Brazilian star Marta disappointed with her nation's start

Following on from the heart-break suffered at the hands of Germany four years ago, in a humiliating 7-1 loss on home soild, Brazilian football looked to have a long way to go.

And while the Marta agrees that the team has made a lot of progress since that moment, particularly under the guidance of coach Tite, she did want more from the team in the opening match of a World Cup for which they are tipped as favourites by many.

"For all of the work that the team and the staff have put in to prepare for this tournament, I expected much more from Brazil." she told the 'Guardian'.

Despite her slight diappointment at the result, she still feels that her national team deserved the three points, and that the refereeing decisions went against them in the game.

The striker points to the Swiss equaliser, where there was a push in the build-up, and a possible penalty when Gabriel Jesus was brought down in the box. Both decisions didn't go Brazil's way, but Marta believes that VAR would have rectified the mistakes.

"In both those occasions the video assistant referee (VAR) did not act and tell the referee to review the passage of play. Why, like a review in tennis, is the affected team not able to ask for the decision to be reviewed?"

The forward takes heart, however, from the fact that her team were not the only one of the favourites who have slipped up in the first round of matches.

"What the first round has showed though is that the favourites can’t take anything for granted at this World Cup. Soon the second round of games will begin with Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Germany and Argentina under pressure to get results."