Derby for the women’s Brazilian is a showcase for a place in the Cup – 04/16/2023 – Sport

In the final stretch of preparation for the World Cup, Pia Sundhage will probably have the challenge of closing her squad without the Brazilian team playing any more games. The dispute, with headquarters divided between Australia and New Zealand, will start in July.

The way is to observe names that can still win a place in the team. The Swedish coach understands how essential it is to have plans A, B and C in building the team, although she has not specified for which positions she is still looking for alternatives.

In the last window of commitments of the green-and-yellow team —who lost to England on the 6th, in the Final, and beat Germany in a friendly last week—, Pia said that there is still room for “anyone who is playing well in their club”.

Until the World Cup, the coach’s plan is to look for possible reinforcements in important games, such as the derby this Monday (17), between Corinthians and Palmeiras, at 6:30 pm, in Parque São Jorge, for the seventh round of the Brazilian Championship. The duel will be shown by SporTv.

It is a meeting that is already worth enough due to the rivalry and the position of the table — two points ahead of the arch-enemy, Corinthians can take back the lead, provisionally taken by Ferroviária. And, for the athletes, it is also an opportunity to stand out, as has been done by striker Letícia Ferreira, from Palmeiras, top scorer in the tournament, with six goals.

In the last round alone, she scored three times in the thrashing of Ceará by 11 to 0. Although she makes a point of emphasizing that her main objective is always to help the Alviverde team, the São Paulo native does not abandon her “child’s dream” of defending the selection.

“I’m in a very good moment of my career, I want to continue doing good performances with the Palmeiras shirt, helping my team and my companions”, said Letícia to Sheet. “Every athlete dreams of representing the national team, and if the opportunity to wear hopscotch one day comes along, I’ll do my best.”

The 22-year-old player knows that the Palmeiras team is a good showcase. In Pia’s last call-up, two of her companions were called up, strikers Bia Zaneratto, 29, and Duda Santos, 27.

Letícia considers it a privilege to play alongside them. “The two have the profile of welcoming and teaching. Duda helps and encourages me a lot, and Bia is an athlete that I have always admired”, she said.

Bia will probably not be able to help her team against Corinthians. She suffered an injury during Brazil’s game against England. After confirming a muscle edema in the left calf, she was unable to play against the Germans and has been undergoing treatment.

The injury ended up leaving the striker out of the match considered by Pia Sundhage as “one of the best that Brazil had” under her command. The Swede took over the national team in July 2019, with the mission of renewing the squad for the disputes of the World Cup this year and the Olympic Games in Paris, in 2024.

Five Corinthians players were on the pitch in that triumph over Germany: goalkeeper Lelê, wingers Yasmim and Tamires —responsible for the team’s first goal—, midfielder Luana and striker Gabi Portilho, which shows the weight of Derby this season. Monday and reinforces its importance as a way to reach the Canarinho team.

Half of the 26 players who were taken to the last two commitments of the selection work in Brazilian football.

Two of them were called up by Pia for the first time to the first team. This is the case of goalkeeper Camila, from Santos, and striker Aline, from Ferroviária, examples of which surprises can still appear for the World Cup dispute, although a period without games for the selection may make this difficult.

The CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) works, for now, only with the possibility of holding a friendly farewell to the fans, in a Brazilian stadium, at the end of June. Until then, the only way to get the coach’s attention will be with good games for the clubs.

Brazil is in Group F of the World Cup, alongside France, Jamaica and Panama. The crossing of the round of 16 will be with Group H, which has Germany, Colombia, South Korea and Morocco.

Stronger selections, such as Australia, Canada and England, can also cross the Brazilian path to the final. Pia, however, is confident that he will lead a squad capable of bringing the cup.

“At the World Cup there will be at least ten countries that can win. It’s very competitive. So why can’t it be us?”