Arthur Elias hails Costa Rica, Mexico friendlies, Luana returns | OneFootball

Arthur Elias during the call-up of the National Team for the friendlies with Costa Rica, Mexico, and VenezuelaCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

The coach Arthur Elias emphasized the importance of the friendlies that the Brazilian Women's National Team will play against Costa Rica, Mexico, and Venezuela at the beginning of the year. In a press conference after announcing the call-ups for the matches on Thursday (11), he explained that the chosen opponents were the best possible for this moment in the season and analyzed each adversary.

“We face a challenge because European and Asian teams play official competitions at this time of the year. We sought out the best opponents we could. Costa Rica is a team where we have seen evolution, they had a coaching change to a Brazilian... Venezuela was a very tough opponent in the Copa America, and in the third game, Mexico is a team that is in clear evolution and with a more consolidated work,” highlighted the coach.

“This call-up is important not only because of the different playing styles of the opponents but also so that we can take advantage of each player's moment in the season and give opportunities to some new players and those returning to the National Team,” he added.

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Return of Luana

Among the 26 selected players is midfielder Luana Bertolucci from Orlando Pride. Champion of the 2022 Copa America and one of the call-ups for the 2023 World Cup, she announced in April 2024 that she had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that attacks the lymphatic system.

After a year and a half of treatment, she returned to the field in September 2025. Arthur Elias highlighted her recovery and emphasized the athlete's quality.

“Calling up Luana is a joy, but the greater joy was when she overcame cancer, a disease diagnosed during a period with the National Team. It was a huge shock for all of us. Luana has an incredible history in football, she is a woman of great strength, who showed this and set many examples for those around her,” he celebrated.

“The return is to have Luana close to the National Team, she is a player with distinct characteristics from the midfielders we have been calling up. She is very experienced, I have worked with her for many years, I know the qualities she has to easily fit into the National Team's playing model. And without any pressure to accelerate the process with her, precisely because of the season's timing and everything she has been through,” he concluded.

Luana Bertolucci will return to the National Team in the friendlies with Costa Rica, Venezuela, and MexicoCredits: Staff Images Woman / CBF

Check out Amarelinha's schedule:

Brazil vs Costa Rica - February 27 - Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, in Alajuela - 10 PM

Brazil vs Venezuela - March 4 - Training Center of the Mexican Football Federation, in Toluca - 6 PM

Brazil vs Mexico - March 7 - Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, in Mexico City - 8 PM

*The match times are in Brasília time

Arthur Elias during the call-up of the National Team for the friendlies with Costa Rica, Mexico, and VenezuelaCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

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