According to Brazil’s Lance! sports newspaper, in the women’s soccer semifinals of the Paris Olympics, the Brazilian team surprisingly defeated the favorites Spain with a 4-2 scoreline, advancing to the final and setting their sights on the gold medal. Their opponents will be familiar foes—the United States women’s national team, a squad that has twice dashed Brazil’s hopes in Olympic finals.
For Brazil’s captain Marta, this clash brings back memories of the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when the US team scored decisive goals in extra time through Wambach and Carli Lloyd, consecutively thwarting Brazil’s dreams of gold.
The 38-year-old Marta, though no longer at her peak, has still displayed her football intelligence and skills during the Paris Olympics. Despite receiving a red card against Spain in the group stage, leading to a two-match suspension, this legendary player remains a key choice for Brazil’s head coach Arthur Elias.
However, Lance! points out that Brazil managed to defeat France and Spain even without Marta, which may indicate uncertainty about her starting position in the final, although Marta’s experience and leadership are invaluable assets for the Brazilian women’s team in their quest for Olympic gold.
Additionally, despite losing to the US in two Olympic finals, Marta led Brazil to a 5-0 victory over the US in the Maracanã Stadium during the 2007 Pan American Games, scoring two crucial penalties and securing a gold medal for Brazil.
Now, Marta and the Brazilian women’s team stand at another historic moment, and they will give it their all to fulfill their long-held dream of winning Olympic gold and rewriting the chapter of Brazilian women’s football history.