Brazil captain Rafaelle does not feel her side are among the favorites for the World Cup. But the defender knows that Brazilian football, and its leading light Marta, demand only the best.
Rafaelle has just signed for Orlando Pride and captains Brazil in the World CupImage: MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP
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The weight of the yellow shirt has sometimes hung heavy on the shoulders of Brazil at World Cups.
It certainly felt that way four years ago, when a quarterfinal defeat by hosts France saw forward Geyse sob uncontrollably on the turf and goalkeeper Barbara dumbstruck, sitting against her post.
After a 4-0 opening win over Panama in Adelaide inspired by an Ary Borges hattrick, Pia Sundhage's team have an early chance at a measure of redemption against the French in Brisbane on Saturday.
But captain Rafaelle insists the players aren't feeling weighed down.
"I think, being Brazilians, we have that pressure from our country, because we love football, it's always the number one sport in our country," she told DW.
"But we're not one of the top teams in the FIFA rankings. So we don't feel that pressure. We're going to fight until the end, but it's not our job to win the tournament, we're just going to run around and maybe get a chance to put a star on our chest [symbolizing a World Cup win]."
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Perfect preparation
Brazil arrived early to Australia for a two week training camp at a luxury resort on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia. The venue, and location, was carefully selected to allow the players to feel at home in warm conditions, which the former Arsenal defender said allows them to express themselves, particularly in the pre-training warm ups.
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"I feel like it's a Brazilian vibe," said Rafaelle. "We're Brazilian, we really love football and we have fun playing. So that's [the best] warm-up for us. It's like we're kids, playing like that, and we feel great when we're out on pitch when we can play and have fun in the warm up."
Yet beneath the relaxed exterior beats a serious will to win a maiden World Cup. A squad with a blend of experience in Debinha, Rafaelle, Tamires and Andressa Alves supplemented by emerging talent like Geyse, Borges and highly-rated 17-year-old Aline Gomes certainly has the potential.
But there's little doubting their talisman. Marta, 37, is playing in her sixth World Cup and will be looking to add to her 115 goals from 175 caps. Perhaps the first global superstar of the women's game, Marta has announced this World Cup will be her last. It's difficult to overstate her impact on the game and the squad, according to Rafaelle.
Marta an example to follow
"She's really important to us, not just on the pitch but off it too, because she's a big marker for the women's game."
Brazil's assistant manager Lilie Persson added that even at her advanced age, and with injuries beginning to mount, Marta remains a perfect example.
"She's so competitive. During every practice, she always does her very, very, very best in every single detail. But at the same time, she's such a humble person. I think that's what made her the best."
Though Marta, like Megan Rapinoe of the USA, has made her post-tournament intentions clear, Rafaelle revealed that she will spend the tournament urging her to reconsider. If she doesn't succeed, she at least wants to send her teammate out on a high, with a maiden World Cup win for Brazil.
"We're talking about this a lot," she said. "And it would be good to end with this star for her. But I hope it's not her last World Cup. She's such a good player, and I hope she can play a little longer with the national team."
Brazil have prepared well for this tournament. Their dominance in South America has long been assured, but those top training facilities, a win over Germany and a narrow penalty loss to England in the Finalissima have increased their confidence against European sides, too.
Whether this team can send Marta off into the Sydney sunset with a first World Cup final since the 2007 loss to Germany or not, her legacy is ensured. For Rafaelle and the others following her on the trail she blazed, there is a determination to burnish it still further.
The players to watch in the Women's World Cup
Australia and New Zealand will host the 2023 Women's World Cup finals. The USA and superstar Alex Morgan could defend their title for the second time in a row, but they're not to only ones to keep an eye on.
Image: Liam Ayres/SPP/IMAGO
Sam Kerr, Australia
The greatest Australian player of all time and widely considered one of the best strikers ever, Sam Kerr is embarking on a home World Cup — her fourth in total. The 29-year-old has been Matildas' captain since 2019 and she enters the tournament as the leading scorer in Australian history, with 63 goals in 120 games.
Image: Liam Ayres/SPP/IMAGO
Alexandra Popp, Germany
At EURO 2021 in England, "Poppi" led Germany all the way to the final against England and sparked a wave of euphoria for the national team. At the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the VfL Wolfsburg striker will also lead the DFB team onto the pitch as captain.
Image: Brooks Von Arx/ZUMAPRESS.com/picture alliance
Christine Sinclair, Canada
At 40, Christine Sinclair may be the oldest player on this list but she is a bonafide legend of Canadian soccer. The 14-time Canadian soccer player of the year has already played in five World Cups and should she score at this tournament, she would become the first player — male or female — to score at six World Cups.
Image: Fernando Llano/AP/picture alliance
Alexia Putellas, Spain
The Barcelona star won the 2023 Champions League against Alex Popp and VfL Wolfsburg. In 2021 and 2022, she was awarded the Ballon d'Or as FIFA World Player of the Year and UEFA Player of the Year respectively. In addition, she has won six league titles, eight cups and two Champions Leagues with the Catalans. A title with Spain's national team is still missing.
Image: Joaquin Corchero/ZUMA Wire/IMAGO
Asisat Oshoala, Nigeria
One of the leading lights in African women's football, Oshoala became the first African player to win the Women's Champions League with Barcelona. In 2014, she finished runner-up in the U20 World Cup and was named Africa's Female Footballer of the Year, an award she also won in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022. Her first World Cup appearance in 2015, saw Nigeria eliminated in the group stages.
Image: Shengolpixs/IMAGO
Marta, Brazil
At 37, the "eternal" Marta is set to appear at her sixth World Cup with one last chance to finally win the title with the "Selecao". Marta came closest in her second World Cup appearance in 2007, but Germany's golden goal in the final prevented Brazil's triumph. After that, Marta and Brazil have been knocked out once in the quarterfinals (2011) and twice in the Round of 16 (2015, 2019).
In the defending champions star-studded ensemble, Morgan shines brightest. The USWNT are out to complete the three-peat Down Under. In 2019 at the World Cup in France Morgan, was one of six players to feature in three World Cup finals as the US defended the title won in 2015. Another title defense is unlikely to be a foregone conclusion, given that several nations have closed the gap since.
Image: Lynne Sladky/AP Photo/picture alliance
Barbra Banda, Zambia
Set to make their World Cup debut, Zambia's hopes are pinned on star striker Barbra Banda. She stole the headlines for all the right reasons becoming the first woman to score consecutive hat-tricks at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, she made headlines for all the wrong reasons when she was banned from the Africa Cup of Nations due to her testosterone levels being too high.
Image: Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images/picture alliance
Pernille Harder, Denmark
Considered one of the best female players in the world, Harder was the most expensive until 2022. The striker, who has joined Bayern from Chelsea, isn't amongst the favorites with Denmark. It will be interesting to see whether the 30-year-old can add more than the three group stage games to her 140 international appearances to date with a side that finished runner-up at EURO 2017.
The 27-year-old has been under contract with Olympique Lyon since 2014 and contributing to their status as Women's Champions League record titleholders with six winner's medals (2016-2020, 2022). It's an unparalleled track record. With Norway, the first winner of the Ballon d'Or (2018) has so far reached one major final when they lost 1-0 to Germany in the 2013 European Championships.
Image: Lise Aaserud/NTB/picture alliance
Saki Kumagai, Japan
The 32-year-old Bayern Munich defender will captain Japan as they attempt to win their second World Cup title. Kumagai made her debut for Japan's national team in 2008 and was part of the team that won the title in Germany in 2011 and before falling just short in their title defence. In 2019, after two consecutive appearances in the final, the Netherlands knocked Japan out in the round of 16.
Image: Mutsu Kawamori/AFLOSPORT/IMAGO
Mary Fowler, Australia
The 20-year-old Manchester City forward is going to be a fan favourite for the co-hosts. The home tournament will be Fowler's second World Cup despite her young age: After making her debut for the "Matildas" in 2018, Fowler was the youngest player at the 2019 tournament in France. Their journey ended in the Round of 16 against Norway. This time they're hoping to go deeper.
Image: John Walton/empics/picture alliance
Keira Walsh, England
In 2022, Walsh replaced Pernille Harder as the world's most expensive player moving from Manchester City t Barcelona for close to €500,000 and won her first ever title with England at EURO 2022 on home soil. In the final against Germany, a 2-1 win after extra-time, Walsh was named player of the match. England and their midfield star are among the top favorites for the World Cup.
