Well thank you for joining me for this match. Brazilian football always promises some magic and they definitely produced it, especially Ary Borges who scored a hat-trick on her World Cup debut. We will be back with more live coverage of the tournament tomorrow, for now you can recap the action:
This feature is worth a read:
This game sees the end of the first round of group games! You can click here to see where you team sits in the group tables. The second round of group matches gets underway tomorrow.
Brazil’s coach Pia Sundhage told ITV: “We’re happy, it is the first game. It is always difficult. Four goals and we played quite well. Ary is happy scoring a hat-trick.”
There have been two other games today, here is a recap of the action from those:
This goal is already getting shouts for goal of the tournament, what do you think? (The clip is from ITV so not everyone may have access):
Ary Borges, stop that 😮💨
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 24, 2023
Borges hits the BACKHEEL assist to tee up Bia Zaneratto for #BRA's third... Samba style 🇧🇷#FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/Zsf8L3RI8a
Ary Borges now sits on top of the Golden Boot race, overtaking the US’ Sophia Smith.
Full-time! Brazil 4-0 Panama
Brazil run riot as they give Panama a welcome to the World Cup in a 4-0 thrashing. Panama showed glimpses of brilliance but they did not have enough time on the ball to really put a good attack together. Ary Borges shines but Brazil have top class players throughout.
90 + 9 min: Brazil continue to push for a fifth, the team do not even look like they have dropped their fitness levels.
90 + 7 min: Another powerful shot from Brazil, they are looking so strong and slick today.
90 + 5 min: Tanner has a great chance and forces Leticia to make a save! She has had a great impact on this Panama side. They keep coming and they win their first corner of the game, Castillo takes the set piece but Tanner’s resulting chance is over the bar.
90 + 4 min: Marta takes the free kick but it is straight at Bailey who collects.
90 + 3 min: Brazil win a free kick on the edge of the area as Natis fouls Nunes. Pinzon takes a long time getting to her feet as she is challenged before the set piece is taken but she is okay to continue.
90 + 1 min: There will be nine added minutes as Brazil line-up for another corner. They take it short but it eventually comes in and Tanner clears.
90 min: Brazil win a corner and Marta will ping it in. It’s a good delivery but none of her teammates can collect it.
89 min: Duda takes it and it is a beautiful delivery but Natis heads out for a corner. It’s in and Geyse tries a bicycle kick but it doesn’t come off.
88 min: The pace has slowed in these closing stages but the job is done here. Geyse draws a foul and Brazil have a free kick.
86 min: Duda gives away the ball but Brazil are able to recover, Panama have a shot though through Cedeno but it’s blocked. Panama win a free kick in a great spot, Castillo will take it. It’s in but it’s headed away.
84 min: Adriana pops it into the box but it is over the head over everyone. Panama make another change as Montenegro comes on for Vargas.
82 min: Duda passes to Nunes, who takes a beautiful touch but she lays it off. Nunez is then taken down in the box by Vargas, Brazil appeal for a penalty but nothing is given. Another Brazil chance as Geyse puts it just wide. They are absolutely relentless.
80 min: Panama make a change as Cox is off for Cedeno. Tamires attempts an ambitious pass but it is out of play.
78 min: Lovely bit of build-up play but Kerolin attempts a long range effort which is way wide. Panama’s Cox battles well to get the side a chance but Castillo’s shot is over the bar.
76 min: Brazil make two changes with Ary Borges and Luana off for Marta and Duda Sampaio. Marta is on for her SIXTH World Cup.
75 min: The crowd go wild as Marta gets ready to come on – 4-0 up and able to bring on Marta, incredible. Gonzalez is down with an injury, she looks in a bit of pain but she is quickly back to her feet.
74 min: Pinzon is fouled and Brazil are able to clear. Kerolin fires another shot but it is blocked. Panama’s game has been brighter in this second half but Brazil’s brilliance is stamping it out.
72 min: Ary Borges is the first Brazilian player to score a hat-trick on their World Cup debut!
GOAL! Brazil 4-0 Panama (Ary Borges, 70')
That’s the hat-trick! Geyse crosses a lovely ball in and Ary Borges heads home.
Updated
70 min: Tamires crosses in but Bailey clears. Geyse has a loose pass which gifts Panama the ball but then Tanner loses out.
68 min: Kerolin is so close to adding Brazil’s fourth! She makes a great run, takes a touch around a defender but her shot is wide.
66 min: Quintero has been taken off as a concussion sub. Brazil have a corner and it comes to Rafaelle and Bailey saves!
66 min: Natis clearly shoves a Brazilian player there but no foul and Panama are off on an attack. Tanner finds herself in a one-on-one with Leticia but the keeper comes out to make contact. She does enough to quell the threat and after a VAR check is cleared for a potential dangerous tackle.
64 min: Luana is quickly back to her feet but Quintero needs more attention. I think she is okay to continue also, great news. The play is back underway.
62 min: Geyse makes a great first touch and run to get Brazil into the box but Bruninha’s shot is way over the bar. A nasty clash of heads here between Quintero and Luana. A break in play as they receive treatment.
60 min: Panama get in a great position and Baltrip-Reyes rallies off a shot, it’s on target but Leticia collects. Brazil make a triple change with Geyse, Nunez and Bruninha are on for Debinha, Zaneratto and Antonia off.
58 min: Adriana heads wide and then a loose pass from Pinzon almost sees Brazil pounce but the shot it wide.
56 min: Brazil continue to pull all the strings. In other news, water is wet.
54 min: Tamires is a constant threat, she gets it into the box again but it just skims her teammates. Kerolin gets a great chip over the top but
Zaneratto’s shot is wide. Panama make two changes with Riley and Mills off for Tanner and Cedeno.
52 min: The corner is played short but booted in, Panama manage to head away.
52 min: The only criticism of Brazil’s game in the first half was that they could have scored more and they seem to have taken the message onboard. Brazil have a corner, it comes in and Box sees it out for another corner.
50 min: Brazil so calm and collected in front of goal, a frantic Panama defence just allows their opposition to take their time and convert.
GOAL! Brazil 3-0 Panama ( Zaneratto, 49')
Tamires gets a cross in and it comes to Ary Borges, she lays it off to
Zaneratto who smashes it home.
Updated
47 min: Brazil start the second half just as they first, completely dominant.
Back underway! Brazil 2-0 Panama
The second 45 minutes is underway! Panama have made a change with Jaen off for Natis. Brace for more goals …
Will Brazil just keep scoring in this? And will Marta get on for some of the action? Let me know your thoughts.
Here is the report from Germany Morocco played earlier today:
Apologies for that scattered end to the first half, my TV’s signal went poof! But I have the stream on and I will be all over it in the second half.
Half-time! Brazil 2-0 Panama
Panama kept Brazil at bay until the 19th minute when Ary Borges struck and while the goals have not flooded in, Ary Borges cemented the team’s momentum with a second before the break. Will this become the biggest loss at the tournament so far? That stands at 6-0 from the earlier game between Germany and Morocco.
Updated
45 min: My TV is in and out right now, I’m switching to ITVX for the second half! But Brazil are still on top on this encounter – Bailey thwarting another chance before half-time.
44 min: Panama win a free kick inside their own half so they will have to build from deep but the chance is quickly closed down.
42 min: Bailey gets her team out of danger, the keeper is having a good game so far. Kari has got in touch and said: “If it weren’t for Brazilian profligacy, they would be four or five up. After being pleasantly surprised by the evenness of the contests so far, this match and Germany’s 6-0 victory feels like a resetting of expectations.” I think the goals will just keep coming in this one, Brazil not taking their foot of the gas one bit.
GOAL! Brazil 2-0 Panama (Ary Borges, 40)
It’s Ary Borges again! She hits it in after a pinpoint cross.
Updated
38 min: It’s pinged in but Panama again read it well, the set pieces aren’t quite coming off for Brazil yet. It is not long until Brazil are back on the front foot and it just sails over the head of Ary Borges.
36 min: Brazil have a free kick in another good position, Tamires is over the ball and it comes to Debinha who tries a bicycle kick. It comes back out but Brazil cannot convert, it is out for a corner though.
34 min: Leticia, the Brazilian keeper, has touched the ball twice so far this game. Debinha took a knock but she looks okay to continue – she has been such a threat so far.
32 min: My TV has decided to not pick up a signal so bare with as I deal with technical difficulties! I am back up and running! Brazil have a corner and they take it short again bit Panama have the read of these set pieces and deal with it well.
30 min: A pass to Antonia is out of play and Panama can relieve some pressure for a few seconds. Brazil immediately get the ball back but they’re shot is off target. Panama need to be more concise and get closer to Brazil, they need to smother the attack.
28 min: Bailey concedes a corner and Ary Borges takes it. They take it short again but Quintero does really well to shepherd it out of play for a goal kick.
26 min: The Panama goal is being peppered with chances, how it is still 1-0 I do not know. Brazil can stretch the ball from one end to the other in a matter of seconds, it will be a long afternoon for the debutants.
24 min: Debinha is tackled on the edge of the area but it is clean challenge, Brazil’s ball recovery is currently seven seconds. What a stat!
23 min: Now will this just set the scoring underway or can Panama find a way into this game? Their first goal should be to keep the ball longer than a few passes, Brazil are making it impossible for them at the moment. Another shot comes in from Ary Borges but Bailey does well to handle it.
21 min: I think that is the sixth or seventh goal consecutively scored with a header at this World Cup.
GOAL! Brazil 1-0 Panama (Ary Borges, 19')
It was coming and there it is. So much space and Ary Borges hits it home.
Updated
18 min: Debinha takes the free kick, Panama commit six to the wall, but it’s wide.
Updated
17 min: Ary Borges takes the corner short but it eventually gets popped into the box but it has too much on it. Brazil now win a free kick on the edge of the box, this could be the opener here.
16 min: Brazil are definitely the team in control but they aren’t being as clinical as they would want, some loose passes and misplaced shots. The crowd come to life as Panama look to break but Brazil close them down quickly. Adriana makes a great run and cross but her teammates can’t leap to convert but they do win a corner.
14 min: Cox looked in a bit of trouble there after a tackle but she is okay to continue. Brazil are still in full control and Debinha almost gets on the end of a good ball in the box.
12 min: Debinha makes a great run but doesn’t pull the trigger fast enough and Panama manage to close down the chance. Bailey confidently takes the ball with another Brazil chance. The longer Panama cane keep Brazil from scoring the better.
10 min: A foul from Vargas allows Brazil to set up once again, the opening goal feels inevitable it’s just a question of when. Zaneratto has a lovely one two and then rattles off a shot which is just over the bar.
8 min: Panama have not been allowed any time on the ball yet, Brazil are looking lethal. An uncharacteristic loose pass and Panama will have a throw in but they quickly lose out.
6 min: Brazil are being allowed too much space and they can take time forming their game. A cross came in but Debinha can’t keep her shot on target. Brazil are back on the charge quickly and it comes to Antonia but her shot is over the bar.
4 min: Brazil are forming an attack again, they have been relentless in these early stages. This time it is sent out for a goal kick.
3 min: The corner is taken short but it is deflected out for another corner. Ary Borges sends it in again and Zaneratto gets a touch to it but Bailey saves again. A lively start!
2 min: Brazil have never lost an opening game at a World Cup and they almost got a perfect start but Bailey saves! A corner to come.
Kick-off! Brazil 0-0 Panama
Will Panama cause problems for Brazil? Or will Brazil storm to a dominant victory? We will soon find out …
Some emotional scenes as the Panama anthem is played for the first time at a women’s World Cup. We are just a few minutes away.
This is the first time Brazil and Panama have faced one another in football! The players have made their way out for the anthems, we are about to get underway.
Marta starts on the bench and if she comes on today she will win her 187th cap for Brazil! She is such an icon. If she manages to score, she will have scored at six World Cups. Legend.
Have a read of this feature on Brazil:
Earlier today Italy and Argentina played one another and the former managed to nab the win. Catch up with all the action:
And on Brazil’s rising star: “At 17 years old, Aline Gomes has a huge future. The attacking midfielder has explosive physicality, serious dribbling skills and speed. She came through the ranks at Ferroviária and made her international debut against England at Wembley.” Read the full guide:
Here’s some info on Panama’s star player Marta Cox: “The midfielder was introduced to football by her aunt Raiza Gutierrez, who was captain of the national team in the late 1990s, and made her debut for Panama’s under-20 team aged just 14. She has gone on to win the league title with Chorrillo FC and CD Universitario, and became the first Panamanian player to win the Costa Rica women’s league when with Alajuelense. In 2021 she became the first Panamanian to play in the Mexican Women’s MX League with Club León and in 2022 the first Panamanian to play for Pachuca Femenil, where she shares a dressing room with elite players such as Spain’s Jenni Hermoso. Cox is an idol for girls from poor neighborhoods who see in her an inspiration that it is possible to travel the world and play football regardless of social class.” Read the full guide:
The Golden Boot race is on with Alexandra Popp putting herself within a chance of lifting it, have a read of the live tracker:
If you were a manager of a general team and could choose any striker who would you choose? Alexandra Popp? Sophia Smith? Alessia Russo? Let me know via Twitter and email.
Germany are ahead against Morocco, that game is still ongoing, thanks goals from Alexandra Popp, a score from Klara Buhl and an own goal. The scores mean Popp has scored in her last six matches at major tournaments. She scored in every Euros game she played in (Popp didn’t appear in the final because of injury):
Brazil starting XI: Leticia, Antonia, Rafaelle, Lauren, Tamires, Luana, Adriana, Ary Borges, Kerolin, Bia Zaneratto, Debinha
The Panama team news is in!
Starting XI: Bailey, Jaen, Castillo, Pinzon, Gonzalez, Riley, cox, Mills, Vargas, Quintero, Baltrip Reyes.
I’m still tracking down the Brazil team news.
The referee for today’s match is Cheryl Foster, the first Welsh person to referee a World Cup match since Clive Thomas in 1978! Team news to follow shortly.
Preamble
We have come to the final game of day four at this World Cup and what a match it will be with Brazil taking on Panama. It is football giants against tournament debutants and while many may expect a huge Brazil win, this World Cup has proved the underdogs can hold their ground.
Brazil will definitely hold the favourites tag in the encounter. They have qualified for every World Cup and made it to the final in 2007 but they were beaten by Germany. Marta was the top scorer in that tournament and she still remains in the Brazil team – a talisman of the sport.
Panama will have the goal of getting out of the group – which also includes Jamaica and France – after winning seven qualifiers and only losing two. But as Jamaica displayed yesterday, it is possible to get something out of a game many predict you’ll lose.
The game will get underway in an hour’s time but the countries will release their team news shortly. Stay tuned!
