The South Americans are ahead in their own period of rejuvenation and the past week can be used as a marker for Australia’s long-term journey
The main takeaway from the two meetings between the Matildas and Brazil over the past week is how physical the rivalry between these two sides has become. But there is also a heightened sense of anticipation about what this Brazil team can grow into by the time they host the Women’s World Cup in 2027.
After a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, Brazil are unsurprisingly on the upswing under coach Arthur Elias. But in players such as Amanda Gutierres, Aline Gomes, and Gio Queiroz – a cohort that wasn’t present for the medal-winning run in France – a depth of emerging talent was on show in Queensland.