Brazil shreds Women’s World Cup bid
AUSTRALIA and New Zealand have moved into a threehorse race to host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after Brazil’s decision to withdraw its bid.
The South American football giant announced yesterday it was withdrawing from the bid process because it had been deemed economic support from government and private entities could not be guaranteed.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said economic concerns related to the COVID-19 crisis were a primary factor in its decision.
“In view of the exceptional times experienced by the country and the world, CBF understands the cautious position of the Brazilian Government, and of other public and private partners, which prevented them from formalising the commitments within the time or in the required manner,” the CBF said in a statement.
Brazil’s withdrawal means joint bidders Australia and New Zealand are up against Asian heavyweights Japan and another South American nation, Colombia, in the battle to host the tournament.
RICHMOND captain Trent Cotchin believes the Tigers can play two genuine ruckmen this season and may need to against Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy tomorrow night.
Richmond assistant coach Justin Leppitsch revealed last week that 184cm tall, 2019 grand final hero Marlion Pickett was being considered to play a fill-in ruck role this year like Shaun Grigg did in 2017.
Grundy, however, is not only the reigning All-Australian ruckman, but at 203cm has 19cm on Pickett.
Cotchin said he believed last year’s premiership ruck combination of Ivan Soldo and Toby Nankervis could remain successful despite shorter quarters leaving many sides likely to play only one ruckman.
“Both (Soldo and Nankervis) have been in really good nick throughout our little midseason
The winning bid will be decided at an online meeting of the FIFA council on June 25.
Japan, whose team won the 2011 Women’s World Cup, is the main rival to Australia and New Zealand’s bid.
The Asian nation’s bid features eight stadiums, many of which are set to host matches for next year’s Olympic football tournaments.
Outsider Colombia, which has only had a women’s league since 2017, is bidding to become the first South American nation to host the Women’s World Cup. phase leading into the restart and both have amazing attributes,” Cotchin said.
“So I think it will just come down to how we match up.
“The thing we encourage about our ruckmen is the follow-up after the hitout, and I think if they can impact the game on the ground then they clearly bring a lot of value.”
Hamstring issues restricted Cotchin to just 14 of a possible 25 matches last season, but the 30-year-old said he was in good shape ahead of the season restart.
“We put a lot of trust and faith in our conditioning staff and our medicos and they’ve been amazing with the support through the off-season,” he said.
“I’m really confident in the body and that we’ve prepared ourselves really well.”