Nicole on penalty nerves, celebrates Corinthians' Club World Cup spot

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Central do Timão

·19 Oktober 2025

Nicole on penalty nerves, celebrates Corinthians' Club World Cup spot

By Vinícios Cotrim | Central do Timão Editorial Team

Corinthians was crowned the Libertadores champion after defeating Deportivo Cali in penalties, 5 x 3. Despite having a decisive history in this context, goalkeeper Nicole did not need to save any penalties but spoke about the pressure she puts on the opponent to destabilize them.

“Penalty shootout, as I've said, is very mental and often a lottery. Sometimes we face a team that's not very inspired, and the other not so much. Many things influence it, but I always believe a lot in this mental part. Once again, I tried to do my part, destabilize her in some way, make her miss”, explained the goalkeeper in the mixed zone after the title match.

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Photo: Staff Images Woman/Conmebol

During the decision, Nicole dislocated her finger, causing a lot of pain and discomfort. Despite the challenge, she decided to continue in the game, even with reserve goalkeepers available.

“We think about the title, right? We talk, think about giving our all for the team and going to the end. I think it's very difficult for a goalkeeper who comes in later. The game is at a pace, it's intense, and it's difficult for someone who comes in. So I was already in the game, already feeling how the game was, how it wasn't. And I thought to myself, well, when I said to be a champion today, I need to stay until the end. But my finger wasn't going back to its place. It was kind of crooked, and we couldn't get it back. So I asked the doctor to immobilize it”, Nicole explained.

With the title, the sixth in Corinthians' history, the club earned a spot in the final phase of the Copa das Campeãs, a world tournament developed by FIFA that will have its first edition in 2026. The Brabas will face Gotham FC from the United States.

“We are very happy, as I said. We thought about the Libertadores title, but we thought a lot about this spot. I think it's a historic moment for Corinthians. I was there thinking, ‘man, we deserve to be there, we have to be there because we deserve it. For everything we've done in Brazil, for all the history we've built. So I think it's Corinthians' moment’. We've been waiting for all these years. And I think the expectation is very high, we are very happy, very excited”, emphasized the goalkeeper.

Now, a FIFA date occurs in women's football, and Corinthians returns to Brazil with an eye on the Paulistão Feminino, which is in its final stages. The world tournament takes place only at the beginning of next year, between the end of January and the beginning of March, before the Brazilian calendar starts.

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