Friday, December 11, 2009

Ronaldinho Named 'Player Of The Decade' By World Soccer Magazine

World Soccer magazine named Brazil forward Ronaldinho as 'Player of the Decade' on Thursday. The World Player of the Year was awarded to Lionel Messi of Barca.

Ronaldinho emerged as winner after 10 annual votes between 2000 and 2009 by the readers were converted into points. The Brazilian has been already named ‘World Player of the Year’ in 2004 and 2005.He again tops the footballer list followed by Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid.

The European club champions Barcelona were named the Team of the Year.The 2009 Ballon D'Or award winner Messi is the first Argentine to win the prestigious World Soccer's World Player award since Diego Maradona in 1986.

Pep Guardiola who has had just a season with Barcelona was voted Manager of the Year. He left behind Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath and Manchester United's Alex Ferguson.

http://www.india-server.com/news/ronaldinho-named-player-of-the-decade-17677.html

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Snubbed Brazil Star Pato Grabs Brace For AC Milan In Friendly


The attacking starlet continued his good run of form.

Nov 13, 2009 5:15:55 PM

Alexandre Pato - Milan (Getty Images)
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Alexandre Pato - Milan (Getty Images)
AC Milan have had a resurgent last month or so, as they have seen themselves climb from mid-table mediocrity all the way to third place, where they sit just two points behind Juventus.

One of their stars this season has undoubtedly been Alexandre Pato, a man who has scored eight times in all competitions, including a stunning brace at the Santiago Bernabeu, to lead his side to a 3-2 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League.

The youngster was recently snubbed from Dunga’s Brazilian national team for their upcoming friendlies against England and Oman.

Nevertheless, the 20-year-old has made the most of his omission in a friendly match that Milan played against a local club.

The Milanese giants won 2-0, thanks to a brace from Pato, who grabbed a goal within the first minute of play, and then another midway through the first half.

Meanwhile, Alessandro Nesta was rested from the clash, after having nasal surgery, whilst Dida held his place in between the sticks. Pippo Inzaghi was at his best, however despite hitting the post on a couple of occasions, he failed to score.

Milan are unbeaten in their past eight outings in all competitions, and they will be confident of continuing this impressive run when they meet Cagliari at San Siro after the international break.

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/86/italy/2009/11/13/1623498/snubbed-brazil-star-pato-grabs-brace-for-ac-milan-in


Thursday, November 12, 2009

England to face Brazil on Saturday

Two of the world’s best soccer sides, England and Brazil, will face each other in an international friendly this weekend from Qatar as they continue their individual preparations for next summer’s World Cup.

England coach Fabio Capello has made a point of testing his team against World Cup contenders such as Spain, Germany and The Netherlands over the past year and this latest match will take place at the 50,000-seat Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Saturday evening.

The last time England played Brazil was to celebrate the opening of the new Wembley Stadium in June of 2007 and the teams drew with one goal apiece. However, the bookmakers are slightly favouring Brazil this time out with SportingBet.com offering punters odds of 21/20 on the South Americans emerging triumphant.

Slightly longer, VictorChandler.com, 888Sport.com, Bet365.com, ToteSport.com, BlueSq.com, Ladbrokes.com and ExtraBet.com currently show odds of 11/10 for Brazil while BetFred.com is going with 6/5 alongside Expekt.com, StanJames.com and Coral.co.uk.

As both teams have already qualified for next summer’s action, there could be quite a bit of squad experimentation. Even so, WBX.com is offering Brazil at odds of 21/17 while PaddyPower.com and SkyBet.com show 5/4 followed by Betfair.com with 24/19 and BetDaq.com with 14/11.

England is currently third favourite to win the 2010 World Cup at odds of 6/1 with BetFred.com, SkyBet.com and Ladbrokes.com. This is behind Brazil and Spain at 9/2 and a defeat this weekend for either team could see those odds lengthen considerably.

SkyBet.com and Coral.co.uk are offering England at odds of 7/4 to win against Brazil while BetFred.com is going with 15/8. Punters can get 19/10 from BoyleSports.com while Ladbrokes.com, WilliamHill.com, ToteSport.com and StanJames.com currently list 2/1.

Not entirely bad, PaddyPower.com and Expekt.com show England at odds of 21/10 while Bet365.com, VictorChandler.com, BlueSq.com 888Sport.com and ExtraBet.com have 11/5 followed by SportingBet.com with 9/4.

Considering Brazil’s past pedigree, a draw could almost be seen as a win for England.

http://www.onlinecasinonews.com/ocnv2_1/article/article.asp?id=22390

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Brazil Sambas Into Olympian Joys, Challenges

It’s time to develop a taste for caipirinhas, Brazil’s national cocktail, and to learn how to samba. Unless you are an Olympic athlete, that’s most of what you need to know to prepare for the 2016 Olympic Games, which on Friday were awarded to Rio de Janeiro.

For the first time, the International Olympic Committee has chosen a South American city to host the Olympics.

Rio’s victory over richer, more developed places -- Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid -- continues a welcome trend of acknowledging the growing importance of developing countries. The World Cup next year will be hosted by South Africa and in 2014 it will be held in Brazil.

The IOC’s choice sent an emotional jolt through the country. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s charismatic president who enjoys an 81 percent approval rating and who worked hard to support Rio’s bid, cried when the vote was announced. Some 30,000 people celebrated on Copacabana Beach.

The games present a tremendous opportunity for Brazil. The Olympics will give Brazilians a huge shot of self-confidence and boost the country’s tourism industry and Rio’s public transportation system. It’s also an opportunity to counter the violent imagery of drug lords, gang murders and grinding poverty realistically captured in films such as “City of God” (2002). Those scenes have replaced postcard images of beaches and mountains that used to seduce people around the world.

Military Maneuvers

It would be a mistake to skip a trip to the 2016 Games due to concerns about safety. Rio has hosted large international gatherings such as the 1992 Earth Summit and the 2007 Pan American Games. When the world’s attention is on them, Brazilians don’t take chances. During these types of events, law enforcement is shifted from the local police, who don’t exactly enjoy a reputation for moral rectitude.

Instead, Brazil’s military runs security, sporting assault weapons and tanks. If you think Rio’s drug kingpins are crazy enough to conduct business as usual under those conditions, think again.

It’s worth noting also that Rio hasn’t been subject to terrorist attacks like those that sadly hit Madrid and London, where the 2012 Olympics will be held.

Challenges Abound

The greatest challenge for Rio and Brazil probably isn’t the Olympics itself, but its aftermath. Is the country capable of doing anything to improve the life of millions of slum kids living in Rio’s favelas, which climb the mountainsides just blocks away from fashionable neighborhoods like Ipanema? Besides making a few extra bucks by juggling tennis balls at busy intersections, will their lives change dramatically because of this event? Probably not.

Regardless of which city hosts the Olympics, some things are certain.

The event will cost three times more than originally budgeted. The estimated cost of the 2016 games is 25.9 billion reais ($14.5 billion). Still, lack of money won’t be an issue. Brazil’s monetary authority can simply print more money if necessary. That’s no different from what the world’s developed nations are doing.

Architectural white elephants will dot the landscape. Stadiums, gymnasiums, cycling centers, athlete dorms and so much more infrastructure will be little-used eyesores as soon as the closing ceremony concludes.

Athletes may take home medals, but politicians and politically connected business people are the ones who really achieve success at any Olympics.

Collective Society

Finally, don’t expect Brazil to experience a home court advantage and win buckets of gold medals.

Brazilians aren’t a greedy bunch and they are always happy to please foreigners.

Medal counts tend to favor individual performances, like the ones U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps gave on his way to winning a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.

Brazil is too much of a collective society to cultivate stars who excel as lone performers in events like swimming and gymnastics. Brazil’s strengths are team sports like soccer, volleyball and basketball.

It is rare to see a Brazilian athlete turn to the camera, pound his chest and say he’s competing to win gold, such as swimmer Cesar Cielo Filho did before breaking the world record in the 100-meter freestyle last July in Rome. Perhaps Cielo will teach other Brazilian athletes, especially those who don’t have the opportunity to practice in the U.S. as he does, to do the same.

That might be the most important legacy of Rio’s 2016 party.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aa0KLdK_V0Xg


To contact the writer of this column: Alexandre Marinis in Sao Paulo at amarinis1@bloomberg.net

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Sport spectaculars could also draw investors to Brazil

Emerging markets are not everyone's cup of tea. There's something to be said for staying at home and investing in companies that matter in our everyday lives. It's a safe and steady approach and investment managers have a hard time advising their clients otherwise.

That's understandable. It takes a certain type to place their money abroad, someone a little adventurous, I suspect, who is looking for the big score, and is prepared to accept the risk that comes with an overseas market in a different time zone, on another continent, with an unfamiliar currency, where anything from an overnight military coup (think Honduras), political instability (think Romania), or a scam (think Bre-X) can wipe out their investment while they're asleep. Definitely not something you want to wake up to.

Most Canadian investors prefer to seek out multinational corporations closer to home in Manhattan. Over the long term, America's corporates have delivered the goods with the nastiest surprise occasionally coming from a surging Canadian dollar that bites into dividends.

When overseas interest has beckoned, it generally focuses on a diversified mutual fund, heavy with European or Japanese names. South America seldom gets a look.

That changed last week when Rio de Janeiro was awarded the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Coming on the heels of Brazil being awarded the 2014 FIFA World Cup of soccer, investment managers were left furiously speculating how beneficial the world's two biggest sporting events two years apart could be for the country's economy.

For the longest time, Brazil, resource-rich, and a major exporter of metals, minerals and commodities, with vast offshore oil reserves in which it is investing $150 billion, has been viewed as the country of the future. With a population of 190 million, it is now a centrist-based consumer society that is being driven by higher income levels and easier access to credit.

Bank of America-Merrill Lynch chief economist Virgilio Castro Cunha offers a rosy outlook. He estimates corporate earnings growth will jump 26 per cent next year, driven by robust domestic activity and a soft recovery on commodity and volume prices. He has raised his 2010 growth forecast to 5.3 per cent from 4.5 per cent.

The Bovespa stock index, based in Sao Paulo, the Brazilian equivalent of the S&P/TSX composite index, has about 60 listed companies and is the largest capitalized stock market in Latin America.

The index is trading at a 15-month high and is the best performing index in the world this year with a return of 67 per cent.

Factor in the strength of the currency, the real, and the return for a Canadian investor is closer to 100 per cent, so investing in Brazil may not be such a nutty idea, after all.

Brazil is the "B" in the BRIC group with Russia, India and China, considered to be the fastest growing developing economies, and there are mutual funds, such as the Templeton BRIC Corporate Class Fund, that serve this market.

"When it comes to growth and investment value, Brazil has become the BRIC's ignored fourth wheel," says Danny Furman on the investment site SeekingAlpha. com.

"Russia has ridden the oil roller coaster and most studious emerging market investors have focused on China's huge stimulus package and increased consumption as well as India's political shift. Brazil is assumed to have garnered equal attention, given the country's acronym leading position, but volume and price simply don't agree.

"Brazil's economy, from all indications, might be the best poised in the world. Bank balance sheets are relatively clean and consumption is at an all- time high in what has traditionally been an export-reliant economy. Power and water usage are up and favourable trade terms with China are apparent."

In fact, China has supplanted the U.S. as Brazil's biggest trading partner.

For Canadians, American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) that trade on the New York Stock Exchange offer the most immediate hands-on investment. There are about 35 ADRs and most of them are internationally recognized names. They include steelmaker Gerdau S.A. (GGB), mining giant Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (VALE), state-controlled oil and gas company Petroleo Brasileiro S.A., better known as Petrobras (PBR), giant soft drink distributor Companhia de Bebidas das Americas, known as Ambev (ABV), Cosan, an independent ethanol producer (CZZ), Brasil Telecom (BTM) and Bombardier rival Embraer (ERJ).

The iShares Brazil Index ETF (EWZ) that tracks the Bovespa offers diversification. Units that last November dropped to a 52-week low of $26.64 US have surged to $69 US, an increase of 159 per cent.

That doesn't surprise Castro Cunha.

"Brazil is trading at a 14-per-cent discount to global equities on consensus industry-adjusted 12-month forward, price-earnings (P/E) multiples," he points out. "Higher perceived sustainable growth should encourage investors - it is trading at six-per-cent and three-per-cent discount to China and India, respectively, based on consensus-forward price-earnings (P/E) ratios."

What portion of one's portfolio should be placed outside Canada? Clearly this depends on an individual's risk tolerance, but investment firm Edward Jones recommends between 25 per cent and 35 per cent.

"In our view, global mutual funds with broad exposure to developed and emerging equity markets are a good choice since they have the flexibility to select investments that remain undervalued and to shift their holdings in response to changing opportunities," it says.

http://www.canada.com/Sport+spectaculars+could+also+draw+investors+Brazil/2086801/story.html

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Brazil’s 2016 Olympic Bid Gets Presidential Push

The easiest job in the world belongs to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, as he supports Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympics.

All da Silva has to do is say “Rio has the most beautiful beaches in the world,” and he has an instant audience.

He made this simple statement Tuesday in throaty Portuguese, with English translation, and right away I was picturing the long foamy waves and Corcovado in the background and, well, all right, I was also picturing “The Girl From Ipanema.”

In a week or so, da Silva will fly to Copenhagen for the Oct. 2 vote by the International Olympic Committee that will decide from among Chicago, Tokyo, Madrid and Rio. He will undoubtedly mention beaches. But he will also push his other talking points: Brazil is an emerging economic giant and it deserves to represent South America, which has never hosted the Olympics.

A union man, a former lathe worker, da Silva talks with passion about poor kids from Brazil or Argentina or Colombia who could “hop on a bus or a truck” to see the Games. It is not clear that any of the 106 voting members of the I.O.C. will care about this populist sentiment.

In New York to visit the United Nations on his way to Pittsburgh for the G-20 economic summit on Thursday and Friday, da Silva will then go to Copenhagen. He is following in the path of Prime Minister Tony Blair, who flew to Singapore in 2005 and chatted up I.O.C. members, apparently so successfully that London was chosen for 2012.

And then there was Vladimir V. Putin, who as Russia’s president traveled to Guatemala City in 2007 and turned on his K.G.B. charm until the city of Sochi was chosen to hold the 2014 Winter Games.

After those two missions, the folk wisdom is that it does not hurt to have a head of state work the room before the members take their secret vote.

“I have information on how London won,” da Silva said. “And yes, Blair talked to a lot of people.” Sebastian Coe, the head of the London organizing committee and a gold-medal runner, is also said to have turned a few delegates as London stunned Paris to win the vote for 2012. But the point was made: schmoozing just might work.

With that in mind, Japan’s new Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, is considering traveling to Copenhagen and King Juan Carlos of Spain is expected to attend. But President Obama has said he is not going.

“I would make a case in Copenhagen personally if I was not so firmly committed into making real the promise of quality affordable health care for every American,” Obama said recently, adding, “But the good news is I am sending a more compelling superstar to represent the city and country we love and that is our first lady.”

Asked if it was helpful for a head of state to attend the meeting, da Silva volunteered that he has been talking to I.O.C. members for two years. When somebody noted that Michelle Obama would represent the United States in Copenhagen, da Silva said he was bringing his wife with him, “so it will be two against one.”

More damaging than the absence of President Obama is the reality that the acting chief executive officer of the United States Olympic Committee, Stephanie A. Streeter, and the president, Larry Probst, have relatively little standing in the I.O.C., which is known for clubbiness and contacts.

The I.O.C. president, Jacques Rogge, has said, rather ominously, that disputes with the U.S.O.C. about revenue sharing and a proposed Olympic network in the United States will have “no negative effects whatsoever” on Chicago’s chances. The generally attractive plan by the great city of Chicago could be offset because some I.O.C. members are still unhappy over losing their perks in bid cities after revelations that favors helped bring the 1996 Summer Games to Atlanta and the 2002 Winter Games to Salt Lake City.

All four finalist cities for 2016 received good reports by the bid committee earlier this month. The strongest criticism of Rio mentioned violence, but da Silva said Brazil had not suffered an overt terrorist attack, and he told how poor youth from Brazil’s slums had helped quell robberies during recent sports events.

Speaking to invited representatives of about a dozen news outlets, da Silva made the point that Brazil has the largest economy of any nation that has not yet held the Summer Games. He stressed the development of oil fields off the Brazil coast and the nation’s aircraft industry.

“We’re not this tiny country people thought,” he said.

He noted that Brazil will be the host for the World Cup of soccer in 2014, and said infrastructure would be created for the tournament that would be useful in 2016. But the best infrastructure of all might be the sand and the waves.

Wait a minute: the 2016 Summer Games will be in August, which just happens to be late winter south of the Equator. However, a check of the weather for Rio in August revealed an average high of 76 degrees Fahrenheit and an average low 64 (24 to 18 centigrade). Very nice for walking on the beach, somebody from the bid committee reassured me. No doubt da Silva will mention this to the I.O.C. members.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/sports/23vecsey.html?_r=1

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Global Soccer: Academy for Brazilians on the Fields of Italy

Before a ball was kicked in the Serie A season, the national coach, Marcello Lippi, expressed the wish that the Italian league would make the world sit up and notice its quality before the World Cup in 2010.

Maybe it will. But it might not be the Italians doing it.

The eye-catching performances in AC Milan’s 2-1 victory in Siena on Saturday night were Alexandre Pato and Ronaldinho in the attack and Alessandro Nesta and Thiago Silva in defense. Three of the four are Brazilians who are hoping the Italian league makes their national coach, Carlos Dunga, sit up and notice them.

The other, certainly, is pure Italian, Roman in fact. But Nesta, classy defender though he could once claim to be, is 33 and coming back gingerly from a back injury that many feared might finish his career.

In the hot and humid late summer Tuscan night, the dovetailing of Nesta and Thiago was exactly what Milan needed after the retirement of the club captain, Paolo Maldini.

“Thiago helps him, Nesta guides him,” Leonardo, the new Milan coach, said on television after the game. “They complete each other.

“Sandro had the possibility of not playing anymore. This gave him an incredible motivation to return the same player as before.”

Thiago, almost a decade younger, tall and strong but also quick because he started his career as a winger with Fluminense, is, of course, a Brazilian, like his new coach.

Before Saturday, Leonardo had never coached in competitive sports. Now he is entrusted by Silvio Berlusconi, Milan’s president and Italy’s prime minister, to take care of his team. A player at the highest level, a World Cup winner with Brazil, but, before this summer, more of an aide, a talent scout to the president, Leonardo has replaced Carlo Ancelotti who had five years as a Milan player and eight as its coach.

The first player Ancelotti tried to take with him when he decamped to Chelsea in June was Milan’s “baby,” another Brazilian, Pato. Ancelotti had called Pato a phenomenon of youth — swift, with a powerful shot, superb balance and, something that nobody can coach, that extra sense of where the goals are.

Berlusconi said yes to selling Kaká, his Brazilian playmaker, to Real Madrid soon after Ancelotti left. He said no, at any price, to letting Pato go.

Those who have followed this remarkable youngster can sense why. But he looks a youth no longer. His birth certificate says he was born in Pato Branco, in the south of Brazil, 19 years ago, but the growth of beard, the possibly still-growing stature, the sometimes almost calloused expression, makes him a man before his time.

Pato, whose real name is Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva, slipped back to Brazil to marry the actress Sthefany Brito last month. Their honeymoon was short; Milan, like many a top European club, had scheduled a summer tour to make dollars in the United States.

It had lost eight out of 10 matches leading up to the Serie A start on Saturday. Leonardo claimed he was little troubled by that because he had seen the form and the pride being primed by his players for the real thing.

“I’m in the role now of thinking about others’ emotions, not mine,” said the coach. “My rapport with Berlusconi is very good. Berlusconi is in love with Ronaldinho. He thinks he has a pearl at home that needs to be used at its best.

“I have known Ronaldinho forever. I know his story, I played for years with his brother, I’m Brazilian. With Ronaldinho, it’s now or never with Milan and with the national team. Pato is an incredible talent who must affirm himself in the national team. I think they and Thiago will soon return to Brazil’s lineup.”

They are not on the squad named for the Sept. 5 crunch qualifying match in Rosario, Argentina. But five Serie A players are on the squad, as are Kaká and Adriano, who recently left AC Milan and Inter. As Lippi wished, the Italian league is being noticed, if only as a major part of a Brazilian renaissance.

What illuminated the tough opening fixture in Siena on Saturday was hugely Brazilian. Ronaldinho, pulling the strings of imagination behind the running of Pato and Marco Borriello, has some way to go to recapture the magical Ronaldinho of three or four seasons ago with Barcelona.

But little by little, the passes of Ronaldinho, the timing, the spontaneity split Siena’s rugged, he-man back line. There were men there who tried to kick Pato from the thighs down, but Ronaldinho knew where to put the ball, in places where those pack dogs would not snap at the younger Brazilian.

Each goal that Pato scored and at least four other chances emanated from Ronaldinho’s exact passes and Pato’s intuitive running. Add to that Borriello’s willingness to be the selfless foil and the pace of Marek Jankulovski down the left, and the two goals might well have been five.

Milan, despite six players missing through injury and its new striker, Klass-Jan Huntelaar, suspended, did just enough to win. Siena leveled after Pato’s first goal, but never looked likely to do so twice.

Pato turns 20 next month. He was sadly, almost comically, pursued by a pack of Siena players angry with him for teasing and wasting time at the end — but Pato has been upsetting older players since he was 3.

That is when he was spotted, and he then played futsal, indoor soccer. By 11 he had moved in with 83 boys and youths in the training academy of Internacional in Porto Alegre. After 10 games for that club, Pato, then 17, was sold to Milan.

Italy has been preparing him for Brazil ever since.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/24/sports/soccer/24iht-SOCCER.html

Friday, August 14, 2009

Brazil: Brazil is always Brazil

The five-time world champions may have improved to 10-1 this year, but their 1-0 victory against Estonia on Wednesday in Tallinn wasn't pretty. The Seleção couldn't find its form, and even if it was its first match since winning the Confederations Cup in June, the best team in the world was expected to do a whole lot better against the 112th-ranked team, which last year was thumped 7-0 by Bosnia-Herzegovina in a World Cup qualifier.

But is this worrisome for Brazil ahead of the clash with archrival Argentina on Sept. 5? Not at all. The majority of the Brazil squad played few competitive matches since the vacations, and this was clearly noticeable on the field. For instance, Kaká just made his Real Madrid debut in a friendly win against MLS' Toronto FC last Friday, and is nowhere near full fitness.

Brazil coach Dunga said his "only concern" was avoiding injuries against the Northern Europeans, but the match was hotly contested, with both teams playing physical soccer and with no Joga Bonito in sight. The only Brazilian to come off seriously injured was Flamengo midfielder Kléberson, who dislocated his shoulder. But such a fiery encounter might have been good preparation for the Brazilians because, with World Cup spots at stake, the highly anticipated showdown with Argentina promises to include even more aggressive play.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/gregory_sica/08/13/south.america.qualifying/

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

AC Milan deny Pato offer from Chelsea

AC Milan have dismissed a newspaper report suggesting that Chelsea had agreed a deal to sign Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato.

The 19-year-old rising star has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge since former Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti was confirmed as the new Blues manager earlier in the summer.

One newspaper report claimed that Ancelotti had agreed a £45m fee with his former club but would allow the teenager to spend the next season on loan in Italy ahead of moving to England in 12 months' time.

However, Milan claim the story is completely without foundation and have reiterated their previous claim that Pato is not for sale at any price.

"With regards to the rumours circulated this morning by the English press, AC Milan clarify and reaffirm that there are no negotiations ongoing with Chelsea regarding Alexandre Pato, and that the player is absolutely non transferable," read a club statement.

Pato scored 15 goals in 36 Serie A appearances last season and is regarded as one of the brightest talents in world football.

Meanwhile, striker Luis Fabiano insists he is fully focused on Sevilla despite seeing his dream move to AC Milan fall through.

The Brazil international was expected to join the Italian giants last month before Milan decided to pull the plug on the deal when they were unable to agree a fee with their Spanish counterparts.

The Rossoneri then turned their attention to Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and swiftly wrapped up the signing of the Netherlands striker from Real Madrid.

"I'm not thinking about Milan," claimed Fabiano. "They made an offer, but I was always calm and thinking about Sevilla.

"I have been training for several weeks and I'm not yet at 100 per cent so that's what I'm concentrating on now, continuing working with Sevilla to start the season well.

"Everything's forgotten, I'm only thinking about Sevilla."

Elsewhere, Lazio beat Internazionale 2-1 in the final of the Supercoppa Italiana in Beijing's National Stadium on Saturday night, but despite the defeat coach Jose Mourinho was happy with his side's efforts.

Brazilian Francelino Matuzalem opened the scoring for Lazio before Tommaso Rocchi scored with a spectacular lob.

New signing Samuel Eto'o reduced the deficit with his first goal for the Nerazzuri with 12 minutes to go.

"We lost. What can I say?" said Mourinho. "I am not happy, but I liked it that my players showed character and fought until the end to win.

"I am very satisfied with the match, although not with the result, we should have won by two goals at least."

On the contrary, Lazio president Claudio Lotito was buoyed by his team's success.

He said: "I'm very satisfied with my team's performance.

"I consider it a victory of the group, not just the team."

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ac-milan-deny-pato-offer-from-chelsea-1770110.html

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Obama Lobbies FIFA for U.S. to Host Soccer World Cup

President Barack Obama lobbied the head of soccer’s international governing body today to bring the World Cup to the U.S. during a meeting at the White House.

The president also received a personal invitation from Sepp Blatter, head of world governing body FIFA, to attend next year’s tournament in South Africa, a trip in which Obama has expressed interest, according to a White House statement.

“We’ll use the opportunity of the meeting to advocate for the United States to host the World Cup in either 2018, or 2022,” Josh Earnest, deputy White House press secretary, said before the discussion between Obama and Blatter.

The international tournament is held every four years. The host for the 2014 World Cup will be Brazil. Blatter said in an interview yesterday that he expects a “big fight” over the chance to host the next championship.

At last month’s G-8 summit in L’Aquila, Italy, Obama said it was his “goal” to travel to South Africa next June to attend the World Cup.

According to details today’s meeting released by the White House, Obama thanked Blatter for the invitation to the World Cup and for a gift of soccer balls for the president’s two daughters.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said no final decision has been made about Obama attending the World Cup, though he suggested that many of the president’s senior staff want him to make the trip.

“Scheduling has warned me against accepting unilaterally invitations to visit South Africa,” Gibbs said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=amSIiXAydsOM#

Monday, July 6, 2009

Fourth of July puts US Soccer in perspective

I spent one glorious summer in Rio de Janeiro many years ago. While still in graduate school, I was fortunate enough to have been awarded a scholarship to study Portuguese overseas. Mine was the typical exchange program where you live with a host family and take classes at a local university. Technically, I was there to conduct thesis research, and I did, as most of the summer was spent ‘familiarizing myself’ with Brazilian culture.

My timing could not have been more perfect. The year was 1994 and the country was smack dab in the middle of World Cup fever. As most of us know, Brazilians eat, sleep and breathe soccer. The game is so ingrained into their culture that at certain times of the year, nothing else matters. Not the economy, not poverty, not pollution. Soccer unites their nation.

Packers, Eagles and Giants fans? Do you think you’re religious about your team? Guess again. You Gator, Sooner, Buckeye and Notre Dame fans out there think you hold a candle? Nuh uh. The entire nation of Brazil gathers together when World Cup rolls around. I was lucky enough to experience that first hand.

One day I accosted a group of four beautiful Brazilian women chatting energetically while drinking beers at a beachside bar. Consider it the Brazilian version of ‘Sex and the City.’ The foursome was engaged in an in-depth conversation, about soccer. Where in the United States would you ever see that?

To further put things into perspective, the Horseshoe in Columbus, OH fits 102,000 screaming fans. Neyland Stadium in Knoxville seats 105,000. Michigan Stadium holds 108,000. While in Rio, I saw a regional soccer game at Estadio do Maracana. Maximum capacity 200,000! Brazil is scheduled to host the 2014 World Cup. Think they’ll have a home field advantage?

Prior to every World Cup game that summer, I was warned to have all beer, food and party accessories ready ahead of time for everything in Rio shut down at first kick. I didn’t believe it until I saw it with my own eyes. During a match, there was not a storefront open or a vehicle on the street. Good luck finding a taxi.

The entire country gathered in their living rooms with family and friends with ice cold Brahma and feijao aplenty, remaining glued to the set for the entire game. These are not your fair-weather fans. When Brazil scored a goal, the city erupted. Shouts of pleasure echoed through the windows. Celebration ensued with each victory.

The United States hosted the World Cup that year. Ironically, Brazil played the U.S. on July 4th. I remember that date specifically because my host family threatened to kick me out of their apartment if the U.S. pulled off the upset. Needless to say, I was rooting for Brazil.

That 1994 Brazil team featured all-time greats: Romario, Bebeto, Taffarel and an 18-year old named Ronaldo. Taffarel, the goalie, consistently received the harshest criticism from both media and fans. That was until he blocked Italy’s game-tying goal in penalty kicks to bring home the title. He immediately became a national hero.

When it comes to World Cup history, Brazil dominates nearly every statistic: championships won, games won, goals scored. Every other country is a distant second. Soccer in the U.S. can never reach the importance it garners in Brazil or in other areas of the world. It’s ingrained and generational. Even though we all play soccer as children, most of us switch to another sport we’re more interested in like baseball, basketball or football.

For whatever reason, most Americans don’t have a passion for soccer. Not enough scoring, no viable professional league, the inability to use one’s hands, whatever the reason. We just don’t have the appetite for it no matter how hard US Soccer tries to encourage us to pay attention.

That was until last week when the U.S. almost pulled off an upset of international proportions. In the final game of the FIFA Federations Cup, the US led Brazil 2-0 at halftime. David was inconceivably about to slay Goliath. Then the Brazilian juggernaut scored three goals in the second half to squash any hopes the US had for winning its first major international competition.

I found myself once again glued to the television as if it were 1994 revisited. It was refreshing to see others interested in the match as well. I watched the first half while exercising on an elliptical machine at my local YMCA. When Landon Donovan scored the second goal of the game, I heard a few random shouts from within the gym over my blaring iPod. Not bad. Now just imagine how Brazil was rocking when they took the lead for good.

US Soccer put forth a valiant effort in their tune-up for next summer’s World Cup. They turned a lot of heads and more fans will assuredly be watching. It’s unreasonable to expect them to equal their recent success but at least now this team won’t be overlooked.

Late one night back in 1994, the Brazilian team announced they would host a parade. The Cariocan (those from Rio) players would be bringing the trophy around for all to see. We stayed up all night celebrating the victory as fans played a variety of percussive instruments. The beats were infectious. Fans rushed the parading buses with players waving from atop as the parade route ran through Copacabana and Ipanema.

It’ll be a long time coming before the United States ever brings one of those home. Do you think we’ll even notice?

http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/dailyloaf/2009/07/06/fourth-of-july-puts-us-soccer-in-perspective/

Friday, April 17, 2009

Pato is being picked on

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has demanded that referees give more protection to star teenage striker Pato.

Milan have been complaining in recent weeks that Pato is being targetted by defenders and Galliani is worried for the Brazilian.

"He is being scientifically targetted the moment he steps on the pitch with the hope that, given that he is young, he will become a peripheral figure, something that happens on occasions," complained Galliani.

"Defenders have always kicked forwards but the treatment dealt out to Pato is a little excessive.

"But it's up to the referees to see if things are legal or not. Referees shouldn't protect anyone but they have to put the brakes on violent play and I hope they'll do so in the next match."





Milan, who host lowly Torino on Sunday, sit third in Serie A, just two points behind second-placed Juventus and four ahead of Genoa in fourth.

With leaders Inter Milan 12 points ahead of them, Milan's aim is merely to finish in the top three and ensure they qualify directly for the group stages of next season's Champions League.

Even so, the feeling in the San Siro is that second place is a real possibility.

"I don't like to make predictions, Juve have two points more than us but behind us there are Genoa, who are playing really well, and of course Fiorentina, we'll see what happens but it will be difficult (to claim second place)," added Galliani.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gmj4qXJ-CsoOjr77k5Sp81ggvLxA

Monday, April 13, 2009

Pato Sure Kaka And Ancelotti Will Remain At Milan

The Rossoneri starlet is fairly certain that his fellow countryman and coach will both remain at the club.

Apr 8, 2009 7:39:40 PM

Kaka-Ronaldinho-Pato Torino-Milan Serie A (Grazia Neri)
Kaka-Ronaldinho-Pato Torino-Milan Serie A (Grazia Neri)

Milan are currently well-positioned in the league in third place and are looking extremely likely to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League, after missing out to Fiorentina this term.

With their season all but over, much of the news coming from the Rossoneri camp of late has centred on transfer news, mainly concerning Kaka and coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Both have been linked with moves away from the club at the conclusion of the season, with the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea linked as possible destinations. Despite this, the club’s top scorer this season, Alexandre Pato, believes that both the trainer and the Brazilian playmaker will remain with the club next term.

“In January I was very scared with everything I read in the newspapers about the possible departure of Kaka,” Pato admitted in an interview with Milan Studio Sport.

“He made the right choice in deciding to stay here though, as this is, and will always be, his home. With him by my side I can learn so many things, and hopefully become a great player too.

“Ancelotti is another who always helps me, both in matches and in training. With this in mind, I will not be happy if he leaves either, and I don’t think he will, as he has a close bond with the club.”

The 19-year-old star went on to discuss his international future with Brazil, and the recent dramas surrounding his snub from Dunga’s starting line-up despite his outstanding form with Milan.

He said, “I am very happy to be called up to the Brazilian national team, so I do respect all those who stand before me in Dunga’s eyes.

“I will keep working hard, and do my best to ensure that in eighteen months time I am at the World Cup in South Africa.”

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/86/italy/2009/04/09/1199666/pato-sure-kaka-and-ancelotti-will-remain-at-milan

Soccer-Kaka denies talks with Real

AC Milan's Kaka has denied holding talks with Real Madrid and said he wants to stay with the Serie A club.

Spanish media said prospective Real Madrid president Florentino Perez had agreed with Milan to sign Kaka in the off-season, having failed to attain the Brazilian when he was in charge at the Bernabeu.

"I think in recent days too many people have talked, now I'll speak," Kaka told Thursday's Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I have not had contact with Real, no one has tried to contact me and I think I have already made myself clear ... my wish is to stay at Milan."

Asked whether that would mean he would stay at the San Siro for life, Kaka said: "For the fifth time, it seems so to me."

Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani, who almost sold Kaka to Manchester City in January for a record fee, earlier said the former world player of the year was not for sale.

Kaka, who has been troubled by a foot injury in recent weeks, also said he would be happy to play under Massimiliano Allegri, amid media speculation the Cagliari boss may replace current coach Carlo Ancelotti.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/footballNews/idUKL99195720090409

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Pato: I Nearly Lost A Limb To Cancer

The Brazilian starlet has revealed that he narrowly avoided amputation at a young age.

Milan young gun Alexandre Pato has been a revelation since making his debut for the club in January 2008, when he scored in the Rossoneri’s convincing 5-2 triumph over Napoli at the San Siro stadium.

Since then he has gone on to make a name for himself as one of the world’s top talents, with a number of dazzling displays for both his club and country.

However, during a recent television program broadcast in Brazil, Pato sensationally confessed that his life may not have been as it is today had it not been for the doctors who identified that he had cancer at a young age.

“At the age of 11, before joining Internacional, I had broken my left arm twice in the same place, and required some examinations to determine the extent of the injury,” Pato affirmed in the program ‘Esporte Espetacular’.

“The investigations however had identified a tumour in the arm, and immediately it was feared that I would need to have my arm amputated.

“Thankfully I managed to have surgery to have it removed, and it was a success.”

At the age of just 19, the Brazilian has already proven his potential for the future, and that he has all the credentials at this stage to become one of the game's greats.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2009/03/31/1183719/milans-pato-admits-he-risked-amputation-as-a-child

Kaka ready to play for Brazil

In his six days with the physical trainers of Brazil's national soccer team, Kaka claimed on Monday that he recuperated faster than in the past five weeks with his Italian team of Milan.

Suffering from a left foot injury, the midfielder has been limited in play with pain and discomfort. However, after Monday's team practice, Kaka says that he is ready to return to the field.

"After today's scrimmage, I proved that I am ready to play. I just don't know how long I can play for. I would love to start the game. I always fight for a starting position. However, Dunga is the only one who will decide that," revealed Kaka.

Kaka stayed behind in Brazil while the rest of the national team went to face Ecuador last Sunday.

In a 1-1 tie, Brazil returned satisfied with the result, claiming it is always difficult to play in areas of high altitude.

On Wednesday, April 1, Brazil will host Peru in the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre in the next round of South American qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.

Coach Dunga considers the match as an "obligation" to win at home.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/31/content_11104638.htm

Monday, March 30, 2009

Brazilian footballer: At Barcelona's heart, the soccer stadium

You've been to Barcelona. So what? Unless you've experienced a match in Camp Nou, the home of FC Barcelona, the national football team of Catalonia, you haven't really been to Barcelona.

Catalonia? What? Barcelona is in Spain, right?

If you say so. Just don't ask a local.

Barcelona pulsates with history. You can feel it as you stroll the Bari Gotic (Gothic Quarter) or ping-pong off people during the Festival of Santa Lucia. It's the city of Gaudi and his improbable edifices and the dark, narrow contrast of Barceloneta, or Little Barcelona. It's beautiful, friendly people, scammers and getting your pocket picked on La Rambla. It's great food, museums and xocolata (a molten chocolate drink).

But for me it was a football vacation--one week and two matches. The city and all its glories were a go-with, because you can't spend all day at Camp Nou.

Though you could. There's the stadium tour (including museum), a grounds tour and the FC Barcelona Megastore, where you can buy everything from pens to baby blankets, skivvies to cuff links.

But you don't because you're traveling with civilians.

And then we got lucky, because a Barcelona family--Genis Sanchez, his wife, MariCruz, and mother, Montserrat, whom I met through a Barca football blog--took a Sunday to show us their Barcelona. So you get lunch at the Four Cats and buy a caganer statuette. You visit a beautiful abbey cloister and get a history lesson at almost every corner.

Then you get knocked on your butt.

There is a pockmarked wall in a church courtyard at Placa de Sant Filip Neri, a wall the city hasn't repaired. The marks were made by bullets during the Spanish Civil War. But there's no signage. You have to know, or someone has to tell you. Then when you tell your gracious hosts that you're planning to visit Montjuic Castle, mother and son exchange a look and he says, "We don't go there."

And the "Montjuic est molt Montjuic" (Montjuic is more than Montjuic [Castle]) signs make sense. Because you do your homework and realize that executions went on there during the war, including that of iconic Catalan nationalist Lluis Companys.

And you don't go.

Which is fine, because there is so much to do in Barcelona when you aren't watching football. Like Paris, Barcelona is a city of small museums, from art collections of former Formula One drivers to a small-but-mighty Egyptian museum.

But it was still all about the football.

You're wondering whether a football team is worth a trip to Barcelona? People vacation to visit baseball stadiums, the Super Bowl or World Series, and they aren't even in Barcelona. Nor is there the history, the reality that if you don't know any better, you can visit Barcelona and think that it's in Spain. Because it is. Technically. But not spiritually.

You may even wonder, during your touristy Camp Nou visit, why the signs are in Catalan, English, then Spanish. And why there are hardly any Spanish flags around town. Because Barcelona is in Catalonia, and its denizens are Catalan, even though they pay taxes to Spain and have Spanish passports. They speak and read Catalan, even though you can get along just fine in Barcelona speaking Spanish.

If you're devoted enough to FC Barcelona to become a soci (voting and supporting member of the club), the preceding paragraph sits firmly in the "Duh" category.

Because FC Barcelona, like the Catalan language, is an integral part of the city and the people. Catalonia used to be an empire, and the people have never forgotten. For almost four decades--during the Franco regime--the language was outlawed. The club's motto is mes que un club (more than a club), which is true. It's Catalan iconography. And even if Catalonia is a separate country in the minds of many of its residents, it is officially an autonomous community. But Catalonia feels it's a nation.

As you learn more it becomes clear that FC Barcelona is an institution, one that gets into your heart in a way that makes you fly thousands of miles to see two matches.

We arrived on a Friday and staggered around like lagged, fatigue-sotted drunks. So the first day was sort of a waste, noteworthy mostly for the gleeful discovery of finding a restaurant less than a block away that was excellent and willing to serve us dinner before 9 p.m.

But on the next day, I fell in love.

In Barcelona, there is a drink (a Mexican import) called xocolata, molten chocolate in a cup. In my ignorance, basic hot chocolate was the expectation, but the first cup was almost pornographic and went down faster than a Brazilian footballer when a defender touches him.

And we walked. And walked. And walked some more. We hit museums, but all I was thinking about was sitting in my seat that Saturday night--the first match. My friend Bill and I decided to walk to the stadium, a task made easy even if you are lost, by following the throngs togged out in bits of FC Barcelona finery.

Each match has a ritual path that begins with the Himno, the stirring, martial fight song of FC Barcelona. Then player introductions, with the same clipped cheer after each home player's name, followed by the buzz of anticipation. Camp Nou hums with history on a match night, and anybody who is a football fan and anywhere near Barcelona on a home match day will try to get a ticket. But matches are such an integral part of Barcelona life that you haven't really experienced the city until you've witnessed one, preferably one that matters, so that you can see more than 90,000 people become a country supporting its soldiers clad in the famous blaugrana (blue and burgundy) shirt.

And at the end of 90 minutes you realize that win or lose, a football vacation makes sense because you've gained a much better understanding of a city, a people and vibrant, pulsating history. Then the Himno makes sense, and you sing:

Tot el camp/Es un clam/Som la gent blaugrana/Tant se val d'on venim ...

The whole stadium/Loudly cheers/We're the blue and claret supporters/It matters not where we hail from.

http://travel.latimes.com/articles/sns-trvmain3-wk3-mar22

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Brazil Soccer: World Cup Debate: Do Brazil Really Need Ronaldo?

R9’s return to goalscoring form has lead to fresh calls for him to be reinstated to the Selecao. But Goal.com’s KS Leong asks, do Brazil need him to come back?

As Ronaldo announced that he is comtemplating the idea of an early retirement next year, the question running through everyone’s mind is whether will he be granted one last recall to the Selecao, or one final appearance in the World Cup, before he hangs up his boots?

An overwhelming majority of Goal.com readers have backed O Fenomeno to fight his way back into the ultra-competitive Brazilian national team. But the country’s former World Cup winning captain, Carlos Alberto Torres, doesn’t believe that he should feature in Dunga’s long-term plans. And he has good reason for thinking that.

Brazil simply do not require Ronaldo’s services in this phase of their history. They have more than enough talented forwards at their disposal: Luis Fabiano, Adriano, Robinho and Alexandre Pato. That they are not scoring regularly and consistently has more to do with the coach and his tactics, than it does with the players' natural abilities.

Risky Business

It’s not that Ronaldo is no longer good enough to don the verde-amarela, or that he’s too old. Make no mistake, he is not past it by any means. He has already scored four goals in five games for Corinthians and did so almost immediately after returning from a year long injury. It’s the kind of conversion rate reminiscent of his astonishing ratio back in the 90’s: 42 goals in 45 games for PSV and 34 goals in 37 games for Barcelona. If he can continue in this form, he certainly warrants a return to the Canarinho.

But taking the 32-year-old to the 2010 World Cup, for example, is a risk. While he may be guaranteed to provide goals, there will always be a lingering question mark around his fragile condition, especially his knees. Sometimes at 50%, he can perform better than most strikers at 100%. But there are also times when his 50% looks more like most other players at 10%. In other words, his unpredictable fitness makes him… well, too unpredictable.

In all fairness, Ronaldo has always demonstrated his remarkable resilience and tenacity. Not only has he bounced back from several career-threatening injuries, but also from a twilight-zone World Cup final, some highly publicised broken relationships, yo-yo weight problems and countless off-field scandals.

The one thing he hasn’t been able to shed, though, is his over-indulgent lifestyle and his excessive partying.

It is something that the Brazilian team can do without at the moment, especially in light of more recent stories about Adriano and Robinho’s 12-hour merrymaking escapade and especially with South Africa 2010 fast approaching.

The no-nonsense disciplinarian Dunga, the Brazilian equivalent of Fabio Capello, was brought in to keep a tight leash on his players, clean up the squad and disband any group of egotistical celebrities and superstars. It was something that played a big part in the nation’s downfall in the 2006 World Cup in Germany when, for the first time since Italia ’90, they failed to get past the quarter-final stage as their ‘Magic Quartet’ flopped miserably.

Ronaldo has already earned and cemented his legendary status in the history books of world football, although according to the notorious IFFHS polls, he ranks no higher than 9th in the list of the best Brazilian players in the 20th century.

Yet, he has already been through and achieved more on the international stage than most players can even dream of. He’s gone all the way to the final of a World Cup three times in succession, won two of them, although he didn’t play at all at USA ’94 as a 17-year-old; he’s overtaken the great Gerd Muller as the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 15 goals; he won the tournament’s Golden Shoe in 2002 and the Golden Ball in 1998 and he’s one of only two players to have ever won the FIFA World Player of the Year three times.

Let The Kids In

With 62 international goals to his name, perhaps the only thing left for Ronaldo to do is chase down Pele’s 77-goal mark to become the country’s all-time top scorer. While almost every football fanatic would love to see that happen, the truth is that it’s time for him to move over and let the next generation of young, aspiring Fenomenos to begin their own fairytale journey to superstardom. And there are plenty of them.

The one player who could suffer most if Ronaldo were to return to A Selecao is Pato, who has just started to inch his way into Dunga’s plans. The Milan striker has gone from being this gawky looking, pimple-faced teenager to becoming a world class footballing teenager in the space of just a few years. And in a few years more, he will join the very top echelon of the megastars of today. But his international progress could be hampered if in the next year or two, if he falls down the pecking order to make room for R9.

There’s also Douglas Costa who, although not a forward, is an outrageously talented attacking midfielder in the Ronaldinho mould. He’s already proven himself in Brazil’s Sub-20 squad in the recent South American Youth Championships but to move up to the next step, he needs the exposure in the senior squad and at the moment there is just no way of squeezing him in there, much less so if another attacking spot is reserved for Ronaldo.

But one particular young sensation everyone wants to see in the Esquadrao de Ouro is Keirrison. Wonderfully nicknamed K9, he is the one Brazilian who is in red-hot form at present: 16 goals in 14 games for Palmeiras. And at 20 years of age, he is primed and ready to step onto the big stage, although he may be too skinny for Dunga’s liking. But a potential move to one of Europe’s superpowers in the near future will force him to beef up and fast-track his international debut.

And the latest kid to emerge is, of course, Neymar, anointed by none other than Pele himself as the next big thing to come out of Brazil. And Santos. He may only have just turned 17 years old a month-and-a-half ago, but, lest we forget, that’s how old both Pele and Ronaldo were when they had their very first World Cup experience.

No-one would begrudge the opportunity the see Ronaldo in full fitness and in full flight as he rips apart opposing defences like he did in the good old days. And just like any professional footballer, he still harbours the burning desire to pull on his country’s colours and sing the national anthem before the start of every game.

Dunga has said he is more than willing to take the striker back, should an opportunity present itself. But the truth is that Brazil and Dunga are not in any particular dire need of his services. And Ronaldo himself isn’t exactly dying for more international recognition or success, or more unnecessary exertion on his knees. You just feel that one more injury and the curtains will really have to come down.

It would be sad sight indeed to see him forced to end his playing career with tears soaking his famous yellow jersey, clutching his knee as he is carried off the field in a stretcher, watched by millions.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2009/03/28/1179430/world-cup-debate-do-brazil-really-need-ronaldo

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Brazil looks to overcome Ecuador hoodoo

Brazil will attempt to score their first FIFA World Cup™ qualifying goal in Ecuador when the teams meet at high altitude in Quito on Sunday.

The five-time world champions, second in the ten-team South American group, have a dismal record in the Andean country, having failed to hit the target in three previous qualifying visits. A 0-0 draw in tropical Guayaquil in 1993 was followed by 1-0 defeats in Quito in 2001 and again in 2004.

Coach Dunga said the chance to improve Brazil's poor record in Ecuador was an added incentive. "Every time there is a taboo to be broken or something to be conquered, it adds a little extra," he said. "We're going to play to win and gain points to help us qualify. It's always good to know the statistics, but we have to do our job."

Although Brazil are second in the South American group and well-placed to qualify, they are six points adrift of leaders Paraguay and have looked far from impressive in the qualifiers. They have been held 0-0 by Argentina, Bolivia and Colombia in successive home matches and went into the five-month break in the competition at a low ebb last October.

Since then, a 6-2 win over Portugal and an impressive 2-0 defeat of Italy in friendlies have lifted the pressure on Dunga. Playmaker Kaka is doubtful with a foot injury and striker Adriano has an ankle problem.

Ecuador, who had never played at a FIFA World Cup before qualifying in 2002 and 2006, are sixth in the table with 12 points, one behind fifth-placed Uruguay. Key midfielders Edison Mendez and Antonio Valencia have both been passed fit for the game which is crucial to their hopes of a third successive appearance.

Ecuador, who have depended heavily on their form in Quito in the past, have already dropped four points in home games and cannot afford another slip-up. The top four teams qualify for South Africa 2010 and the fifth play off with the fourth side from CONCACAF for another place.

Coach Sixto Vizuete is in confident mood, having said his team are stronger collectively than Brazil and that their opponents are afraid of playing at altitude.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1041661.html#brazil+looks+overcome+ecuador+hoodoo

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Brazil soccer: World Cup, NCAA Style

What if FIFA replicated the NCAA basketball model and expanded the World Cup finals to 64 teams -- well, 65 if you'd like a play-in game in Dayton or, say, Dortmund -- and essentially seeded the entire field instead of relying on imbalanced groups? We're talking about one match at a neutral site, winner advances, loser goes home.

We've got power conferences (Europe and South America) and mid-majors (Africa, CONCACAF and Asia). Sorry Oceania, but with Australia playing in Asia, you are going to the NIT. Seeds are based on FIFA rankings -- flawed, I know, but the NCAA selection committee isn't perfect either. I've also taken the liberty of moving Brazil into the top four seeds to avoid European domination. So your regional favorites are: Spain (South), Germany (East), Netherlands (Midwest) and Brazil (West).

The first round will play out with eight games per day, today through Thursday. The second round, sweet 16, regional finals and final four will be held next week.

Teams advance based on your votes. Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell your co-workers! Jump to the continuation of this thread to make your first four South Region picks. (The other four will be available later today.)

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/03/world_cup_ncaa_style.html?wprss=soccerinsider

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Pato: Defenders out to get me

AC Milan favourite Alexandre Pato has admitted that he is a marked man in the tough and physical world of Serie A.

The Samba starlet is enjoying a stellar season for the Rossoneri having already bagged 15 goals for Carlo Ancelotti's men.

But despite his heroics, Milan are struggling to stay with league leaders and bitter rivals Inter and have already been knocked out of this season's UEFA Cup competition.

Pato was on target during Milan's 2-1 defeat at Sampdoria last weekend, a game that, once again, saw the 19-year-old receive more than his fair share of tough tackles.

"Defenders have become harder on me," Pato explained to Milan's official television channel.

"They have decided not to let me run, but often, they don't get the ball, they get me!"

With the pressure on Milan to improve, Pato is determined to keep on scoring, a task he believes is made easier thanks to the class that exists within the Milanese club's ranks.
"It's easy to score at Milan, with so many good players who know where to put the ball so I can score," he said.

"I am also learning tricks from [Andriy] Shevchenko and [Pippo] Inzaghi.

"David Beckham is also a great guy, and not just on the pitch. He has helped me a lot, and when we play together, I know, if I ask him for a pass, he knows where I want the ball."

http://www.espnstar.com/football/serie-a/news/detail/item217213/Pato:-Defenders-out-to-get-me/

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Pato: I really want Beckham to stay

Alexandre Pato has welcomed news that David Beckham is set to stay with AC Milan.

A loan extension from LA Galaxy is expected to be confirmed over the weekend and Pato said: “I really want Beckham to stay.

“He is a great player and not just in a match situation. Off the field he’s a lovely guy who always helps me if I need something.

“On the pitch if I ask him for the ball in a certain position, he puts it in exactly the right spot.”

Pato always said that Ronaldo was his hero, so he must be pleased to see his former teammate return to the sport after a long injury lay-off in Brazil.

“We are friends and often chat, so of course I’m happy he is playing again. Now I would love him to get back to the Ronaldo we all knew – Il Fenomeno.”

http://www.tribalfootball.com/ac-milans-pato-i-really-want-beckham-stay-231316

Monday, February 23, 2009

Corinthians Striker Ronaldo Admits Return Is Getting Closer

The hitman is on his way back, but he is treading carefully in order to refrain from rushing things...

Corinthians striker Ronaldo admits his return to action is drawing closer as he enjoys the Carnival in Rio De Janeiro.

The Brazilian hitman has been out since his horrific injury against Livorno last February when playing for Milan. After surgery and a long fight against the odds, 'Il Fenomeno' is on the verge of returning to a football pitch.

Fans cannot wait for the bald-headed star to come back and they will be cheering following his latest comments while he was enjoying the Rio festivities.

"I do not know the exact date of my return, but I believe it is very near," Ronaldo told Globoesporte.com.

"I am feeling really well and all the training has been going good. I am very happy with the progress."

Ronaldo signed for Corinthians in December after he was released last summer from the Rossoneri.

A number of reports have suggested that the striker will make his debut against Palmeiras next month.

So far, Corinthians coach Mano Menezes has failed to bow to pressure regarding Ronaldo's return, leading to speculation that the player is still some way off full fitness.

http://goal.com/en/news/60/south-america/2009/02/23/1123664/corinthians-striker-ronaldo-admits-return-is-getting-closer

Friday, February 13, 2009

Friendly demonstrations of sheer skill

Playing for points is one thing, putting on an exhibition of the skills of soccer quite another. In London, in Marseille and in Seville this midweek there were so-called friendly international games that left packed audiences in no doubt about who are the modern masters of the sport.

With goals from Elano and Robinho, with a stunning reminder of how great Ronaldinho can still be if he has the desire, Brazil eclipsed Italy, 2-0, in a friendly match before an audience of 60,000 at Arsenal's London stadium. It was samba on a frigid night.

The game featured the same color combination - one team in golden yellow, the other in blue - as with Australia and Japan. Yet so fluid was the Brazil display, so appealing to the eye, that it looked like a different game, on a different planet, from the dull stalemate played out in Japan.

Television brings as many of the games to us as we have time to consume. When Brazil shows off like this, on a pitch that is world-class to complement the flair of its players, we wonder why Dunga, the present Brazil national coach, constrains his men on other occasions. Italy had almost a full squad of its finest players, yet couldn't come near to disrupting Brazil's rhythm.

The French suffered similar problems with Lionel Messi. He carried his Barcelona club form into Argentina's 2-0 victory in Marseille, and after Messi scored a marvellous solo goal, the home crowd of Frenchmen stood in applause to his talents. Diego Maradona - his countryman, coach and, in his time, fellow genius - praised Messi's quality, but also his work ethic.

In Seville, Spain demonstrated just why it won Euro 2008, and why England was not even in that tournament. A goal on the ground by David Villa, and one in the air from substitute Joseba Llorente, showed England what finishing is all about.

But the difference was in passing, awareness, movement. Even David Beckham, who earned another cheap cap as a second-half replacement and who was lucky to stay on the pitch after a wild tackle and a yellow card for dissent, came close to acknowledging that England had been outclassed.

On the night when he equaled the record of 108 appearances for England, Beckham also learned that American soccer is running out of patience with his feckless attitude. He is contracted to the Los Angeles Galaxy, but he wants now to break that contract so that he can play a higher grade of soccer, with AC Milan.

Don Garber, the commissioner of the Major League Soccer, on Wednesday gave an ultimatum to Beckham and Milan: Make the Galaxy an acceptable offer and take him, or send him back to California. The deadline Garber gave is Friday.

Ancelotti rules out Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti of AC Milan says he has no intention of becoming Chelsea's manager, The Associated Press reported from Milan.

The London club fired Luiz Felipe Scolari on Monday, and has hired Russia coach Guus Hiddink as his replacement until the end of the season. Ancelloti has been considered Chelsea's top choice to take over full-time. "The only club that has made a move to sign me has been Chelsea," Ancelotti was quoted Thursday by La Stampa as saying. He added, "I am not thinking about leaving."

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/12/news/CUP.php

Thursday, February 12, 2009

London bears witness as Brazil outshine Italy

Such was the volume of the wildly excited and high pitch screams echoing around the Emirates Stadium that you could have been forgiven for thinking a boy band were about to take centre stage.

Samba style: Brazil celebrate Elano's opening goal

Westlife, Take That or the Backstreet Boys would have felt quite at home amid the 60,077 fanatics in attendance on this chilled North London night and all present created the sort of carnival atmosphere this stadium has not been used to during a campaign when the resident team have fallen from the lofty perch.

In a season when this impressive venue has lacked some soul when it is bursting full with increasingly frustrated Arsenal fans, the followers of Brazil and Italy brought it to life in a grand manner.

Clearly, the novelty value of seeing two of the world's iconic international sides going head-to-head clearly helped to heighten the expectation for London-based supporters who may not have believed their national heroes had come to perform before them, yet the jovial nature exuded by all was an example of what this great game should be about.

Football loving Brazilians and Italians worshiped together and only battled to sing louder than one another. While it would be tough to inject regular Premier League football attendees with the enthusiasm and passion displayed by those present for this game, it was a delight to share the experience with them.

It was also refreshing to sit through two national anthems celebrated with the sort of gusto and respect England fans are always keen to ignore. Internationals at Wembley are generally marred by jeers for the opposing musical rallying call, yet Italy's familiar signature tune and Brazil's up tempo number were toasted by all.

The game itself had to be special to live up to the pre-match euphoria, but it more than satisfied the appetite as it quickly clicked into gear. Brazil are only allowed to play this game in the beautiful manner and even though the method of the Azzurri is often less eye-catching, their quality can be equally captivating.

We were given an idea of just how high pitched the volume level would rise to greet the first goal when Fabio Grosso saw his effort incorrectly chalked off for offside in the fourth minute. The Italy full-back looked to have timed his run perfectly and produced a fine finish before his celebrations were cut short by the misplaced flag from the English official.

It soon became apparent that a fixture billed as a friendly would have a cutting edge. The tackles may not have been flying quite as fiercely as they may be if they two sides are to contest the World Cup final next year, but this was to be a feisty and thrilling affair.

The first goal was not long in coming as a typically brilliant Brazil move featuring Robinho and the recalled Ronaldinho, who combined to carve open the normally rock-solid Italian defence and allowed Manchester City's Elano to score with glee.

This game can occasionally send a shiver down the spine when its most gifted exponents hit the right notes and even though they were helped by some indifferent defending, this was one of those moments.

Brazil's second goal was just as memorable. While the experienced Andrea Pirlo may not have allowed Robinho to win the ball so easily on the edge of his box if this game had points resting on it, the quick-footed brilliance of Manchester City's record signing was a sight to behold before he fizzed a fizzing left footed shot past Gianluigi Buffon.

Marcello Lippi's long unbeaten run came to an end in London

The sparkling first half showing was timely for Brazil boss Carlos Dunga, who would have noted the departure of Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea on Monday with some trepidation. He has had his troubles trying to living up to expectations at the helm of a national team who don't tolerate second best, so constant success is now required to dampen down the theory that Scolari may return to try and recreate his World Cup glory of seven years ago.

Azzurri chief Marcello Lippi was the coach with all the worries at the break and his response was to unleash the towering Luca Toni from his place on the bench, along the veteran Mauro Camoranesi and ex-Manchester United starlet Giuseppe Rossi. Clearly, this veteran mastermind was not satisfied with the efforts of many he opted to name on his initial team-sheet.

Bayern Munich's Toni, in particular, had a positive impact for Italy and he had a goal struck off when he handled the ball in the build-up. He went on to miss a great chance with eight minutes to go as he nipped in front of the Brazilian defence and was denied by a fine save from Cesar and went close again in the dying minutes, but the game was lost by then.

Brazil's quality of passing and impressive work rate ensured they recorded a comfortable victory and Dunga was a content figure as he sat before an excited press pack. ''The goals we scored were well worked and Robinho was exceptional to create the second,'' stated the USA'94 World Cup winning skipper.

He also had a few good words for the recalled Ronaldinho. ''I felt he worked hard for the team and he gave us some extra options,'' was his view of the celebrated AC Milan star. ''We have great talent in this squad and Kaka still has to come back, but it's all about working it together for the team.''

Marcello Lippi was targeting a record breaking 32nd unbeaten game as Italy boss, yet found some positives despite being was denied the milestone.

''We did not start the game well and this was partly due to the fact we only had 48 hours to think about this game,'' he said. ''Brazil took advantage of our mistakes in the first half and it was difficult after that.''

It is always hard to assess the true importance of a friendly international, yet the Italy of 2009 look a long way short of the powerful champions who ruled the world three years ago. As for Brazil, they were impressive as both an attacking and defensive unit and look set to be the team to beat when the soccer world convenes in South Africa some 16 months from now.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Gilberto was shown the door by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who apparently believed he was past his prime. On this evidence, his brand of no-nonsense midfield industry is just what the misfiring Gunners have been missing this season. Robinho's fancy footwork earned him top honours from the sponsors, but Gilberto deserved credit for his less eye-catching effort.

PRESS BOX NOVELTY: Confirmation that this was a very different occasion at the Emirates Stadium was came with a packed out press room bursting with attractive female reporters. The British written press pack are generally an aging and slightly grumpy bunch, but those charged with reporting on Brazil and Italy are far more pleasing on the eye and appear to be less interested in consuming cream cakes.

BRAZIL VERDICT: The combination of Ronaldinho, Robinho and Elano was electrifying to watch at times and they also showed impressive commitment to the cause in a friendly international. The recently unemployed Scolari is not required to revive this reinvent this brilliant team just yet.

AZZURRI VERDICT: Italy boss Marcelo Lippi admitted he was frustrated by the lack of preparation time prior to a battle with the 2002 World Champions and his side lost this game with their slack first half defending.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=618026&sec=worldcup2010&root=worldcup2010&&cc=5901

SOCCER: FIFA BOOST AFTER BRAZIL WIN

Italy gained some small consolation for its 2-0 defeat to Brazil in London Tuesday night by clinging on to fourth place in FIFA's monthly world soccer rankings, one spot ahead of Brazil.

The Italians were outplayed at the Emirates stadium after they saw a goal by Fabio Grosso disallowed, going down to goals by Elano and Robinho.

Coach Marcello Lippi, who failed to set a world record 32 undefeated run, said: ''Brazil is stronger than us now but we'll have to see in a year and a half's time,'' at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

In the FIFA standings, European champions Spain.

http://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2009-02-11_111333409.html

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Kaka shrugs off Bologna boos to inspire AC Milan to victory

Kaka shook off barracking from Bologna fans to produce a superb goal scoring performance in AC Milan's victory last night.

Gazzetta dello Sport says Kaka was subjected to abusive chants from home supporters, a rare occurrence in Italy.

"It was all very beautiful," insisted Kaka at the final whistle. "I'm happy because Milan are still chasing Inter and Juve, and even for my two goals. In 2009 we are demonstrating consistency."

On his blossoming partnership with Alexandre Pato, Kaka added: "We are improving. With Pato, it is going very well and the second goal, really was very beautiful, it was created from an exchange between us."

http://www.tribalfootball.com/kaka-shrugs-bologna-boos-inspire-ac-milan-victory-224376

Monday, January 26, 2009

KAKA NAMED TSN.CA SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK

With the transfer drama behind him, Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite or Kaka as he is better known can get back to doing what he does best, scoring goals and capturing awards. The latest is the TSN.ca Soccer Player of the Week.

The Brazilian superstar has been a one man dynamo for Milan since rejecting a move to Manchester City last week and his fingerprints were all over Milan's destruction of Bologna Sunday.


Although David Beckham will likely get the headlines for scoring his first goal since arriving in Italy, it was Kaka who made the difference against Bologna. The 2007 World Player of the year was unstoppable, scoring twice and controlling the play as the Rossoneri continue to gain ground in the race for the Scudetto.

Others up for consideration this week included Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, Getafe's Roberto Soldado and Genclerbirligi's James Triosi.

http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/story/?id=264601&lid=sublink02&lpos=topRelated_soccer

Soccer-Ronaldinho recalled by Brazil, Amauri overlooked

Ronaldinho, dropped by Brazil last year following a loss of form, has been recalled by coach Dunga for next month's friendly against Italy in London.

However, there was still no place for Juventus striker Amauri who is embroiled in a controversy over whether he should play for his native Brazil or for Italy, where he has spent most of his career.

Dunga said he was spoilt for choice when it came to choosing forwards.

"We have got Luis Fabiano, who has hit a purple patch, Adriano, Pato, who was in the Olympic team, and Robinho, who has been a regular for a while," Dunga told reporters.

"I have all these to choose from so anyone else is going to have to wait his moment.

"Amauri is a good player and I've been watching him. But in his last two games, maybe because of all the fuss, he hasn't done so well."

Amauri, 28, is applying for an Italian passport and had previously said he would like to play for the world champions if he continues to be overlooked by his home country.

He has scored 11 Serie A goals this season after joining from Palermo.

Forward Ronaldinho, who has been inconsistent for AC Milan, was left out of Brazil's last three games following a dismal display in their goalless draw at home to Bolivia in September.

He missed the World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Colombia in October and the friendly against Portugal in November.

The squad also included a call-up for uncapped Fiorentina midfielder Felipe Melo.

Forward Adriano, banned for three domestic matches on Monday for punching an opponent during an Italian Serie A game on Sunday, was also included.

Brazil face the Italians at Arsenal's Emirates stadium on Feb. 10, the first meeting between the two sides since a 3-3 draw in France in 1997 and only the second since the 1994 World Cup final which Brazil won on penalties after a 0-0 draw.

Goalkeeper: Doni (AS Roma), Julio Cesar (Inter Milan)

Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Adriano Correia (Sevilla), Maicon (Inter Milan), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Lucio (Bayern Munich), Luis¿o (Benfica), Juan (AS Roma), Thiago Silva (AC Milan)

Midfielders: Anderson (Manchester United), Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Fiorentina), Josue (VfL Wolfsburg), Elano (Manchester City), Julio Baptista (AS Roma), Kaka (AC Milan), Ronaldinho (AC Milan)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/footballNews/idUKN2639223320090126?sp=true

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Soccer star kaka

Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite commonly known as Kaka. The 26 -year- old attacking midfielder expressed his decision to remain at AC Milan. Manchester City had earlier wanted to buy him but their efforts were fruitless.

He was born on April 22, 1982 in Brazil, the Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Brazil and the Serie A club A.C. Milan. He is one of the budding young stars in world football.

The Premier League club was also set to pay Kaka wages of £500,000 a week to quit Milan for Manchester.

Kaká’s younger brother Rodrigo Izecson Dos Santos Leite, known as Digão, followed in his brother’s footsteps and is currently on loan with Serie B team Rimini, after having spent some time in the AC Milan youth squad.

An internet discussion forum explains the nickname as a commonly used shortened form of "Ricardo" in Portuguese.

Kaká is supposed to have got his nickname because his little brother Rodrigo could not pronounce the word "Ricardo" when they were young.

http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/rainbow/Soccer_star_kaka_78747.shtml

Sao Paulo Youth Cup All Around the World

Great soccer final will be broadcast to 60 countries, Jan. 25

The Sao Paulo Youth Cup or Copa Sao Paulo de Juniores -- as it is called in Brazil -- is the most important soccer youth championship here.

The tournament is for teams from every part of Brazil and is famous for revealing Brazil's most amazing talents.Julio Baptista, Robinho and Kaka, are just some of the stars who began their careers in the Sao Paulo Youth Cup.

This year some young talents were tapped before the Cup began: The offensive winger Neymar playing for Santos, Oscar Sao Paulo's midfielder. But all of them have already been eliminated.

The final match is Atletico-PR against Corinthians.

The final is always played on Jan. 25, the date of the foundation of Sao Paulo city. All matches are played in Sao Paulo state and this year is no different. But there is one difference this year; for the very first time the Sao Paulo Youth Cup final will be broadcast in 60 countries. This will give a chance for European countries, or at least 15 of them, to watch who will probably be Brazil's next soccer star.

Both Corinthians and Atletico have good soccer talent to highlight, and I bet that a good part of the most important European soccer managers will be keenly watching this match, on the lookout for the next Brazilian surprise.

http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?at_code=436495&no=384696&rel_no=1

Vasco da Gama loses in first game of state tournament

In their first game of the Rio de Janeiro state tournament, the Vasco da Gama soccer team lost on Saturday to Americano by a score of 2-0.

Despite the negative result, the team's head coach, Dorival Junior believes that the game was full of positive results. Critics of the team say that the team will only begin to be competitive in the fourth or fifth round of the state competition.

"In my opinion, I saw more good things than bad things in today's game," said the head coach. "I was disappointed with the result, but I am happy with the team's performance.

"The players played to the best of their ability and made some great individual plays. We played much better in the second half. However, I want my players ready for a long and hard year, rather than a walk in the park."

The club is not distraught with their loss.

Dorival Junior considers the state tournament as a warm up for the 2009 season. He plans on having a great year and hopes to raise the team from the second division of the Brazilian soccer championship. They fell to the second division in 2008 after having placed among the worst four of the tournament.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/25/content_10716384.htm

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Pato's early goal holds up as Milan downs Fiorentina

Pato's goal seven minutes into the game was enough to lead AC Milan to a 1-0 win over Fiorentina at the San Siro on Saturday.

The win moves Milan to within six points of leaders Inter Milan and it solidifies the Rossoneri's hold on third place, while Fiorentina remains in sixth place and has lost its last two games.

Milan got out to a great start with Pato scoring his third goal in two games inside of seven minutes.

David Beckham attempted a cross from the left wing that was blocked and the ball fell to Marek Jankulovski, who slipped a pass to Pato inside the box. The young Brazilian then eluded a defender and fired off the far post and into the net to give his side an early lead.

Stevan Jovetic tried to equalize seven minutes later but he hooked a shot just wide from 20 yards before a well-struck shot from Riccardo Montolivo was parried by Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.

Beckham almost added to Milan's lead right before halftime when he got into the box on the right and drove a low shot towards the far post that was tipped wide by goalkeeper Marco Storari.

The second half started slowly but a nice ball from Juan Vargas found Mario Santana in front of goal midway through the half. Santana struck the ball first-time but Abbiati reacted well and got enough of the ball to keep it out.

Santana threatened the Milan net again in the 73rd minute when he fired just wide of the right post, but the Viola were unable to muster another significant threat over the final 15 minutes despite the fact that Jankulovski picked up a second yellow card in the 90th minute.

Siena moved seven points clear of the drop zone as Mario Frick scored with 15 minutes to play, handing his side a 1-0 win over second-from-the-bottom Reggina, which is winless in its last six games.

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=soc-ita/news/news.aspx?id=4204424

Soccer-Brazilian champions Sao Paulo held as season starts

Brazilian champions Sao Paulo were held to a 1-1 draw at home by modest Ituano in the Paulista championship as the 2009 season kicked off on Wednesday.

Striker Hugo gave Sao Paulo a 12th minute lead when he scored with a clinically-taken effort after the ball was laid off by Borges.

However, the visitors levelled when defender Miranda put through his own goal in the 36th minute as he tried to control the ball with his chest.

Sao Paulo, Brazilian champions for the last three years, were jeered off the field by the 11,000 crowd at the Morumbi.

Vanderlei Luxemburgo's Palmeiras made a more impressive start when they beat Santo Andre 1-0, debutant Cleiton Xavier scoring a neat goal in the 43rd minute after striker Lenny prised open the defence.

The Paulista is the largest of the regional tournaments that serve as a prelude to the Brazilian championship.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_WORLDFOOTBALL/idUKSP35180320090122

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Alexandre Pato a Serie A Sensation This Season

Alexandre Pato has become one of Serie A’s most prominent players during the last calendar year. The young Brazilian has just completed his first year at AC Milan and with his lightning speed, unique technical skills, great finishing, and outstanding reading of the game; the forward has done nothing to diminish his €22 million price tag.

Alexandre Pato, whose real name is Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva, received his shirt name due to his hometown being Pato Branco—which in both Spanish and Portuguese means “duck.”

Pato started playing futsal at the early age of four and become known in the Parana region due to his unique skills. At the age of seven the young talent switched to football and went off to play for Gremiô Industrial Pato Branquese—a sister club to Gremiô.

However, things haven’t always been easy for "The Duck." In 2000, young Pato at a mere 10 years of age was brought to the doctors with a broken arm. The doctor found something else too—a tumor that would have been cancerous had it not been removed within two months.

It was lucky for both Pato and his family that the doctor was a family friend, as they could not afford the costly operation. The operation was performed for free and it took several years for the prospering talent to fully recover and rehabilitate the arm.

When Pato turned 11 he along with his family decided to put all eggs in one basket by trying out for Internacional—with 83 other boys all fighting for the same spot. He beat all of his competitors—leaving the club with the knowledge that they had stumbled across something amazing.

In 2005, Pato helped Internacional to win the Brazilian U-20 Championship after bagging a brace against Gremiô in the return fixture of the final. That year Internacional also won the Copa Libertadores, which generated a place in the FIFA Club World Cup where the Brazilians surprisingly came to beat Barcelona in the final.

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The Brazilian didn’t manage to shine in the final due to the fact that the forward was playing with injury, but that didn’t stop him from running circles around defense stalwart Carles Puyol before he was substituted for team mate Adriano Gabiru who eventually scored the winner.

Pato was deliberately kept in the youth team to keep prying eyes from discovering that blossoming talent and the management was forbidden to talk about their prized asset to the media. It wasn’t until the forward Rafael Sobis left Internacional that Pato at age 17 signed a contract and took the step up to the senior team.

It was from then that the youngster started the fine habit of scoring in his debuts. He presented himself to the club’s supporters by scoring a header in his debut against Palmeiras in the 4-1 win in November 2006. The buzz surrounding the player was unbelievable as he was tipped to becoming one of the world’s most complete players in the coming years.

During the following year Pato helped the Brazil youth team to a South American Youth Championship title in Paraguy—which also meant automatic qualification to both FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada and 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

On Aug. 2 2007, AC Milan paid €22 million for Pato as the club confirmed their latest signing—but with regards to the Italian Football Regulations regarding underage non-European players—he was unable to play official games for his new club until Jan. 3, 2008 when the transfer window would reopened.

On Sept. 4, 2007—the day after his birthday, Pato made his unofficial debut for Milan in a friendly against Dynamo Kiev where he scored a header in the 2-2 draw and gave the Diavolo supporters something to look forward to.

The official debut in the Milan shirt took place on Jan. 13, 2008 and the hype surrounding the player did nothing to stress the forward who loyal to his habit scored in his first official game in the 5-2 win over Napoli.

Approximately two months after his Milan debut the young Brazilian once again scored in a debut. Pato came off the bench and scored the winner with a sublime strike in 72th minute in his first appearance for the Selecão where Brazil hosted Sweden at the Emirates Stadium in celebration of the 1958 World Cup Final between the two nations.

Most people probably remember a certain Pelé attracting global recognition with his inspiring performance during that specific final about 50 years ago.

Pato rounded up his first six months at Milan with 18 appearances and nine goals and quickly became a fan favorite at the San Siro.

During the following summer Pato made three appearances and scored one goal as a part of the Brazil team that won bronze medals in the Beijing Olympics.

The Brazilian has started the 2008-09 in great fashion and already has eight goals to his name. The youngster has scored doubles against both Udinese and Roma this season and is quickly becoming an integral part of the team’s offense.

He has earned the praise of teammates and coaches alike, and keeping his head cool and staying humble with the amount of attention he is receiving simply showcases maturity despite his young age.

The forward has already blossomed into a world-class player and if he continues on the same path, there is not a doubt in my mind that he will one day soon become the best footballer in the world.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/110923-alexandre-pato-a-serie-a-sensation-this-season/show_full