Original Text: In June of 2019, a disheartened Marta, the captain of Brazil’s team and an overall pioneer, stood at the side of a pitch in Le Havre after Brazil’s premature exit from the global stage having been defeated by France in additional time in the last 16 of the World Cup. Marta found herself delivering an emotional plea for the forthcoming generation of Brazil, a plea that garnered global attention.
Even more recently, only five years on and approximately 800km south, Marta was once again the focus of the world’s attention. This time, it was a scene of bliss as Marta watched the promising new generation of her country defy the odds to reach their first substantial final since 2008. Due to their captain’s forced dismissal, Brazil overpowered Spain, the reigning world champions, in a thrilling 4-2 victory, setting the stage for an Olympic final showdown with the USA in Paris.
Just a week earlier, it seemed like Marta’s illustrious international career had ended on a bitter note at 201 international caps. She was shown a straight red card during the crucial first half additional time in their group stage meeting with Spain for a heinous tackle on Olga Carmona. The realisation that this might mark the end of her time on the international stage visibly overwhelmed Marta, with her plight seemingly unfolding in slow motion.
Original Text: My demand from the girls is simple; they need to crave success more, they need to put in more effort in their training, they need to take better care of themselves, and they need to be prepared to play for at least 120 minutes. Thees females need to grasp the fact that the longevity of women’s football relies entirely on them. They need to realise that iconic players like Formiga, myself, and Cristiane won’t be around forever. I urge them to keep this in mind, to value this responsibility more and to weather the initial tears, so they can revel in ultimate joy.
Marta now finds solace in her team, a reliable assembly of players who’ve navigated their way to the final for the gold medal, despite setbacks from physical injuries. Notwithstanding two losses in the group match to Japan and Spain, the squad, under the guidance of Arthur Elias, managed to progress as the superior, third-placed side. Their morale has been soaring since, as they prevailed over Spain and France, thereby securing at least a silver medal spot and the return of their captain for one final play.
The Brazilians proved formidable in the semi-final, outmanoeuvring a side tipped by many to clinch the tournament. Describing the team as both exhausted and beleaguered by injuries—much like every other team— would still not justify their dominance in the semi-final, where their opposition were defensively disoriented.
Securing an Olympic gold after a World Cup victory is indeed a Herculean task, unheard of in the history of football. Spain appeared frail and fatigued—a tell-tale sign of the tournament’s physical demands and the effect consecutive matches over the past two years may have had on them.
Montse Tomé’s champion side has managed to pull off victories, albeit not at their prime, and there have been early indications of a potential weakness in their usually formidable defence. Their previous year’s losses to Italy and the Czech Republic, subdued by successful runs in the Nations League and Euro 2025 qualifiers, signal possible shortcomings in their defence.
The Olympic run has been a tiresome race for all participating teams, with the sequence of games every three days culminating in four out of six knockout matches entering extra time. With a combination of determination and resilience, both Brazil and the USA have managed to progress, digging into their energy reserves.
Former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has successfully steered the USA into their first significant final since their 2019 victory in France. This success comes scarcely two months into her management tenure, which is in itself an impressive accomplishment. Despite visible fatigue, their pathway into the final was cemented when Sophia Smith smashed in the winner against Germany in extra time, then fell to her knees, too winded to celebrate her victory.
The rising injury toll and visible exhaustion are once again sparking debates about the structure of the Olympic tournament. Potential adjustments could range from minor tweaks to a significant overhaul of the format. Options that could help to reduce the strain and injury risk include expanding the team sizes (the current restriction of 18 members plus four alternates is deemed inadequate) or moving directly to penalty shootouts in knock-out games.
For now though, the spotlight is trained on Saturday’s decider in Paris. While fairy tale outcomes are unusual in football, this match presents a unique opportunity for two remarkable stories to unfold. Could we see a triumphant exit for a woman who is among the most famed players in football’s history? Alternatively, could we witness the dream commencement for a manager embarking on her international football career? – Guardian.