On August 7 at 3 a.m., the Olympic women’s football tournament will see a semi-final match between Brazil and Spain.
Brazil is currently ranked 9th in the world. Their performance in the group stage was not outstanding. They were grouped with Nigeria, Japan, and Spain. Across three matches, apart from their 1-0 victory over Nigeria in the first game, they lost 1-2 to Japan and 0-2 to Spain in the following two matches. However, due to Australia having one fewer goal difference than Brazil, Brazil managed to advance luckily.
In the quarter-finals, Brazil faced host nation France, defeating the world’s second-ranked team thanks to Portillo’s only goal of the match in the 82nd minute. As dark horses, they advanced to the semi-finals. Over four games, the team scored three goals and conceded four. Their defensive performance has gradually become stronger. Facing the world’s top-ranked Spain, they hope to avenge their 0-2 loss in the group stage.
Spain is currently ranked 1st in the world and are considered the favorites to win this Olympic tournament. In the group stage, Spain beat Japan 2-1, Nigeria 1-0, and Brazil 2-0 in the final match. With three consecutive victories, they confidently advanced to the quarter-finals. There, they faced Colombia, another dark horse of the tournament. Colombia gave Spain a tough time, forcing them to equalize in the 97th minute after trailing by two goals. They eventually advanced on penalties.
Over four matches, Spain scored seven goals within regular time, demonstrating the attacking prowess of a championship contender. Defensively, they conceded three goals, but the physical toll of the Colombia match cannot be overlooked, especially considering it was only four days ago. Stamina could be an issue for them.
This match is a clash of titans. Brazil’s star player Marta faces a two-match suspension due to kicking an opponent, meaning she will miss this semi-final. Brazil has appealed the decision, but it is unlikely to be overturned in the short term.
Brazil has seen a decline in strength in recent years, and now their key player is absent. Meanwhile, Spain is fully prepared, maintaining good form in recent years. This makes the match more challenging for Brazil. The winner will face either the United States or Germany in the final.
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