Key events
The story so far. After the first two rounds of matches, this is how Group F looks.
Here’s how Brazil fared against France at the weekend …
… and this is what Jamaica were getting up to on the same day.
The first round of fixtures saw Jamaica hold France to a goalless draw, while Brazil were busy scoring one of the goals of the tournament in a 4-0 rout of Panama.
In case you’ve arrived late to the party, come on in, the water’s lovely. Here’s what our experts said before the tournament about Jamaica …
… and here’s their take on the expectations Brazil always carry into a major tournament.
The biggest names are back for the decisive showdown. Brazil start with Marta for the first time in this tournament, while Jamaica captain Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw returns from suspension. Marta replaces Geyse up front for Brazil, while Kathellen takes Lauren’s place in defence.
Shaw is one of three changes to the Jamaican starting XI from the 1-0 win over Panama. Tiernny Wiltshire replaces Tiffany Cameron at the back, while Cheyna Matthews lines up alongside Shaw up front. Trudi Carter and Kayla McKenna are the attackers who make way.
The teams
Jamaica: Spencer, Wiltshire, Allyson Swaby, Chantelle Swaby, Blackwood, Sampson, Matthews, Primus, Spence, Brown, Shaw.
Subs: Schneider, Brooks, Bailey-Gayle, Cameron, Carter, McKenna, McNamara, Plummer, Simmonds, Solaun, Van Zanten, Washington.
Brazil: Leticia, Antonia, Kathellen, Rafaelle, Tamires, Ary Borges, Kerolin, Luana, Adriana, Debinha, Marta.
Subs: Camila Gomes, Andressa, Ana Vitoria, Barbara, Angelina, Beatriz, Bruninha, Duda, Gabi Nunes, Geyse Ferreira, Lauren, Monica.
Referee: Esther Staubli (Switzerland).
Preamble
Marta was the best player in the world for a while back there – she won the Fifa World Player of the Year award six times between 2006 and 2018 – and you’d not get an argument from too many people if you suggested she’s the greatest there ever has been. Yet there’s one huge gap on her otherwise stellar resumé. This is the last chance for her to fill it with that elusive World Cup … but it’s a bid that could end heartbreakingly early should Brazil fail to beat Jamaica in Melbourne this evening.
The Seleçāo saw off Jamaica 3-0 four years ago in France. That match was the Reggae Girlz’ first-ever game at a finals, and they went on to suffer further hidings at the hands of Italy (0-5) and Australia (1-4), but they’re a vastly different proposition this time, having already held the French team that went on to deservedly beat Brazil last weekend. So there’s no reason why they can’t get the draw they need to progress, captain and talisman, especially as their star striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw returns from suspension, having been sent off against France.
“We don’t want to go home,” says Marta, who if she scores, will become the first player, female or male, to do so at six World Cup finals. But then neither do Jamaica, and with Marta most likely to be utilised as a supersub, much will depend on Debinha to replicate the excellent performance she delivered in defeat last weekend. Everything to play for here, then, with France expected to see off Panama in the other match and secure top spot in Group F. Kick off at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium is at 8pm local time, 7am in Brazil, 5am in Jamaica, and 11am BST. It’s on!