The quarterfinals are set, and let the individual match threads begin. QF22 is Canada playing Brazil on 30 July 2021 at 5 pm local time in the Miyagi Stadium in Rifu. I'll let you all figure out (and possibly post here to help others) when and where the game is broadcast in your area of the world.
In case any of you have missed it, Canada and Brazil have played each other THREE TIMES already in 2020 and 2021. All friendlies of course. All, I believe, on neutral soil. They've tied twice and Brazil won the other one.
Played five times in the past five years, Brazil two wins, Canada one, and a tie. Played 25 times total, Brazil won 10, Canada 7, and 8 ties. Brazil slammed a Canadian team 7-0 in the Pan Am games at the Maracana in 2007 in front of 25K in the stands, followed by five straight ties against each other. Canada has had a couple wins recently over Brazil in the final matches of mini-tournaments, including right in Brazil. Neither is a favourite to win the tournament but whoever gets through this game is one win from the final. And women's soccer isn't as regular as clockwork as it used to be. A well put-together side with a good game plan and a couple breaks can take out anyone.
apparently Stephanie Frappart will be the center referee. It's bizarre why the assignments haven't been announced the ways people normally find out
Source is Manuela Nicolosi’s Instagram who assists Frappart - https://www.instagram.com/p/CR5oVrHLVSL/
And let's not forget Canada are the bronze medalists from the last edition. Looks like Olympics motivate them quite well!
Wow, how did I never particularly notice Nicolosi in all of the games I saw where she was assisting Frappart? Considering how conspicuous she looks from the rest of her Instagram's photos and videos, she did an amazing work to divert attention from herself when she's on the pitch officiating!
Canada vs Brazil's referee crew: R: FRAPPART Stephanie (FRA) AR1: NICOLOSI Manuela (FRA) AR2: O'NEILL Michelle (IRL) 4O: STAUBLI Esther (SUI) VAR: STEINHAUS-WEBB Bibiana (GER) AVAR: BTGEN Abdulkadir (TUR)
I am not particularly interested in this game, but, since I found a streming link, I guess Ill give it a watch, while I wait for Sweden-Japan.
While the two captains Sinclair and Marta were in the middle of the pitch for the coin flip, this time I made sure to give a specific and dedicated look to Manuela Nicolosi!
As the commentators rightfully noticed, there is a quite considerable and noisy crowds, for a match that should have been a "no attendance" one like all of the events of these Olympics (not complaining, by the way: their applauses make the game more enjoyable).
I am aware of the particular needs of an Olympic tournament, sharing attention with multiple other events from all kind of sports, but I have to say that it's a shame that all of these quarter-finals are overlapping at just an hour distance. Even If I'd want to see just two of them, I could miss a possible extra-time/penalty shootout from one of them if I don't want to miss the 1st Half of the one starting two hours after it.
In United States, this game is being shown live on Telemundo channel...A Spanish language channel...You do not need a cable subscription to watch this game... What is NBC showing now? Replay of USA swim team action...
Bad mistake by young Canadian FB Gilles, but Labbé manages to hypnotized Debinha. Previously a possible PK-call for Brazil had been (correctly) negated through VAR. But I've got the feeling that Brazil is knocking at the door, while Canada basically only had an half-chance earlier in this Half, with Sinclair not managing to properly trap a cross by Lawrence, thus missing a good chance.
5 additional minutes in 1st Half, because of the long break from Sinclair's head-collision at the beginning of the match. Edit: and it's 0-0 at HT.
So far its...yawn. Sinclair had one good chance from well played counter but her reaction was to slow. Debinha also missed good chance from ball turnover. Brazil had pk awarded but it was rightly so recalled after VAR replay. Canada play tight defense and counter. Brazil has the ball but can't properly express themselves do to effective low pressing from Canada.
I was simply trying to help some people who do not want to pay for cable...You cannot watch any Olympic game on NBC Sports Network without logging in with your cable provider...
I think she will still be playing, and Brazil do not have as much depth on the womens side so she is fairly likely to make the WNT if she does.
Gilles, who had made that incredible mistake in 1st Half, hits the crossbar with an header from CK at 60'. Meanwhile, one or two minutes before, Ludmila replaced Beatriz: I like Ludmila and I've got the feeling that she can act as some kind of a super-sub for Brazil. In the match vs Netherlands, she had been subbed-in in 2nd Half also and she had basically revived Brazil, by conquering a PK and scoring a goal. Let's see if she can somehow make the difference again.