The street to the 2027 World Cup is lengthy and winding for all groups hoping to qualify – aside from the hosts, Brazil. Having received their ninth Copa América Femenina in the summertime, their subsequent main event would be the World Cup in 20 months.
That will seem to be a very long time however the head coach, Arthur Elias, is conscious that each minute of preparation counts, beginning with their friendlies towards England in Manchester on Saturday after which Italy in Parma on Tuesday.
By dealing with European opposition, Elias hopes his gamers will be capable to check themselves in numerous situations and towards completely different taking part in kinds to these most of them expertise again dwelling. It's also a possibility to check themselves towards probably the greatest groups on the earth. “These video games are actually essential for us to see how we behave collectively when dealing with completely different groups with completely different kinds,” he stated on the squad announcement. “We're at a stage the place we're consolidating our crew id.
“We're taking part in towards two nice European groups. England have received the previous two Euros and Italy reached the semis final time round and performed rather well. We've got taken that under consideration after we chosen this squad. We wish to give alternatives to youthful payers. Our common age is now 24 years previous, which we predict is right when looking forward to 2027.”
Elias doesn't have all his key gamers obtainable. He was anticipating to be with out Actual Madrid's Antônia and Manchester Metropolis's Kerolin due to accidents however for the reason that squad announcement he has additionally misplaced Atlético Madrid's Gio Garbelini and her alternative, Debinha of KC Present. São Paulo's 22-year-old ahead Isabelle Caroline has been referred to as up.
Elias acquired worldwide recognition in 2024 when he took Brazil to a silver medal on the Paris Olympics and was one in all three finalists for The Greatest Fifa Girls's coach, ending solely behind England's Sarina Wiegman and Barcelona's Jonatan Giráldez.
Since their achievement on the Olympics, Brazilian gamers have had extra visibility overseas with document transfers to the NWSL in addition to European leagues. The 24-year-old Isabela Chagas could make her senior nationwide crew debut towards England after finishing a €300,000 (£260,000) transfer from Cruzeiro to Paris Saint-Germain, a document sale for the Brazilian crew.
The trajectory is clearly upwards however the recreation towards the Lionesses on the Etihad Stadium will likely be a problem. “England are a crew we studied fairly properly, and can check us on the highest degree,” Elias says. “They may check our assault, since they've an excellent, compact defence, and we might want to fear concerning the high quality of their attacking gamers. Having stated that, they should take care of our high quality too.”
The final time the 2 groups confronted one another was in 2023 for the inaugural Girls's Finalissima – between the Copa América and Euro champions – with England successful on penalties after a pulsating 1-1 draw. Again then, Brazil had been coached by Pia Sundhage who preferred to play with a again 5.
Anticipate a extra proactive attacking method below Elias. His groups could range in model however they constantly look to get on the entrance foot. It may well go away them uncovered, although, as occurred within the Copa América ultimate towards Colombia, the place they scored 4 however conceded as many and wanted penalties to safe the win. “England and Italy have very completely different kinds,” he says “and dealing with them in such a brief time period is a problem. We'll want, in a single coaching session, to place a unique system in place, with completely different gamers' traits, so we will win each video games.”
In the mean time, with 20 months nonetheless to go earlier than a house World Cup, Elias's plan is to check his crew as a lot as doable. He desires to consolidate a squad, but additionally create choices for the way forward for the Brazilian nationwide crew. “We've got made 10 modifications to the crew that simply received the Copa América. I imagine that may be a good place to be for our preparation for 2027.”
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