“We felt at home,” said Brazil’s defender Lauren Costa when asked about the fans’ support in Brazil’s 4-0 win against Panama at the Women’s World Cup. “When I entered the pitch and saw that nearly the whole stadium was Brazilian, wearing yellow and green, it made it much easier. We were able to feel a bit of Brazil here and it made me more comfortable.”
With tens of thousands of Brazilians living in Australia, huge support was expected. It was apparent in 2021 in two friendlies against Australia, including with a cheeky chant that claims capybaras are better than kangaroos, with some colourful language.
Since the Brazil team arrived in Australia, there have been fans waiting for pictures and autographs at hotels and training grounds. Before the Panama match hundreds of Brazilians got together with drums, dancers, balloons, mascots and signs to walk together to the stadium and support the players for 90 minutes. Just like Lauren said – it felt like home.
During training and on the pitch we are seeing a really comfortable Brazil. Even though many of the players are at their first World Cup and admit they are nervous, sessions are followed by games, jokes and funny interactions at press conferences. The sense is that they feel prepared and know what they’re doing.
This is why the perception of Brazil as an underdog is shifting. The match against France on Saturday – predicted as the toughest in the group – may put them on the right path to a first win in a knockout game since 2007. The union among the players is key to hopes of achieving that.
It is impressive to watch Brazil’s third goal against Panama, scored by Bia Zaneratto with a brilliant assist by Ary Borges. Ary had scored twice but gave up the chance of a hat-trick to roll the ball behind her, knowing her teammate would be there to take the shot. The finish is beautiful – but the buildup is even nicer. Even though Brazil have many stars, they have to play as a team to beat higher-ranked squads. Ary finished with a hat-trick anyway.
“We knew we had to impose our game, keep the ball, and I think I was really happy with the beautiful plays,” Ary said. “I was the lucky one to score [three goals]. I’m really happy with our collective game. You can score, but you can also pass the ball to your teammate. We’re not vain. The most important thing is to score more goals and be the best.”
As pointed out before in this newsletter, the future of Brazilian football is in the hands – and feet – of younger players such as Ary. They have absorbed what they need to survive at this World Cup and, maybe, take Brazil back to the top of world football.
Brazil’s performance in their first World Cup game under Pia Sundhage has key ingredients for a great story. It is not a fairytale, relying on supernatural elements, but a team formed of players who are well connected, communicative and get along off the pitch too. Sundhage’s work has joined her Swedish discipline with a Brazilian way of attacking, dribbling and creating relationships. In a World Cup where many teams are dealing with internal issues, Brazil feel like a breath of fresh air.
“This is a really competitive team,” Sundhage said. “We have many excellent players and they did really well. Bia played great and scored, Geyse subbed in well. We need this quality, we need our super subs. Together, looking at the bench, I see that they’re really positive, even though they may not play one single minute. Ary felt that support. It’s not a one-person act – it’s a team.”
It is a safe bet that if the Brazil players were not playing, they would join the fans on the way to the stadium, enjoying drinks, dances, and music. The Brazilian community in Australia has prepared another party for Saturday’s game in Brisbane, featuring another walk to the stadium to the sound of chants about capybaras, kangaroos and whatnot. We’ll see if it will be as contagious regarding events on the pitch as it was last time.
Recommended viewing
This shot by Spain’s Teresa Abelleira’s shot from outside the box stunned Zambian’s goalkeeper, Eunice Sakala, and reminded us of the dangers of allowing her space to shoot. Just gorgeous.
You don't save those 🚀
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 26, 2023
Teresa Abelleira kickstarted #ESP's 5-0 romping of Zambia with an absolute beauty...#FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/LDd8nVEnDf
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