Brazil's women hope to end soccer final blues

SAO PAULO: Brazil's women's soccer team, runner-up at the 2004 Olympic Games and last year's World Cup, will be better prepared if it gets to the final again in Beijing, captain Marta said in an interview.

"The team is certainly stronger now and better prepared psychologically to play in a final," she told Reuters.

"Something positive has definitely come out of the competitions in which we've taken part, we are always gaining experience," added Marta, FIFA's Women's Player of the Year for the last two seasons.