Brazil's women take on mens' work in football final

Beijing: Brazil, armed with two of the most explosive talents in women's football, believe it is time to overcome their Olympic nemesis United States and claim the country's first football gold in Thursday's final.

Marta and Cristiane were in sensational form as Brazil blitzed world champions Germany 4-1 in Monday's semi-final to set up a Beijing decider against the Americans, who denied them gold in extra-time of the 2004 Athens final.

The Americans also provided another road-block when they prevailed 1-0 over Brazil in the semi-finals of the Sydney Olympics eight years ago.

For Brazil's women, anxious to prove there is more to football than just their five-time World Cup champion male counterparts, it's pay-back time.

"Everything is falling into place for us," leading scorer Cristiane said on Wednesday.

"It seems like someone has written this story just for us: first we beat Germany, who beat us in the final of the World Cup last year, and now we find the United States blocking our path once more, just as in the final in 2004."

"I firmly believe that it will be a different story this time around."

Marta, a dual World Player of the Year, was once compared by a former coach to another Brazilian striker - the great Romario.

"Our target is to play in Beijing and win the gold medal. Now it is the time to fight for that," Marta said.

"If we can continue getting these tough wins then we can win the gold medal."

Marta is so highly regarded that the 22-year-old dynamo already has her concrete imprint in the walkway of Rio de Janeiro's famous Maracana stadium along with Brazilian football legends Pele, Ronaldo, Romario, Zico and Garrincha.

"Her ball control at speed is fabulous. She thinks fast. She is always scoring. I think she will overtake (American) Mia Hamm in time and become the best in the history of women's football," said Rene Simoes, who coached the Brazil's women's team at the 2004 Olympics.

It will be ironic if Brazil's women get the gold off America after the humiliation of their men's team, bowing out here again without the Olympic gold medal, in a 3-0 wipeout to Argentina in Tuesday's semi-finals.

The tide may be changing for Brazil against the Americans after outclassing them 4-0 in the semi-finals of last year's World Cup in China.

"We've worked really hard throughout the year for this Olympic gold medal and it would be hugely important both for us and the country as a whole," Cristiane said.

"We want to give them something to celebrate and in the process help the overall development of women's football in Brazil."

The Americans are rebuilding under new coach Pia Sundhage after a fractious campaign at last year's World Cup where they were taken apart by Brazil in the semi-finals and finished with the bronze behind champions Germany.

Sundhage, one of the world's all-time greatest female players during her 22-year international career with Sweden, became the first foreign coach to take charge of the USA team last November.

Now nine months later, the Americans are defending the Olympic title and doing it without their leading goalscorer Abby Wambach.

Wambach, with 13 goals this year and 99 in 127 career matches, broke her left leg in the final US tuneup match against Brazil on July 16 and was forced out of the Games.