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’Battle tested’ USA face free-scoring Brazil in Gold Cup final

Messenger Sports

Published: 11:04, 9 March 2024

’Battle tested’ USA face free-scoring Brazil in Gold Cup final

Photo: Collected 

The Queens of North and South America women's football clash on Sunday as the United States face Brazil in the final of the CONCACAF women's Gold Cup.

The USA, four-times World Cup winners and four-times Olympic champions, have long dominated the game in North America but have looked increasingly vulnerable in the past two years.

After their shock exit in the round-of-16 at the World Cup last year, the team is undergoing a partial rebuild ahead of new coach Emma Hayes taking over in June in time for the Paris Olympics.

With interim head coach Twila Kilgore in charge for this tournament, the USA lost to Mexico in their final group stage game and only scraped past Canada on penalties in Wednesday's rain-drenched semi-final.

While Brazil's World Cup and Olympic record is more modest, they have won eight of the nine Copa America tournaments they have entered and have impressed in the Gold Cup.

After winning all three of their group stage encounters, they beat Argentina 5-1 in the quarters before despatching Mexico 3-0.

Messenger/Disha