While the Brazil team preparing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ has not undergone a revolution or a changing of the guard, it does have a different look about it these days. The reason for that is the four years A Seleção have now spent under the tutelage of one of the most successful and highly regarded coaches in the game.

In that time, Pia Sundhage has been passing on her experience to a group that spans several generations, creating a team with a lot going for it, as the two finalists at UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 have just found out for themselves in the latest FIFA international window.

Firstly, the Brazilians took England all the way to penalties in the Finalissima, played in front of a vibrant Wembley crowd, with the home side prevailing in the shootout. Then, a few days later, the South Americans posted an impressive 2-1 win over Germany in Nuremberg, a result that can only boost their confidence.

The eternal Marta – who is struggling with injury at the moment but is an almost certain starter when fit – has seen and done it all in her storied career.

At the other end of the spectrum, emerging stars such as midfielder Ary Borges and forwards Adriana, Kerolin and Geyse have broken their way into the squad under Sundhage, showing their appetite for hard work as the team plots an upward trajectory following the defeats to USA and Canada at the SheBelieves Cup.

24 July Brazil-Panama (13:00 local time, Hindmarsh Stadium)

29 July France-Brazil (12:00 local time, Brisbane Stadium)

2 August Brazil-Jamaica (12:00 local time, Melbourne Rectangular Stadium)

Tickets for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™

Under the Swedish coach, Brazil have shown they can play the game in different ways, adapting their tactics to suit the occasion, a versatility they have developed in preparation for the most important tournament of them all.

“You have to be flexible at the World Cup,” said Sundhage after the Finalissima. “We’re going to be coming up against different types of opponents and players are going to get tired and might even pick up injuries.”

Brazil adopted a fairly pragmatic approach in winning the Copa America in 2022, keeping things very tight at the back. In a tournament first, they went without conceding a goal, while scoring 20 in their six matches. Quick to deny the opposition space, the Brazilians were lightning fast on the counter.

A Seleção also showed in the second half against England that they can advance up the pitch by stringing passes together when they need to, even without some of their most talented players.

Assuming Marta does make it to the World Cup, much of the spotlight will fall on her. Under Sundhage, however, the Kansas City Current attacking midfielder has very much become the focal point of the team, so much so that the coach said after the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020 that she “represents what A Seleção is all about”.

Sundhage has also been impressed with Debinha’s talent and versatility. A rising international star, the forward is at the peak of her powers. After top-scoring at the Copa America she was shortlisted for The Best FIFA Women’s Player award, eventually earning enough votes from national team captains and coaches and journalists to place sixth.

Now 30, she has developed gradually during the course of an international career that stretches back over a decade. “The word is gratitude – gratitude for being given the opportunity to play alongside big names like Formiga, Michael Jackson, Elaine and a good few others,” she told FIFA+. “I’ve had the privilege of learning with each of them, and I’ve been trying to pass this on to the younger players.”

Given her appreciation of the ability of all her players to adapt, Sundhage has understandably invested a lot of time and energy in the North Carolina Courage forward. Suspended for two seasons on account of a positive drug test, Kerolin was called up by the Swede almost as soon as she returned to action.

The 23-year-old is now a virtual first choice for A Seleção. Known for her skills in 1v1 situations and her explosive running on the ball, she has been described by Sundhage as an “unpredictable player who knows how to use that gift”. Such is her versatility that she played as a creative midfielder against England, taking the team’s play to another level.

Brazil are one of a select band of teams to have appeared at every Women’s World Cup to date. Their best performance so far came at 2007, when they beat USA 4-0 in the semi-finals only to lose to defending champions Germany in the final. Since then, however, A Seleção have been eliminated in the opening knockout round on every occasion, falling to USA, Australia and France. The challenge they now face is to go at least one step further.

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