Marta interview

DW: How optimistic is the Brazilian team ahead of the World Cup in Germany?

Marta: We are highly motivated. And when it's a high-level competition like this one, then there is always optimism there. We are going into this competition with every intention of winning it. The team is well balanced: we have new, young players and others that are very experienced. I hope that this mix of young and old will bring us good results.

Which opponent in the group phase (Australia, Norway and Equatorial Guinea) will be the most difficult?

All of them will be pretty tough. They are teams that are not so well known, with the exception of the Norwegians - we know their style of play quite well. They play good soccer, they shoot well and work well in defense. Australia have been preparing intensively for a long time, the team is the current Asian champion and they have young players of good quality. Because Australia is our first game, that match will be very tricky.

Is the pressure particularly high for the first game?

Of course, when Brazil plays there is always pressure. That's because of the success that we have achieved over a period of years - we were runners up in the last World Cup (2007) and we've won two Olympic silver medals (2004 and 2008). The pressure doesn't just come from our Brazilian fans, but also from football fans around the world, who now have a particular expectation of the Brazilian team.

Which opponent could cause the most problems for Brazil after the group phase?

Definitely Germany - without wanting to underestimate the other teams. When you have the public on your side, then that lifts your motivation more. Germany have also been world champion twice and are always good in international tournaments. That all contributes to their role as favorites. It's a team that has been ranked first or second in the world for years. At the moment we are just focused on our three group-stage opponents though. Should we come up against Germany, the USA or another team later in the tournament, we will have to be well prepared to beat a strong opponent.

How will you deal with the tight marking that you are normally subjected to by the opposition teams?

This problem has been an issue for me for a long time. If you excel on the pitch then you always get more attention, both from the press and from the opposition. Instead of being marked by one player, I often have two players watching me. If that's the case then I hope that my teammates have more space, and that they can use their chances.

What would a World Cup win mean for women's football in Brazil?

We all have this dream of winning a title, either the World Cup or a gold medal at the Olympics, so that the people have something tangible, something which recognizes our success. In Brazil second place counts for nothing, it's not a title. For women's football in Brazil, which has been through a tough time, it is a great achievement to reach the Olympic final twice and to reach the World Cup final. But that isn't enough for the fans. We want to become world champions, so that women's football can look forward to a brighter future.

Interview: Mariana Santos / al
Editor: Michael Lawton