Brazil's Samba Girls are through to the quarter-finals with a game to spare and have warned possible rivals the United States or Sweden that they won't let the World Cup slip away this time. Superstar Marta fired the Brazilians into the knockout round with a double and set Rosana up for the third as they demolished former winners Norway 3-0 in Wolfsburg on Sunday night. For veteran Formiga, playing her fifth World Cup, it is finally time for the South Americans to lift the title. The 33-year-old was on the team that finished runners-up to Germany four years ago and lost the past two Olympic titles to the United States. "It's been a long road, we can't rest and can't let up, we have to continue working hard, like we came here to do, and trusting that we can continue eliminating our rivals," said Formiga. "We're a close team, we have spent a long time working hard and our objective is to be world champions for the first time." But despite having one group game left against Equatorial Guinea the Samba Girls' eyes are already on the final eight where they will face either the United States, the world's top team, or fifth-ranked Sweden. Captain Aline, 29, said: "The United States are very strong and physically very good. Sweden are also very strong, they have extraordinary technical qualities and very fast players. "But we're a team who are very strong, disciplined, focused and who worked well marking (Sunday). It's all the fruit of hard work paying off," she added. The heartbreak of four years, notably a painful 2-0 final defeat to Germany, remains raw. "We often talk about going so close four years ago," said midfielder Maurine, who plays with Marta at the Western New York Flash. "Now we are looking for this to be our time and are working hard towards our goal." Marta said: "Our quarter-final rivals, Sweden or the United States, will have a lot of problems even if they're strong teams because we're ready and we've come here to be world champions." Despite praising Marta's "genius" Brazil coach Kleiton Lima said that only a team effort would suffice. "Brazil play with eleven, all the players strive. She (Marta) plays in the final line of attack and for that reason she is the one in charge to finishing off, but the momentum comes from elsewhere." Lima added they were hoping to deliver a footballing double whammy for Brazil this month - the women's World Cup and the Copa America. "It would be great to have a double of the women's World Cup and the Copa America. We're going to try our best."
GMT 18:45 2018 Wednesday ,10 January
Chinese FA warns clubs over Aubameyang 'bidding war'GMT 19:28 2018 Tuesday ,09 January
Neymar, PSG run riot in French CupGMT 15:08 2018 Sunday ,07 January
Bayern's Heynckes rules out Vidal Chelsea moveGMT 14:59 2018 Sunday ,07 January
Napoli cement top spot as Lazio's Immobile hits fourGMT 16:04 2018 Tuesday ,02 January
Schedulers are against us, Arsenal manager Wenger complainsGMT 15:54 2018 Tuesday ,02 January
Manchester United lift Mourinho, Liverpool leave it lateGMT 19:04 2017 Sunday ,31 December
Lukaku adds to Mourinho's woes as United lose groundGMT 18:58 2017 Sunday ,31 December
Inter, Roma held as Benevento finally winMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor