Kaká: Ronaldo Is Second Only To Pelé In Brazil

AC Milan midfielder Kaká believes that his club team-mate Ronaldo is second only to Pelé in the list of great Brazilian footballers.

Speaking to FIFA.com, Kaká did not shy away from expressing his appreciation for his team-mate and friend.

"Ronaldo is number one. In the history of the Brazilian soccer, he is only behind Pelé," he stated.

The midfielder was speaking after missing out on Brazil's narrow 1-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday and reiterated his desire to be part of the U-23 team that will go to the Olympics in Beijing later this year.

"I want to go the Olympics because Brazil has won almost everything, but have still not been able to win Olympic Gold in football. I never got the chance to play in them when I was the right age and therefore I hope to be included as one of the three players over twenty-three in the summer."

Kaká was asked about the tough regime that new England coach Fabio Capello seems keen to enforce, but did not feel that such an approach is always effective.

"In the World Cup in 2002, after each game we had one day of rest and before the departures we could tan a little in the sun. We could also use mobile phones and we were successful. We were clearly always very professional.

"In 2006, a different regime was adopted and we were only allowed out at certain times with more restrictions and the results were not positive."

Finally, Kaká was asked what being world club champions meant to AC Milan and the players.

"We are the world-wide champion of clubs and until December nobody can take that away from us.

"It would be wonderful to win another Champions League title so we can defend the trophy," he concluded.

http://www.goal.com/en-india/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=578731

Kaka wants to play in Olympic Games

Brazilian superstar wants to play in Olympic Games

Amazing AC Milan's striker and world player of the year Kaka says that he hopes to play for Brazil in the Beijing Olympic Games in August.

Kaka has won almost every club and individual honor there is in football except the one title, that of Olympic champion.

Indeed, it is the only title Brazil has yet to win despite being crowned world champions a record five times, Xinhua reported.

Speaking at a World Food Programme 'Fill the Cup' campaign, Kaka admitted he would like to be selected as one of the three players over 23 years of age permitted in each squad in China.

"I would like to [play] but I will leave it up to the CBF [Brazilian Football Confederation] and Milan to decide," he said.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=42210&sectionid=3510211

Brazil 1, Ireland 0 in soccer friendly

Robinho scores in the 22nd minute of the second half for the Brazilian national soccer team to beat the team of Ireland 1-0 in Dublin.

The team's head coach, Dunga, was unable to coach the team from the sidelines due to a one-game suspension from his expulsion in the friendly game against Mexico last year.

Jorginho took command of the team and was in constant contact with the coach by way of walky-talky, Xinhua reported February 6.

In the 22nd minute of the second half, Robinho received the ball on the right side of the field. The forward-midfielder of Real Madrid got control of the ball and located Ireland's goal keeper, Given. With a smooth stroke that went between the legs of Ireland's fullback, Carsley, the ball rolled past Given and into the goal.

The national team of the Republic of Ireland threatened to tie on two separate occasions.

Kilbane was able to dribble through two players, however, Leonardo Moura was able to send the ball out of bounds.

In the 42nd minute, Robbie Keane received the ball from a corner kick, but was unable to get a shot off before Brazil's goalkeeper, Julio Cesar, jumped on the ball.

Brazil's next match will be against Sweden on the 26th of March in London.

In other important friendly games in Europe, world champions Italy defeated Portugal 3-1 in Zurich and Spain beat France 1-0 in Malaga.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=42068&sectionid=3510211

Soccer-Brazil clinch 1-0 victory over Ireland in friendly

A second-half strike by Robinho gave Brazil a 1-0 victory over Ireland in a friendly on Wednesday.

A number of chances went begging on either side until Fabiano linked up with Diego who slipped a pass to Robinho in the 67th minute and the Real Madrid forward slammed the ball into the back of the net.

Both sides were missing key players through injury, with Brazil coach Dunga doing without world player of the year Kaka and the youthful Pato.

Winger Andy Reid and defender Joey O'Brien were absent from the home side, still without a permanent coach, but winger Damien Duff played his first game for his country for nearly a year following a foot injury.

Both Duff and captain Robbie Keane had scoring chances they failed to convert.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldFootballNews/idUKL0638268520080206

Lucio, Kaka, Pato dropped from Brazil's friendly against Ireland with injuries

AC Milan players Kaka and Alexandre Pato were dropped from Brazil's roster for its upcoming friendly against Ireland because of injuries.

Kaka sustained a blow to his left knee in his team's 1-0 win over Fiorentina in the Italian league on Sunday, while Pato twisted his right ankle in the same match, the Brazilian soccer confederation said on its Web site late Sunday.

Brazil coach Dunga had yet to decide whether replacements would be summoned for Wednesday's match in Dublin.

Earlier Sunday, Werder Bremen defender Naldo was called to replace injured Bayern Munich defender Lucio, who was injured in his team's 2-1 victory over Hansa Rostock in the German league on Friday.

Last week, Flamengo defender Leonardo Moura was summoned to replace Inter Milan defender Maicon, who also was injured.

Dunga has said he intends to test several newcomers against Ireland in preparation for the Beijing Olympics in August. Brazil has never won the men's Olympic soccer title.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/04/sports/LA-SPT-SOC-Brazil-Injuries.php

Today, the White House. Tomorrow, the World Cup!

What do famous Brazilian soccer players and the Super Tuesday primaries have in common? If you guessed "nothing," you are 100 percent correct. But that doesn't mean we're not going to link the two.

Brazil has the world's best soccer players, and many have come to be known by one name: Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cafu, Kaka or, going back a few decades to the original uni-namer, Pele. Now there's a wonderful online name generator ( http://www.minimalsworld.net/BrazilName/brazilian.shtml) that will let you type in anyone's name and have it create a Brazilian soccer name for them.

Once we finished typing in names of our co-workers and friends, we moved on to the ever-shrinking field of 2008 presidential candidates. (And you thought you wasted time at work.) So here, undecided voters of America, is yet one more bit of information to add to your ballot-punching calculus -- assuming, of course, that none of these candidates has bailed since we went to press.

-- Joe Heim (Heincha)

Republicans

* Mike Huckabee: Huckabealdo

* John McCain: McCaincha

* Ron Paul: Paincha

* Mitt Romney: Mildo

Democrats

* Hillary Clinton: Clintardo

* Barack Obama: Obamiano

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/31/AR2008013103334.html

Kaka, Robinho, and Juan to the Olympics

Brazil's coach, Dunga, decided those three footballers should be a resource for the Under-23 team which will participate in the Beijing Olympic Games 2008.Ronaldinho is out.

According to the column Panorama Deportivo from the tabloid O Globo, Barcelona's boy will only be called to take part in a competition which the national team has never clinched only if Kaka, Robinho or Juan reject the offer or suffer an injury.

Dunga will be the first Brazilian coach to fill in the Olympic lineup with three players over 23 years old, just as rules authorize.

The aim of such resources is to increase the possibilities of clinching the gold medal, the only major trophy that the countless world champions have not captured.

According to Panorama Deportivo, one of the most renowned sources of sport information in the country, Dunga has already a mental lineup towards Beijing.

Such lineup will comprise Renan (Internacional); Rafinha (Schalke 04-GER), Juan (Roma-ITA), Breno (Bayern Munich-GER), Marcelo (Real Madrid-SPA); Lucas (Liverpool-ENG), Anderson (Manchester-ENG), Kaka (Milan-ITA); Alexandre Pato (Milan-ITA), and Robinho (Real Madrid-SPA).

The only doubt would still be the fourth midfielder, position for which Dunga wants one who is able to cover up the wings.

All the names included on the list, but for Juan, were called on by Dunga for the friendly match against Ireland on February 6th.

http://www.sportsya.com/english/news.php/Kaka_Robinho_and_Juan_will_be_the_older_one_to_play_for_Brazil_in_Beijing_2008.html?id_estruc=283&id=169981