Marta concerns cloud Brazil's Cup buildup

SAO PAULO — Marta has won the world player of the year award six times but has never won the Women's World Cup in five previous attempts with Brazil.

That's something she and the team want to change.

Marta has been recovering from a knee injury but the 37-year-old striker is expected to play a role in Brazil's bid for the title at the tournament co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Brazil will be coached at a World Cup by a European for the first time; Pia Sundhage has had nearly four years to transform the team.

Sundhage, who led the United States to two Olympic gold medals, called up Marta for friendlies against England and Germany in April but the forward remained in Florida to recover from a muscle injury in her left leg.

She later declared she was 100 percent ready to play, although the doubts over her fitness have persisted.

Marta had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament last year after injuring her left knee during a club game in the United States. She was sidelined from the national team for 11 months, only returning to play for Brazil in a friendly against Japan in February.

Regardless of Marta's level of fitness, Sundhage believes Brazil is among a group of 10 teams that could win the title.

The coach also insists her team has improved since the penalty shootout loss in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Canada at the Tokyo Olympics, a result that cast doubt on the team rebuilding job started in 2019.

Brazil, one of the three South American teams in the tournament, is expected to advance to the knockout stage in Group F. The group also includes France, the team that eliminated the Brazilians four years ago in the last 16, Jamaica and Panama.

Only eight players involved in Brazil's last Women's World Cup campaign are expected to go to Australia for the group games — goalkeeper Leticia; defenders Kathellen, Rafaelle and Tamires; and forwards Bia Zaneratto, Debinha, Geyse and Marta.

Brazil performed well in its two latest friendlies despite Marta's absence, holding European champion England to a 1-1 draw before losing the Finalissima on penalties at Wembley on April 6. Days later, Brazil beat second-ranked Germany 2-1 in Nuremberg.

Sundhage said the win over Germany was among Brazil's best performances since she took over.

"And we did that playing against one of the best teams in Europe," said the Swede after the match, saying it gave the team more confidence for the World Cup "including confidence for myself".

Brazil will play a final World Cup warm-up match at home on Sunday against Chile in Brasilia.

Agencies via Xinhua