Coach Pia Sundhage called up the Brazilian women’s team for the She Believes tournament, a friendly competition to be played from February 16 to 22 in the United States this Tuesday (31). The highlight is the return of Marta. The attacking midfielder is recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury in her left knee, which she suffered in March last year.

“Marta is ready in the physical part. Did all the tests. She is very competitive, as everyone knows. Above [ritmo de] game, not so much, so we’ll make sure she feels the game and has a chance to play at her highest level again. I am very happy, because it is a model of behavior, technique and game reading. We have to be smart. She hasn’t played for a few months,” Pia told a press conference.

Marta hasn’t played since suffering a knee injury on March 26 of last year when USA’s defending team Orlando Pride lost to North Carolina Courage 1-0. 31 minutes. The injury led to her being ruled out of the friendlies Brazil played in Spain in April against the hosts and Hungary. Corinthians striker Gabi Portilho was then called up to replace the 36-year-old star.

Timão, by the way, is the team with the most representatives in the list published by Pia: four. Goalkeeper Lelê, defender Tarciane and full-backs Yasmin and Tamires have been called up. Another highlight is the presence of six players who, in addition to Marta, play in the North American league: winger Bruninha (NY/NJ Gotham), midfielders Ary Borges (Racing Louisville), Júlia Bianchi ( Chicago Red Stars) and Kerolin (North Carolina Courage) and forwards Debinha (Kansas FC) and Adriana (Orlando Pride).

In addition to Brazil and the United States, She Believes will have participation from Canada and Japan. All four entrants are seeded for the modality’s World Cup, which will be played between July and August this year in Australia and New Zealand.

The debut of the Brazilians in the friendly tournament will take place on February 16, from 6 p.m. (Brasilia time), against the Japanese at the Exploria stadium, in Orlando. Three days later, at Geodis Park, in Nashville, at 8:30 p.m., the opponents will be the Canadians, gold medalists at the Tokyo Olympics (Japan). Participation ends on the 22nd, still at 8:30 p.m., against the hosts, reigning world champions, at Toyota Stadium, Frisco.

The summoned

Guardians: Lelê (Corinthians), Lorena (Grêmio) and Luciana (Railway)

defenders: Bruninha (NJ/NY Gotham-USA), Tainara (Bayern Munich-ALE), Rafaelle (Arsenal-ING), Kathellen (Real Madrid-ESP), Lauren (Madrid CFF-ESP), Tarciane (Corinthians), Yasmin (Corinthians ) and Tamires (Corinthians).

midfielders and forwards: Adriana (Orlando Pride-USA), Marta (Orlando Pride-USA), Ary Borges (Racing Louisville-USA), Ana Vitória (Benfica-POR), Nycole Raysla (Benfica-POR), Júlia Bianchi (Chicago Red Stars-USA ) ), Kerolin (North Carolina Courage-USA), Bia Zaneratto (Palmeiras), Geyse (Barcelona-ESP), Gabi Nunes (Madrid CFF-ESP), Debinha (Kansas FC-USA) and Ludmila (Atlético de Madrid-ESP) .