Heather O’Reilly, winner of three Olympic gold medals with the United States women’s national team, criticized Arthur Elias’ behavior following Brazil’s 2-1 defeat to Japan on Sunday (28), in the second round of the women’s football tournament at Paris 2024.
The midfielder, who was also a world champion in 2015 and works as a television commentator, was present at the Parc des Princes and was disappointed with Elias’ abrupt exit after the final whistle. According to her, it was Marta who had to take on the leadership role after the loss.
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“Hey so I was at the Brazil Japan game. What’s the scoop on Brazil’s head coach? Very erratic behavior on the sideline and after they lost he bolted for the dressing room without shaking hands. Team was visibly upset. Marta of course had to step up and lead,” O’Reilly wrote.
Hey so I was at the Brazil Japan game. What’s the scoop on Brazil’s head coach? Very erratic behavior on the sideline and after they lost he bolted for the dressing room without shaking hands. Team was visibly upset. Marta of course had to step up and lead.
— Heather O'Reilly (@HeatherOReilly) July 29, 2024
The former Arsenal player knows what it takes to succeed in the Olympic Games, having helped her country win gold medals in Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and London 2012. O’Reilly was not the only world champion with the United States to recently criticize Elias.
Samantha Mewis, a member of the winning squad in France 2019, lamented Debinha’s absence from the squad before the start of Paris 2024 during an episode of her podcast ‘The Women’s Game’: “I find it so absurd not to include Debinha, I feel like I missed something. Debinha has been one of the best players in the world for the past five or six years.”
