Last Monday (24th), Letícia made her debut as a starter in her third World Cup, when Brazil faced Panama and won 4-0.
In 2019, the Women’s National Team had the dream of advancing in the world cup interrupted by France, the hosts at the time. This year, Lelê sees Canarinho as a team better prepared to face this challenge and reverse the retrospect of the previous meeting with the French.
“We don’t see ourselves as favorites to win, but rather as a better prepared team to face France. Today we understand our game model, we know how we have to play. I believe that today the Brazilian team is much better prepared to play against France”, she said.
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Throughout the preparation for the World Cup, Brazil made great advances. The combination of athlete renewal work with the joint effort between coaching staff and players resulted in significant progress for the national team, especially in tactical matters.
“Today our national team understood that we know how to attack, but we need to learn to defend, and we evolved in that, especially in the context of not rushing in the middle of the match and becoming a bit of a mess, each one wanting to do something. Today we have a game model, we follow the game plan. We have become a much more organized team, and this has facilitated our style of play”, she analyzed.
Letícia had her first participation in World Cups in 2015, after standing out in the U-20 World Cup. Afterwards, she joined the cast of Vadão, in France. Even though she was part of the teams in both competitions, she was not given the opportunity to enter the field. However, these experiences were fundamental for the goalkeeper’s maturation, which, at the age of 28, won the chance to be a starter in the World Cup.
“The Letícia of today is a mature Letícia, who evolved a lot, who went through two World Cups and understood the scenario. But today the environment is also different. What we have been building over these years with Pia was also important for me, for my growth, and for today I arrive and really be ready to play in a World Cup.”
“I think everything happens at the right time. Sometimes we want things too fast and maybe it’s not the right time. So, the only thing I put in my head is that when it arrives I’m ready. And that’s what I did. I’ve done over these years, preparing myself for when it comes up, and what comes up is being prepared to live it and make the most of it”, she concluded.
