It is quite difficult to offer Pia Sundhage a fresh experience. The two-time gold medal-winning coach, who played in the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup™, has enjoyed a long and storied career both on and off the pitch. But although that journey has taken her across her native Europe, to North America and Asia, she now she faces a totally new challenge, as coach of the Brazilian women’s national team.

With a host of stars at her disposal, including veterans Marta and Formiga, Sundhage is looking to this year's Women’s Olympic Football Tournament for her own third gold medal, and the country’s first in women’s football. FIFA.com sat down with the Swede to discuss the romanticism of Brazilian football, living in Rio, working with Marta, and her plans for Tokyo 2020.

Saki Kumagai is a player familiar with collecting trophies.

As a 20-year-old she helped Japan win their first FIFA Women's World Cup title at Germany 2011 before finishing as the runners-up four years later at Canada 2015. After being handed the captain's armband in 2017, she skippered Nadeshiko to be crowned champions at the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup.

Most recently, she was crowned as the 2019 AFC Women's Player of the Year. Having dominated at club level, perhaps the only title which remains elusive for her is an Olympic gold medal.

She figured prominently as Japan stormed to the final at London 2012 only to be edged out by United States. And they even failed to qualify for Rio 2016, a disappointment which has further sharpened her appetite for redemption.

FIFA.com recently caught up with the 29-year-old, whose sole aim for Tokyo 2020 is to capture the gold.

For Finland, it was 33rd time lucky.

On 15 November 2019, at long last - and after 32 failed qualifying campaigns spread across nine decades - the Huuhkajat (Eagle Owls) finally reached a major tournament. For Finland, it was 33rd time lucky.

It had been a long time coming, and not everyone believed the day would arrive. “I’ve had so many people over the years, including lots here in Finland, telling me we would never qualify,” said Markku Kanerva, the team’s coach.

But despite the doubts and despair of the demoralising decades that came before, and the envious glances towards their Nordic neighbours, the Finns have finally made it. And the euphoria at reaching UEFA EURO 2020 proved worth the wait.

With that first major tournament now glistening on the horizon, Kanerva spoke to us about the secrets to his success and the challenges that lie ahead.