Bia Zaneratto celebrates after scoring her team's third goal against Panama. Photo / Getty
Bia Zaneratto’s spectacular finish will take some beating for goal of the tournament at the Women’s World Cup. And on the evidence of its 4-0 win over Panama on Monday, Brazil will take some beating for the title.
Ary Borges scored a hat trick on her World Cup debut, but it was her assist for Zaneratto’s second-half strike that was the standout moment of the match in Adelaide and arguably the tournament so far.
When Debinha’s cross landed at Borges’ feet toward the end of a sweeping move, the forward, who had struck twice in the first half, looked set to add a third. Instead, she checked, wrong-footed Panama’s defense and backheeled to Zaneratto, who lifted her shot into the top corner.
It was a goal full of the flair that Brazilian soccer is famed for.
Following on from Germany’s 6-0 rout of Morocco earlier Monday, Pia Sundhage’s Brazilian lineup produced a statement performance.
“The first game is always difficult. Four goals and sometimes we played quite well,” Sundhage said, in a clearly understated assessment of her team’s opening match.
It means a win against France on Saturday will ensure Brazil advances to the knockout stages from Group F.
Panama, making its debut at the tournament, could do little to keep the 2007 runners-up at bay, with Borges ruthless in front of goal.
For Borges, her introduction to the World Cup could hardly have been more emphatic.
She struck twice in the first half and completed her hat trick in the 70th minute after providing her inspired assist for Zaneratto.
Borges headed Brazil in front in the 19th from close range after meeting a cross from Debinha.
She got her second in the 39th when turning in the rebound after her initial header was saved by Panama goalkeeper Yenith Bailey.
Her third was another header, this time from Geyse’s cross.
“I’ve waited a long time for this moment. It’s a dream to be able to be here, playing in a World Cup,” Borges said. “It’s one of the best days of my life. I’m very, very happy for the three goals, but the main thing was a debut in which we imposed ourselves.
“It was a lot of emotion, remembering everything I did to be here. It was a mixture of feelings. I was happy, I cried, anxious to start the game. Being here is truly a dream.”
Borges was replaced by Brazil legend Marta late in the match.
It was the 37-year-old Marta’s sixth World Cup and she is the competition’s all-time leading scorer with 17 goals.
Borges has a long way to get close to that mark, but she’s off to a good start.
WHAT’S NEXT
Brazil plays France in Brisbane on Saturday when a win would see it qualify from Group F. Panama plays Jamaica in Perth on the same day.
Brazil starts the Women’s World Cup trying to remain undefeated in opening matches, and then take superstar Marta deep into her sixth and final tournament.
It shouldn’t be difficult to move to 9-0 in opening matches for the Selecao, who start Group F play on Monday against tournament newcomer Panama in Adelaide, Australia. Brazil is one of seven teams to qualify for all nine Women’s World Cups, while Panama is one of eight teams playing in the tournament for the first time.
Marta’s sixth World Cup will be her last, but she has a chance to make history as the first player — male or female — to score in six tournaments. She’s already the all-time leading scorer in the Women’s World Cup with 17 goals.
But more important to Marta is winning the World Cup, something the women’s national team has never done. Brazil lost in the 2007 final to Germany, made it to the quarterfinals in 2011, but was eliminated in the round of 16 in the next two tournaments.
Marta was in tears after the 2019 loss to France and pleaded with the next generation of Brazilian football players to take their country to the next level.
“It’s about wanting more,” Marta said four years ago after Brazil’s elimination. “It’s training more. It’s taking care of yourself more. It’s about being ready to play 90 plus 30 minutes. This is what I ask of the girls.”
The national team has seemingly answered her call under coach Pia Sundhage, who as a player retired as Sweden’s top scorer and as a coach led the United States to two Olympic gold medals. Sundhage has made Brazil more balanced, which was shown at the Women’s Finalissma in April, when the South American champions lost in a penalty shootout to European champion England.
Brazil rallied just five days later to beat Germany in a friendly, and notched a 4-0 win over Chile earlier this month to head into the tournament on a roll.
Marta has experience around her in Debinha and Rafaelle, but it is 23-year-old Kerolin who is poised to become Brazil’s breakout star. The midfielder has scored eight goals this season for the North Carolina Courage in the NWSL.
“We have taken big steps in these four years,” Sundhage said. “We’ve brought in new players and I think we are in a good place. We have got a chance.”
Panama, meanwhile, most recently faced a South American team in June in a 1-1 draw with Colombia. But Panama has been routed twice since, giving up 13 goals in a 7-0 loss to Spain at the end of June and a 5-0 loss to Japan earlier this month.