SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil women’s coach Jorge Barcellos has selected the 18 players for the London Olympics and said tough defense will be key if the team wants to have a chance of winning its first major title.
Marta was included in the team as expected on Friday, but Barcellos said the offensive prowess brought on by the five-time world player of the year won’t be enough if Brazil can’t improve its defensive scheme.
The coach said a lot of the work in Brazil’s final stages of preparations was to try to make Brazil more conscious defensively so its talented players can do what they are used to up front.
Brazil finished runner-up to the United States in the last two Olympic Games.
