The stumbling loss of the Brazilian National Team, beaten by France by 2-1, this Saturday (29th), in Australia, did not shake coach Pia Sundhage’s confidence with regard to qualifying for the second phase of the World Cup. On Wednesday (2), the team has to beat Jamaica to advance in the competition.
Pia praised the team’s performance in the second half, when the team managed to tie the game, with a goal by Debinha, and regretted the carelessness that allowed defender Renard to score the decisive goal with a header, at the end of the match.
“There was a lack of connection between the players from the ball out to the attack and a little bit of attitude, we were not happy in the first half and I need to understand why that happened. We needed to play more in the Brazilian style. We tried to change that and, after the break, the team improved. We were surprised at the beginning with Franca’s offensiveness”, said Pia.
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The critical analysis, however, does not diminish Pia Sundhage’s optimism for the national team to pass the stage – with Jamaica’s victory over Panama, also this Saturday (1-0), Brazil will face the Jamaicans with the obligation to win.
“We will have a second chance and that makes me happy. The full focus is now on Jamaica. I hope that in the next games we can keep possession of the ball, which we didn’t manage against France”, she said.
The coach praised the support of the Brazilian fans, the majority at Brisbane Stadium, and said that the result hurts more because of the encouragement that came from the stands.
“I had never experienced anything like this, so much support, so much noise. This makes defeat even more unpalatable. But now we have Jamaica, we want a happier team, with more joy, like the beautiful Brazilian game, something we have to recover”, she pointed out.
