Gio Canali: “We want to keep learning before the Club World Cup” | OneFootball

The Women’s U-20 National Team is training in Aveiro, Portugal, for three preparatory friendlies focused on the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, which will be played in September this year. The matches against Finland, South Korea, and Portugal in a short span of time simulate the World Cup group stage, something previously planned by the coaching staff of the Amarelinha. Forward Giovana Canali highlighted the importance of this experience.

“We take everything as a learning experience. We keep improving with every game, and it’s good that we can learn more and more before the World Cup so we don’t make mistakes there, because we know our group is not easy. These friendlies are important for us to adapt to this routine of three games in a short time and to know how to recover as quickly as possible so the whole team can be at 100% for every match", she said.

In the first friendly of this FIFA window, against Finland U-23, Brazil was defeated 4-1. Giovana scored the goal for the team coached by Camilla Orlando. The Amarelinha will return to the field on Saturday (6), at 7 a.m. (Brasília time), to face South Korea in a match to be played at Estádio Conde Dias Garcia in Aveiro (POR). Canali assessed the Brazilian National Team’s performance in the first game and looked ahead to the next match.

Giovana Canali during a Women’s U-20 National Team training session in PortugalCredits: Luciana Vermell/CBF

“We know we didn’t give our best in the game against Finland, but we are focused on improving more and more. We have prepared a lot, and we are confident it will be a very good game against South Korea and that we will really show how we play", she said.

The Amarelinha will also return to the field on Tuesday (9) to face Portugal.

Originally from Fortaleza, Ceará, Canali moved to the United States at the age of 10. Although she started playing soccer in Brazil, it was in the United States that she developed in the sport.

“Going to the United States was very important for me. I was able to adapt to the soccer there and bring a little bit of the Brazilian style, and that’s even why I managed to stand out there, because of our flair. American soccer is very strong, and I learn a lot from them", she explained.

In February 2025, Giovana Canali suffered a knee injury and had to undergo surgery. Since then, she had been sidelined. Her return with the Amarelinha came in April this year, when the team faced the United States in two friendlies. Without hiding her happiness, the forward spoke about what it feels like to wear the Brazil shirt and how it feels to be able to play again after the injury.

The Women’s U-20 National Team faced Finland U-23 in a friendly played in PortugalCredits: Luciana Vermell/CBF

“It’s a unique feeling. I got injured a year and a half ago and spent a long time away from the Brazilian National Team. My first call-up in this cycle was for the friendlies against the United States, and it was very special for me. Since the day I got injured, I had only been thinking about the World Cup, because I was part of the last cycle and ended up being cut before going to the World Cup. I’ve dreamed about this since the day I was cut. Every call-up is very special; there’s no way to get used to representing this country that I love so much", she said.

“At first you don’t understand why the injury happened, but afterward you end up learning a lot. You become a different player, in a good way. Having gone through that motivates me a lot, gives me more desire to be on the field, to train, to go to the gym. I’m very grateful to be back, and I’m very happy playing soccer", she concluded.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.