Writer: Sofi Dawalibi
Editor: Mare Lara
This Olympic season in France was frightfully electric for the women competing, however, one specific sport stood out to its faithful and new watchers, and that was women’s soccer. Most matches were overly entertaining, in the US alone those matches gathered over twenty-eight million viewers. Being a relatively recent addition to the Olympic Games (1996 being the starting year), this sport has been taking notice and has been an upcoming attraction for the past few years. Usually in soccer, the men dominate the views, – being specially appraised for their passion and dedication to the game – so when women are gathering higher visibility, it is a big step in the right direction to widen the accessibility of this physical game.
An underdog team that has sparked interest this year was the Brazilian team. Such a team fell into the quarter-finals in both the years of 2012 and 2020. The Spanish team, which was a widely known selection favorite, was completely overtaken by the South American team. Though Brazil did not qualify for male soccer this year around, the female selection was chartered to compete. It was their first time in the Olympics since 2008, with their final match having them set to face the USA again. They would secure a silver medal when going against the North American team. Though the Brazilian team didn’t take home the win, they certainly took home the appraisal that had been long overdue when compared to their male peers in the sport.
Under the coaching of Arthur Elias, the team focused on its defense, an exceedingly organized plan made the girls go further than previously expected. Yasmin Assis Ribeiro (defense, from the Brazilian team Corinthians) was the key for the defense, meanwhile, Priscila Flor da Silva (forward, for Internacional) and Gabi Portilho (forward, from the Brazilian team Corinthians) starred in the semifinal by taking a part in scoring the winning goals against Spain. Priscila, who’s only nineteen years of age, has shown her passion for the game by chirping the Spanish goalkeeper, Cata Coll after the latter had pushed her before scoring an own goal. The Brazilian forward celebrated right in her adversary’s face, creating both controversy and gauging from the viewers. But truly, what is soccer without a bit of amicable disputation?
“It’s hard to believe it, to sink in, being in this moment. I want to congratulate the whole group, how we made it happen. [...] A lot of the girls were hurt and tired but they still went out there!” Angelina Costantino, the captain of the assembled Brazilian team, had a few words to say about the team on channel AuriVerde from Brazil As well as the other girls who were full of adulation for their teammates.
It is not only symbolic for the women of the team, who have worked so hard to gain assessment but also for those outside of it. Though Brazil still has a way to go to win their first gold for the female soccer team, they certainly are paving their way towards it. With this conquest by the women’s soccer teams – not only the Brazilian one but the other ladies who have played excessively well – it is a hopeful future for the dismantling of the disparity between the male and female soccer selections of the future.
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