Brazil 3, Norway 0

Brazil may have started slow in their match against Norway, but they finished strong in defeating the European squad 3-0 in Group D play on Sunday. Brazil clinched a spot in the quarterfinals and although it is not 100% assured it will be the number one spot, it most likely will be.

It was a doubly bad day for Norway. Not only did they lose the match to Brazil, but they did irreparable harm to their goal differential. Because they lost by three goals to Brazil, they will now have to defeat Australia in their final group stage match to advance to the quarterfinals.

It was definitely Marta's day today. She scored two goals and added an assist on the third. She was the dominant factor in the match and most certainly in the second half. Norway just could not keep up with her pace for the majority of the match.

However, Brazil started very slowly and it appeared that Norway had the initiative for the first 20 minutes of the match. It certainly looked like Norway could give Brazil's three back formation some problems. But what Norway failed to do was create many quality chances. They always seemed on the verge, but never quite got there.

The first goal was just a bit controversial, as Brazil may have gotten away with a foul or possibly two. Emilie Haavi received the ball on the left side about 3o yards out and dribbled toward the Brazilian penalty area. As she did, she was upended by Erika, losing the ball with the Brazilian gaining possession.

Erika started a counterattack with a long ball up the right side. Norwegian defender Nora Holstad Berge had a stride or two lead on Marta, but the great striker reached out and gave Berge a bit of a shove which knocked her to the ground. Marta gained possession deep in Norway's end cut to the center, moving around Maren Mjelde who was faked out and struck a low shot inside the right post to put Brazil up by 1-0.

It was not conclusive how hard the shove was that Marta had given, but it definitely knocked Berge off balance. Some of sold out crowd jeered Marta for the remainder of the first half.

Brazil nearly scored a second on Rosana's long-range shot in the 42nd minute, but Ingrid Hjelmseth pushed the ball over the crossbar.

Norway appeared to have a chance to draw even in the 44th minute as a long free kick was sent into the box. Madeleine Giske first gained control of the ball pushing it toward the goal, but as the ball came loose in front of Andreia, Isabell Herlovsen was ruled offsides.

Things fell apart quickly for the Norwegians in the second half. In startling quickness, Brazil struck for two goals in the opening four minutes to put the game away.

Not even a minute into the 2nd half, Marta took the ball from the center line and dribbled all the way into the left side of the penalty area, drawing several defenders toward her. She then released a pass across to Rosana who finished into the lower left side of the goal. It was Rosana's second goal of this World Cup.

In the 48th minute, a Norwegian clearance was blocked by Brazil, but the ball came to Mjelde and she appeared to have the situation under control. But Mjelde hit a very weak ball back toward her keeper with Cristiane gaining control. Cristiane's shot was blocked, but the ball came to Marta, who calmly moved to her right to place herself directly in front of the keeper and she then punched the ball past Hjelmseth into the goal. Marta showed great patience on the play, putting herself in better position for her shot.

For all intents and purposes, the day was done for Norway. It became apparent that coach Eli Landsem had arrived at the same conclusion when she took Ingvild Stensland out of the match in the 67th minute in order to rest her. Norway did create a few chances in the 2nd half, but none amounted to anything in the end.

Marta nearly had another goal in the 68th minute. She raced past Berge, gained control of the ball in the penalty area, but hesitated a bit long while deciding whether to shoot or pass the ball to Cristiane and she was unable to get a good shot off. It was definitely not a good day for defenders on Sunday.

In the 82nd minute, Elise Thorsnes beat a couple of defenders, weaving her way into the penalty area, but her driven shot was blocked by Daiane before it could get to the goal.

Norway was most dangerous on corner kicks. On two occasions in the last ten minutes, Norway threatened to get one goal back. In the 83rd minute, Cecilie Pedersen was able to get her head on a corner and the ball eventually came to Giske, who put it just over the goal. In the 87th minute, Thorsnes' had her shot blocked over the net off of a corner.

With two wins in hand and a healthy edge in goal differential, it would be very hard to see Brazil finishing anywhere but first in this group. They will face Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday in their last group stage match.

Norway has made things hard on themselves indeed. The loss by three goals now forces them to defeat Australia in a Wednesday showdown, if they are to advance to the quarterfinals.

Brazil 1, Australia 0

In yet another low scoring, closely played match, Brazil was able to juggle their way to a 1-0 victory over Australia. These two teams played a close match in the 2007 World Cup as well, with Brazil winning 3-2 in the quarterfinals. Offense was not nearly so prevalent in this match.

Brazil had the first good opportunity of the match as Maurine crossed the ball in from the left side. Rosana was able to get her head on it, but from an awkward position and the ball landed on top of the net.

Australia played very well for the first 45 minutes. Kyah Simon was clipped by Erika in the 18th minute, but the referee ruled she was just outside of the penalty area. On the insuing free kick, Collette McCallum's effort was sent right into the middle. The ball fell to the ground, but in the scramble, Heather Garriock just couldn't quite get her foot on the ball and Brazil was able to clear.

A few minutes later, Simon's shot from 18 yards out appeared to be heading for the upper right part of the goal, but Brazilian keeper Andreia made a nice grab to keep Australia off the board.

On a long ball up the left side, Marta was able to beat a defender and then cross the ball from just shy of the end line. Her low cross found Cristiane 15 yards out, but her shot was not struck solidly. Rosana then gained possession but put the ball over the goal from eight yards away.

Lisa De Vanna was a worry for the Brazilian defense throughout the first half. A turnover by Brazil and De Vanna had a shot from 18 yards, but she mishit it and the ball rolled harmlessly off to the side.

Brazil had two chances late in the half. Marta's low drive from 22 yards went just wide right. Later, Maurine's cross came to Cristiane, who hit one high and wide from just ten yards away. Maybe Brazil was just a little rusty, having played very few matches over the last several months.

The game went into halftime with the score at 0-0, a recurring theme in this year's World Cup. But Cristiane's rather unusual play put the Brazilians up early in the second half.

In the 54th minute, the ball was sent into the middle from the right side with Cristiane getting to the ball about 22 yards out left center. She first juggled the ball over one defender toward the center, then surrounded by two defenders, juggled the ball back into the air and then headed the ball forward to Rosana, whose timing gave her a half step on Australian defenders. Tameka Butt recovered only to have Rosana put a brilliant touch past her. Then Rosana sent the ball into the right corner of the net, with Melissa Barbieri having no chance.

Later, a Marta drive from 22 yards was blocked at six yard box by Kim Carroll in what could have been a danger for the Aussies.

Australia tried to come back in the final 15 minutes. Heather Garriock and Butt both attempted midrange shots, but neither troubled Andreia very much. A few minutes later, Butt was well inside the box near the end line, but her cross went all the way through without a teammate being able to reach it.

The last best chance came in the 87th minute, as a long ball got over the Brazilian defense with De Vanna running on to it. Andreia came out to defend and De Vanna attempted to chip it over Andreia from 15 yards out. Unfortunately for her, she hit it too high and too hard and the ball went harmlessly over the net.

In the closing seconds, the Matildas won a corner, but Samantha Kerr's attempt from inside the eighteen was blocked by the Brazilian defense and the referee's whistle signaled the end of the match.

Perhaps the Matildas deserved a better fate on this day, but Cristiane's magic and Rosana's finish brought the victory home for Brazil.

Group D will next be in action on Sunday and it should be two very interesting contests. Australia will take on the enigmatic, but exciting Equatorial Guinea team. Brazil will battle the winner of today's other match, Norway, for the lead in Group D.

Group D Preview: Brazil

Brazil (#3)
Region: Conmebol
Coach: Kleiton Lima
How They Qualified: Won the Campeonato Sudamericano.
Prior Cups:
2007: 2nd Place
2003: Lost in Quarterfinals
1999: 3rd Place
1995: Group Stage
1991: Group Stage
Returnees from 2007 WWC: (13) Andreia, Barbara, Thais (GK), Aline, Daiane, Renata Costa, Rosana, Elaine, Ester, Formiga, Marta, Cristiane, Grazielle.

Roster (Average Age: 26.26)

Name	Pos	Club	Age	Caps/Goals
Andreia	GK	Santos	33	46/0
Barbara	GK	Foz Cataratas	22	18/2
Thais	GK	Bangu	28	12/0
Aline	DF	Santos	28	23/4
Daiane	DF	Botucatu	28	12/3
Elaine	DF	Tyreso	28	18/4
Erika	DF	Santos	23	14/8
Fabiana	DF	Santos	21	18/4
Maurine	DF	WNY Flash	25	44/11
Renata Costa	DF	None	24	63/27
Rosana	DF	Centro Olimpico	28	32/6
Roseane	DF	Bangu	25	12/0
Beatriz	MF	Bangu	17	2/0
Ester	MF	Santos	28	26/2
Formiga	MF	None	33	46/12
Francielle	MF	Sao Jose	21	15/5
Cristiane	FW	Santos	26	56/41
Daniele	FW	Vasco da Gama	28	12/3
Grazielle	FW	America	30	18/5
Marta	FW	WNY Flash	25	69/76
Thais Guedes	FW	Bangu	18	5/0

Recent Matches:

Date	Opponent	Competition	Result
5/14/11	Chile	Friendly	W 3-0
12/19/10	Canada	Sao Paulo	T 2-2
12/15/10	Canada	Sao Paulo	T 0-0
12/12/10	Holland	Sao Paulo	W 3-2
12/9/10	Mexico	Sao Paulo	W 3-0
11/21/10	Chile	Campeonato Sudamericano	W 3-1
11/19/10	Colombia	Campeonato Sudamericano	W 5-0
11/17/10	Argentina	Campeonato Sudamericano	W 4-0
11/13/10	Paraguay	Campeonato Sudamericano	W 3-0
11/11/10	Colombia	Campeonato Sudamericano	W 2-1
11/7/10	Uruguay	Campeonato Sudamericano	W 4-0
11/5/10	Venezuela	Campeonato Sudamericano	W 4-0

There is the old saying about always the bridesmaid, but never the bride. Well, if you look at the results for Brazil in major tournaments over the past seven years, you get the feeling that that must be just how Brazil feels. They finished second to Germany in the 2007 World Cup and second the United States at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.

Brazil has not lost a match in a good long while, but part of that is because they play so few. They’ve played only 12 matches since the beginning of 2010, seven of which were qualifying matches and four of which were in a tournament played in Brazil. Their last loss was in the spring of 2009 when they ventured into Europe for a two game trip against Germany and Sweden. They tied Germany and lost to Sweden in those two matches. It’s almost as if the Brazilians go dormant in between major tournaments.

As expected, the Brazilians swept through their qualifying matches with little trouble, taking home seven victories by a combined margin of 25-2. And also as might be expected, Marta and Cristiane did the bulk of the scoring, with nine goals and eight goals respectively.

Their next tournament was the Cidade de Sao Paulo in which they went unbeaten, but did not win the tournament. They could only manage two ties against a strong Canadian team, in spite of having a player advantage for much of the second half of the final. They have played a single friendly since against Chile.

They return 13 players from their 2007 World Cup team, what was at the time, a very young roster. They have since matured and now many of the players are in their prime. Nine of these players have played in the WPS and several have played in the Swedish Damallsvenskan.

Of course, you can’t talk about Brazil without talking about their best player and the best player in the world for five years straight, Marta. It isn’t enough that she is very talented, but she is also determined and fast as well. She followed up her nine goal performance in qualifying by scoring another six goals in four matches in Sao Paulo. And if you think you can just concentrate on stopping her, think again, because that is much easier said than done.

The second big gun on the offensive end is Marta’s forward running mate, Cristiane. She is a great goal scorer in her own right. She has been plagued by nagging injuries on and off over the past few years.

In the middle of the field, it is the ageless Formiga that organizes the attack. A very intelligent player, she distributes well and plays solid defense. She is the soul of this Brazilian team.

Aline Pellegrino and Renata Costa are steady defenders in the back. Aline is the captain of the team. They are joined by Rosana and Erika on defense. Rosana is always an offensive threat as well. The veteran Andreia will probably be in goal for the Brazilians.

The Brazilians are always a fun team to watch, but one thing you have to wonder about this team is if they sometimes depend too much on Marta and Cristiane’s scoring. In the last World Cup, Brazil scored 17 goals with those two getting 12 goals between them. Yet in the final, Germany was able to shut them down and shut them out.

Brazil should have very little trouble getting out of Group D and into the quarterfinals. Barring any upsets, they should get another shot at Germany or the United States or possibly both. Can this be the year that they win it all?

Note: Some information for this article was obtained from www.fifa.com and www.cbf.com.br.