SA: What are the theories on Brazil having reached the gold-medal game a year after its group-stage exit at the 2023 World Cup?
REINA BONTA: It really does feel like the coaching and staff shift created new momentum for the team. Arthur has been able to transform this group within a year, and it’s been truly incredible to see.
SA: What was the reaction like to Marta’s red card? Any talk about the team being better without Marta or is that sacrilege?
REINA BONTA: I think there was a collective sharp breath across the whole country when Marta’s red card was issued. You could even see the Spanish players, who would typically be against any other player and be in the referee’s face calling for punishment — but were seen comforting Marta instead.
It was like everyone knew that the card was justified, but also universally knew that the moment was a tragic one.
Our “locker room talk” has agreed that those who have played in Marta’s absence have performed strongly and earned the right to remain in the lineup, but that Marta should absolutely enter as a substitute, and deserves a gold medal and all of the flowers in the world for a once-in-a-century career.
Reina Bonta and Tierna Davidson were teammates on De Anza Force 98, the 2013 ECNL U-14 national title winners and ECNL national final four semifinalists three other times.
SA: What’s it been like watching your youth club teammate Tierna Davidson perform during the Olympics?
REINA BONTA: It makes me so happy to see ‘T’ back on the field doing what she was meant to do. I know it must have been incredibly hard to have not been able to play in the World Cup last year after working so hard to return after such a major injury [2022 knee injury]. She deserves this moment 100% and I’m in her corner.
SA: What impact do you believe Brazil winning its first women’s world championship will have on women’s club soccer in the country?
REINA BONTA: Bringing a gold medal to Brazil will forever change women’s soccer in this country. It’s quite easy to feel that sentiment rippling across everyone’s minds before the match.
SA: What are your gold-medal game viewing plans?
REINA BONTA: Immediately after the Brazil-Spain semifinal match, the director of our team messaged and told us our training time on the day of the Olympic final had been moved so the time no longer conflicted. I thought that was endearing.
We’ll watch the game together as a team, in a restaurant or at a teammate’s house.
Regardless of the result, it will be special.
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Publish date : 2024-08-08 17:44:00
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