Arthur Elias selected for national team friendly matches against Costa Rica, Mexico and VenezuelaPhoto credit: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
Head coach Arthur Elias stressed the importance of the friendlies the Brazilian women’s team will face at the start of the year against Costa Rica, Mexico and Venezuela. At the press conference after announcing the call-up for the game on Thursday (11th), he explained that the selected opponents were the best opponents so far this season and analyzed each opponent.
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“We have a challenge because European and Asian teams play official matches at this time of the year. We try to find the best opponents possible. Costa Rica is a team where we have seen an evolution, their coach changed to a Brazilian… Venezuela was a very difficult opponent in the Copa America and in the third game, Mexico is a team that is clearly evolving and working more solidly,” the coach stressed.
“This call-up is important not only because the opponents have different playing styles, but also because we can take advantage of each player’s moment in the season and give opportunities to some new players and those returning to the national team,” he added.
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Runa’s Return
Among the 26 players selected was midfielder Luana Bertolucci from the Orlando Pride. The 2022 Copa America winner and one of the players called up for the 2023 World Cup, she announced in April 2024 that she had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer that attacks the lymphatic system.
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After a year and a half of treatment, she returned to competition in September 2025. Arthur Elias highlighted her recovery and emphasized the quality of the athlete.
“It was a joy to call up Luana, but an even greater joy was when she overcame cancer, a disease that was diagnosed during her time with the national team. It was a huge shock for all of us. Luana has an incredible history in football, she is a woman of strength and she shows that and sets a lot of examples for those around her,” he celebrated.
“The reward is to bring Luana close to the national team, a player with distinctive characteristics from the midfielders we have called up. She is very experienced, I have worked with her for many years and I know that she has qualities that will easily fit into the national team’s playing pattern. And there is no pressure to accelerate the process with her, precisely because of the timing of the season and what she has been through,” he concluded.
Luana Bertolucci will return to the national team for friendlies against Costa Rica, Venezuela and MexicoCredit: Staff Picture Woman/CBF
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Check Amarelinha’s schedule:
Brazil vs Costa Rica – February 27 – Alejandro Moreira Soto Stadium, Alajuela – 10pm
Brazil vs Venezuela – March 4 – FMC Training Center in Toluca – 6pm
Brazil vs Mexico – March 7 – Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, Mexico City – 8pm
*Game time is Brasilia time
Arthur Elias selected for national team friendly matches against Costa Rica, Mexico and VenezuelaPhoto credit: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
This article was translated into English by artificial intelligence. You can read the original version at 🇧🇷.
