Brazil recall on the cards for Adriano

Brazil coach Dunga is considering recalling Adriano after the striker's hot start to the year for Sao Paulo, where he is on loan from Inter Milan.

Adriano, beset by physical and reported alcohol problems in the past 18 months, has only played once for Brazil under Dunga, in last year's 2-0 friendly defeat by Portugal.

"He has evolved, he is improving a lot with Sao Paulo," Dunga said in a television interview on Monday.

"He had a few problems at the start but he is getting back to being the Adriano that we all know.

"Without doubt, if he goes back to being the Adriano that he was before, he will have chances because he is a player with strength, power and he scores goals."

Adriano, known as the "Emperor," has scored 14 goals for Sao Paulo this year, 11 in the Paulista championship and three in the Libertadores Cup.

He scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Palmeiras on Sunday, although the first caused controversy as it seemed to strike his hand on its way into the goal.

Adapting the phrase used by Diego Maradona after his infamous goal for Argentina against England at the 1986 World Cup, Adriano said: "It was the hand of the Emperor."

Adriano appears to have overcome a troubled start with the Brazilian champions.

After signing for Sao Paulo last December, he promised to turn over a new leaf, only to be photographed at a pop concert in Rio de Janeiro holding a beer can two days later.

A week later, he was involved in a car accident in Rio. Although nobody was injured, it happened in the early hours of the morning, raising more suspicions he had been out on the town.

In February he was fined 40 percent of a month's wages after arriving late for training, then leaving early and threatening a cameraman.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-7462459,00.html

Adriano scores two in Sao Paulo's 2-1 victory in state championship

Inter Milan striker Adriano returned in grand style to Brazilian soccer by leading Sao Paulo to a 2-1 comeback victory over Guaretingueta in the opening round of the Sao Paulo state championship on Thursday.

Adriano, on loan from Inter until December, scored both second-half goals.

He took the field to a standing ovation and made a brilliant debut for the five-time Brazilian champion _ on solo runs, shooting free kicks, scrapping for loose balls, and constantly buzzing the Guaretingueta goal.

After Guaretingueta took a surprise 1-0 lead after 22 minutes on a free kick by Renato, Adriano took over.

In the opening minute of the second half, he recovered a lost ball at the top of the penalty area and fired home to equalize.

Then, in the 75th minute, Adriano sent a seeing-eye free kick through the defensive wall and past diving goalkeeper Faber.

http://www.pr-inside.com/adriano-scores-two-in-sao-paulo-s-r392959.htm

Spotlight on Adriano, Romario at start of season

The 2008 Brazil soccer season begins Wednesday with the spotlight on striker Adriano and coach Romario.

Adriano is making a much anticipated return from European soccer to lead Brazilian champion Sao Paulo, while Romario - unable to play because of a doping suspension - will coach Vasco.

Adriano was signed by Sao Paulo in December on a loan from Italy's Inter Milan until June. This allows him to play during the Copa Libertadores and the traditional Sao Paulo state championship, which begins Wednesday with Sao Paulo as one of the favorites for the title.

Adriano has played sparingly since he was a starter in the 2006 World Cup, but has practiced with Sao Paulo starters. He is likely to debut in Sao Paulo's opener against Guaratingueta on Thursday.

"I'm focused and ready to play," Adriano said last week. "I'm very happy to be in a club like this."

In addition to Adriano, Sao Paulo also will count on former Lyon midfielder Fabio Santos.

The other teams expected to contend for the regional championship's title are powerhouses Palmeiras, Corinthians and defending champion Santos.

Palmeiras, seeking its first significant title in nearly a decade, will be boosted by the arrival of coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo from Santos. Luxemburgo, who coached Real Madrid for a year before being fired in December 2005, led Palmeiras to Brazilian league titles in 1993 and 1994.

Luxemburgo's team will be highlighted by Chilean midfielder Jorge Valdivia, but he won't be able to count on World Cup veteran Edmundo, who was released by the club after last year's season.

"We are not 100 percent ready, of course, but that is natural this time of the year," Luxemburgo said.

Titleholder Santos replaced Luxemburgo with former Brazil goalkeeper Emerson Leao, the coach who led the club to its national championship in 2002. The team hasn't signed any major players for the season, however.

Corinthians, relegated to the second division in the Brazilian league, also will have a new man in charge - former Gremio coach Mano Menezes. The club signed Argentine striker German Herrera, Chilean defender Cristian Suarez and Uruguayan midfielder Alberto Martin Acosta.

In Rio de Janeiro, Romario will remain the man to watch even though he is serving a 120-day doping suspension after using a medicine to prevent hair loss.

The 41-year-old veteran striker, who led Brazil to the 1994 World Cup title in the United States, took over Vasco's coaching job last year after Valdir Espinosa left the club.

Romario's debut will be Sunday against Madureira, the team's opener in the Rio de Janeiro state championship.

Vasco's acquisitions for the season include Nigerian striker Abubakar Bello-Osagie and Chilean forward Jose Luis Villanueva Ahumada, but even Romario has admitted the team will have a hard time contending with rivals Flamengo and Fluminense, which have added several high-profile players to their rosters.

"Vasco is the weakest team right now," Romario said.

Flamengo, Brazil's most popular club, made several additions looking ahead to the Copa Libertadores, Latin America's most important club competition. Among the new signings are World Cup veteran Kleberson and Paraguayan defender Diego Gavilan. The team also tried to bring striker Ronaldo from AC Milan but the deal did not go through.

Fluminense, which also will play in this year's Copa Libertadores, signed Argentine midfielder Dario Conca from Vasco, striker Dodo from Botafogo, and forward Washington from Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds.

Botafogo will begin the season with three international players - Argentine striker Luis Miguel Escalada, Argentine defender Alexis Ferrero and Uruguayan goalkeeper Juan Castillo.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7678940