Reuters
Rio de Janeiro, August 17: Brazilian striker Marta, generally considered the greatest women’s footballer of all time, wanted nothing more than to win an Olympic gold medal in front of a home crowd at the Maracana stadium to cap her career. But that dream had an untimely death Tuesday as Brazil lost the semifinals to Sweden.
The crowd chanted Marta’s name throughout the game and her runs from the right wing towards the goal caused Sweden a lot of trouble. But that was not enough and Marta could only sink to her knees in the centre circle with others consoling her.
“The disappointment is great and we had many opportunities in the game, but we did not get a goal,” Marta said. “The pain is as great here (in the dressing room) as it is outside.”
The 30-year-old Brazilian captain, who plays for Swedish club Rosengard, could be nearing the end of a distinguished career. She was voted World Player of the Year five times in a row between 2006 and 2010. Nicknamed ‘the Queen’, and, ‘Pele in Skirts’, she scored 102 goals in 109 internationals while playing in Brazil colours.
Even with her skills, major success however, eluded the Brazilian women’s team. They won the silver at Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008) and were runners-up in the World Cup in China in 2007.
But a gold which they badly wanted here did not come. Speculation is now rife that Marta will retire soon but she did not want to talk about it Tuesday. “I don’t want to think about this right now,” she asserted.
Swedes dash Brazil hopes
Sweden beat Brazil 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out after the sides were goalless following extra time at the Maracana Stadium here Tuesday to reach the final of the women’s football tournament at the Rio Olympics. The winners will now take on Germany in the gold-medal match.
Lisa Dahlkvist scored the decisive penalty on Sweden’s fifth attempt after Andressa, the youngest player in the Brazil squad, saw her penalty saved by Hedvig Lindahl. Brazil’s Cristiane and Sweden’s Kosovare Asllani also had their kicks saved.
“It is very emotional,” Swedish coach Pia Sundhage, who coached the United States to victory in 2008 and 2012, said. “I’ve been in finals in China, in London but then I had a team that everybody expected to do well. If you look at the team we have, it’s been a wonderful road. Emotionally I am thrilled.”
The result was a huge letdown for the host nation, who were vastly superior and had the raucous support of a capacity crowd. Brazil had 33 shots at goal, compared to Sweden’s six. But in the end the numbers did not help as the hosts failed to get on the scoring board.
