TERESOPOLIS, Brazil — Brazil striker Marta may begin the Women’s World Cup on the bench whereas she continues to get better from a left knee harm, Brazil coach Pia Sundhage stated in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday.
Sundhage doesn’t understand how lengthy the six-time FIFA participant of the yr will have the ability to play in every match of the match that begins subsequent month in Australia and New Zealand. Brazil‘s first recreation is towards Panama on July 24 in Adelaide.
“I don’t know whether she will be in the starting lineup. She could come off the bench as well. I am sure she will give everything,” Sundhage instructed the AP at Brazil‘s coaching floor in Teresopolis, 95 kilometers (60 miles) exterior Rio de Janeiro. “We have a pair extra days to place this crew collectively. It is just not solely about Marta.
“Let’s say she was the best player in the world. You are still a team and you have to build that team. Some of the players just get connected,” the 63-year-old Swedish coach stated. “Depending on what is happening out there we have some options. One of the best things of this team is that we are flexible and can still keep our confidence.”
The 37-year-old Marta is taking part in in her sixth – and presumably final – World Cup for Brazil, which has by no means gained the match. Marta went by surgical procedure to restore a torn anterior cruciate ligament final yr after injuring her left knee throughout a membership recreation within the United States. She returned to the nationwide crew after an 11-month absence in February towards Japan. She didn’t play in Brazil‘s two friendlies towards England and Germany in April.
Brazil is one in all three South American groups within the match, together with Argentina and Colombia. Brazil is in Group F with France – the crew that eradicated the Brazilians 4 years in the past within the final 16 – Jamaica and Panama.
Brazil will announce a remaining squad on Tuesday and play a final exhibition in entrance of house followers on July 2 towards Chile in Brasilia.
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