prepared. As Pia said, tomorrow is a decisive game, and we don’t want to go home early. We want to continue in the competition”, she added.
Evolution and Marta in the field
When reflecting on her evolution since 2007, Marta recognizes the experience she has accumulated over the years and how this has influenced her choices on the field. She also stressed that she is fully prepared to face Jamaica again, and stated that she will give her all during the match.
“The 2007 Marta was faster. Today I have to think more about how to act on the pitch. With all this experience and all these years of career, I’m going to try, in some way, both on and off the pitch, to convey peace of mind and show that we are capable of beating Jamaica again. It happened in 2007, it happened in 2019 and it will happen tomorrow, I hope”, she commented.
“I’m prepared to play, I don’t know how many minutes, that’s up to her (Pia), but if I have to play all the time, I’ll play. If I have to play a few minutes, I’ll play a few minutes. I’m fine, training normally. There’s nothing to stop me from going into the game tomorrow and doing my best. I don’t know if I can play the 90 minutes, I’ll fight to play the 90 if she decides to put me on the field to play. I’m well and prepared”, she emphasized.
#together
In 2003, Marta emerged on the world stage. Today, she has become the biggest reference in global women’s football. As the most experienced player in the squad, the ‘Queen’ is playing in her last World Cup. Therefore, she became a source of motivation for her teammates.
“I’m happy when I hear this from girls, that they want to win this Cup for me, but they have to win it for them. This World Cup is not just about me, it’s about women’s football in general, about this generation that is emerging and it will take this work for many years. It’s for all of us. Not just about Marta. If it motivates them a little more, let’s go ahead, let’s fight.”
The Queen’s Legacy
In 2023, Marta is a symbol of struggle, inspiration and determination for thousands of women around the world. When she started her journey in soccer, it was difficult to find references in the sport, which made the path for girls who dreamed of playing soccer more challenging. However, over the years, the situation has changed significantly. Currently, Marta and her generation are recognized as global references, both on and off the pitch, inspiring a new generation of athletes.
“You know what’s cool? When I started playing, I didn’t have an idol in women’s football. The press did not show a women’s soccer game. How was I going to understand that I could be a player, reach the national team, and become a reference? Today we go out on the street and parents talk. “My daughter wants to be just like you.” Today we have our own references. This would not have happened if we had stopped at the obstacles. We ask a lot that our generation continues to inspire more girls.”
“Twenty years ago, in 2003, nobody knew Marta. 20 years later, we have become a reference for the whole world. Not only in football, but in journalism as well. Today we see women here that we didn’t see in the past. We ended up opening doors to equality”, she concluded with emotion.
