World Cup: Time to beat France, coach Pia Sundhage says
In a press conference held Friday (Jul. 28), the Brazilian coach, the Swedish Pia Sundhage, confidently declared that the time has come for Brazil to triumph over France. The statement comes one day before the crucial match between the Brazilian and French national teams in Group F of the Women’s World Cup in Brisbane, Australia.
“When you face a team repeatedly, like France, there’s always a history between the two sides. The more you play against them, the closer you get to victory—it’s a fact, a matter of time. We’re having an opportunity, and I can’t help but draw comparisons with 2019 [when Brazil was eliminated from the World Cup by the French]. Things are looking quite different now. When I look at the team, I see they’re happy, confident. They believe they can pull it off. It’s time for us to showcase brilliant football and secure a victory,” she stated.
However, to secure three points on Saturday (29), the seleção will have to break an uncomfortable streak: in the 11 encounters between the two squads, Brazil suffered 6 losses and settled for 5 draws.
According to Sundhage, the Brazilian team are better prepared for this face-off against the French having performed magnificently against high-caliber teams in recent years: “Facing England, defeating Germany, Chile, and Panama, has given us confidence. Our confidence grows with each goal scored. As I mentioned earlier, we are fostering a this-is-it atmosphere. So this game against France brings us a special opportunity.”
