Brazil goes all or nothing against Jamaica

O Brazil face the Jamaica this Wednesday (2) at 7 am (Brasília time) with a single objective: to win the match. Any other result will mean the elimination of the Brazilian team from the world Cup. The match, valid for Group F, puts Pia Sundhage’s team under pressure. Despite being behind the Jamaican team in the group, they drew the match against France, a rival that defeated Brazil in the last round.

The Brazilian team is favored this Wednesday because it has never lost or tied with Jamaica in the history of the confrontation. In 2019, at the last World Cup, the two teams faced each other in the first round and Brazil won 3-0. Despite the favorable record, the national team is avoiding the high jump.

In a press conference on the eve of the match, Pia praised the Jamaican team, highlighting the team’s speed and the great game played against France. According to her, the match is open and anything can happen. “A 0-0 draw, Jamaica are in, a 1-0 to Brazil, we’re in. One goal totally changes the game. So of course we’re prepared for that.”

After a great performance against Panama, the selection struggled against France. The two goals conceded in the game against the Europeans highlighted an old problem for Pia’s team: the aerial game. Of the 42 goals conceded by the team under the command of the Swede, 11 were headed. When asked about it, the trainer stated that she doesn’t see a problem with making a mistake, as long as she learns from it.

“We have the advantage now of talking about this situation and seeing how we can help each other. It’s obvious what happened, but we thought we were prepared, and it didn’t happen, we conceded the goal. Against Jamaica, the same thing is set pieces. , and the players shared their feelings and how we can help each other. They know what we want, now we have some actions to improve and not make this happen again.”

Concern about high balls does not seem to be an exaggeration. Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, Jamaica’s main player, returns to the team after serving a suspension against Panama. At 1.82m tall, the Manchester City striker is a danger when it comes to headers. “Bunny Shaw is strong in the air. She was suspended, but she will come back. We have to be connected”, said defender Rafaelle.

In addition to the concern with the aerial game, another unknown that permeates the game is the presence of Marta in the starting lineup. So far, the striker hasn’t started any of Brazil’s group matches. She, however, ensures that she is “100% ready” to act, but says she respects Pia’s decision.

“I’m prepared to play, I don’t know how many minutes, that’s up to Pia. But if I have to play the 90 minutes, I’ll play the whole time. If I have to play a few minutes, I’ll play a few minutes. I’m fine, training normally. There’s nothing to stop me from going in and playing all the time. I don’t know if I can play the 90, I’ll fight to play the 90 if she decides to put me on the field to play. I’m fine and prepared.”

This may be Marta’s last World Cup match, but the number 10 shirt ensures that doesn’t slow her down. “I’m so focused on the match that I didn’t stop to think that this could be my last World Cup press conference, because it won’t be. I’m confident and I believe we’re going to stay in the competition,” she said.

“BRAZIL WILL COME LIKE WILD HYENAS AFTER ITS PREY”

For Jamaica, the return of Bunny Shaw is the best news the team could have. With more goals than games for Manchester City, the striker promises to make the Brazilian defense hell. Jamaican coach Lorne Donalds expects Brazil to launch an attack in the opening minutes. According to him, the only chance for his team to survive is if they “fight fire with fire”.

“Attacks in waves, all the skillful players going on the attack. In the first 15 minutes, they will come out like a pack of wild hyenas after their prey”, compared the coach. The advantage of playing for a draw doesn’t seem to mean much to the coach.

For him, Jamaica must be prepared to go after Brazil in the same way that Brazil will go after Jamaica. “We can’t just sit back and say, ‘Let’s just defend the whole game.’ We have to play both sides. We have to go after goals too.”