Author: Soorya G
Santos striker and Brazilian women’s national team veteran Cristiane spoke to Trivela last Sunday about the Brazilian women’s national team’s performance at the FIFA World Cup. The top scorer criticized Brazil’s approach and the coaching staff’s response to their early exit in the group stage.
“The passivity, especially that shown by the coaching staff on the sidelines… It really bothered me, you know? That’s why I wasn’t there, because my reaction wouldn’t have been the same.“
The second highest scorer in the history of the Brazilian Women’s National Team with 89 goals, behind only Marta (119), Cristiane was not included in Pia Sundhage’s final squad for the World Cup. After the national team’s elimination, the experienced striker declared that, had she been present, she would have handled the situation differently, as well as hinting at the possibility that the result would have been different.
“If I’d been there, things would have got heated in the dressing room. I’m not the passive type who just accepts being left out of the biggest competition on the planet without a fight. I’m very frustrated” he concluded.
The striker also criticized the consequences of underperforming at the Women’s World Cup. Cristiane called the result “shameful” and highlighted the seriousness of the early elimination in the group stage.
“I’m not sure people realize how serious this elimination is. I don’t think people have yet understood the seriousness of leaving the World Cup in this way. It’s incredibly embarrassing” she emphasized.
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At 38, Cristiane is not ruling out a return to the Brazilian Women’s National Team. At Santos, she is the top scorer with 11 goals in 21 games. Brazil’s next big commitment will be the Paris Olympics in 2024, for which she is confident of making the team. However, Pia Sundhage’s future is undecided.
“As long as my physical condition remains good, I’ll continue. I didn’t give up. I’ve always had the goal, the dedication. I’ve never denied that to the national team. On the contrary, I’ve always worked hard, dedicated myself and put in the effort to earn my call-up. But, unfortunately, things didn’t work out” he concluded.