São Paulo Want Hernanes Future Resolved

São Paulo are unhappy that Barcelona will not make a final push to sign Hernanes or leave him alone because they believe the speculation is unsettling him.

The highly-rated midfielder starred in Brazil's pre-Olympic Games encounter against a Rio de Janeiro select side and is set to travel to Beijing for the tournament in August.

Before then, however, Barça's interest has caused him unrest and since making a second offer of €12m that was refused, the Blaugrana have not made contact.

"I know that it is very that people keep saying he could be going and nothing is decided," bemoaned São Paulo coach Muricy Ramalho, Sport report.

"I just hope that a firm offer arrives so that he can go abroad, but it is making him dizzy that he is being told one thing and then another."

The Brazilian club have insisted that they will not accept less than €25m for Hernanes' services, but an offer of around €15m should bring them to the negotiating table.

Barcelona are keen on the playmaker, but have not made a final push because they are still pursuing Aleksandr Hleb and will not sign both players this summer.

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=747820

Dunga staying with Brazil

Dunga has reiterated he has no intention of stepping down as coach of Brazil.

The former World Cup winner is enduring a tough time at the head of the Selecao, capped by Sunday's unconvincing performance from the Under-23 side in a 1-0 friendly win over a combined Rio de Janeiro team as a warm-up for the Olympics.

That followed a 2-0 defeat to Paraguay and a 0-0 draw with Argentina for the senior side in the World Cup qualifiers, as well as a friendly loss at the hands of Venezuela.

The results have left fans and media questioning Dunga's position, but he said: "I have a job to do here and we're doing it.

"People question the results, but they don't remember that most of the players were on holidays in their respective leagues.

"The same thing happened with (Carlos Alberto) Parreira, with (Mario) Zagallo and even with Felipao (Luiz Felipe Scolari).

"Are we all wrong?"

Perreira coached Brazil to glory in the 1994 World Cup, Zagallo in 1970 and Scolari in 2002.

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/overseas/other/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=international_feed/08/06/23/SOCCER_Bra-Brazil_Dunga.html&TEAMHD=foreign

Soccer > World Cup Qualifier: Riquelme upset with Brazil result

Argentina playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme believes they deserved to beat Brazil in the closely contested goalless draw yesterday after dominating the second half.

Riquelme feels the Albiceleste had the better chances and more possession and should have secured all three points.

“In the second half we were better than our opponents and had some very clear chances to win but failed to find the net,” said Riquelme.

One of striker Julio Cruz’s attempts hit the woodwork.

Lionel Messi also had two chances in stoppage time.

“The best thing we did in the match is what we always do, move the ball around well. In the second period we had a lot more possession than them and when we have the ball we always feel calmer,” said Riquelme.

After the 1-1 draw with Ecuador at home on Sunday, Riqueme admitted it was never going to take much for Argentina to improve and he was not too unhappy with the display.

“We knew we could not play worse than Sunday and that made us relax ahead of this game. It is good because we played against a great team, one of the best in the world and to play them is not easy,” he said.

“We are happy with our game and with the team we have, but we are not happy with the draw. We played well and wanted to win and I think from our performance in the second half we were better than them.”

http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/mm/Friday/Sports/20080620105242/Article/index_html

Soccer-Dunga promises big improvement against Argentina

Brazil coach Dunga, whose side lost 2-0 to Paraguay in Sunday's World Cup qualifier, has promised a big improvement from his team when they face Argentina on Wednesday.

Dunga was criticised for his team's negative approach and the players for their performances in Asuncion, where Brazil were soundly beaten despite facing ten men for much of the second half.

"We will certainly play a lot better against Argentina than we did against Paraguay," said the coach during a tense news conference. "I know the personality of these players and the way they play."

Dunga, missing Kaka and Ronaldinho because of fitness problems, hinted that he would avoid making wholesale changes for Wednesday's match.

"We've played with this midfield before, we've won and we've lost. Sometimes, a change in attitude is better than a change of player. We're not going to change our entire way of working because of one game."

Brazil have taken eight points from five games in the South American qualifying group and are fourth in the table, behind Paraguay, Argentina and Colombia.

They have won their last three games against Argentina by three-goal margins.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldFootballNews/idUKB25271620080616

Brazil, Argentina set for a lively qualifier

The first week of Euro 2008 has produced its share of quality soccer, but on Wednesday the international bar will be raised when Brazil hosts Argentina in a World Cup 2010 qualifier in Belo Horizonte.

While the Europeans typically err on the side of caution in Switzerland and Austria, the South Americans will almost certainly take the opposite approach in Brazil. Rather than backing up to their own goal, Brazil and Argentina live by the mantra of going at opposing defenders with the kind of passionate conviction that is all too rare these days.

That doesn't take away from the engaging play of Portugal, Croatia, The Netherlands and Spain at Euro 2008. But even partisans of those teams will concede that no European nation attacks with the same vigor and efficiency as the Brazilians and Argentines. This will be the ninth meeting between the teams this decade, with the previous eight games averaging 3.75 goals. By comparison, the first 16 games of Euro 2008 averaged 2.43 goals.

"I don't like the European championship," Argentina coach Alfio Basile said Thursday at a news conference in Buenos Aires. "As always, the Europeans play firstly to qualify [for the knockout phase]."

Jeff Rusnak Jeff Rusnak Bio | E-mail | Recent columns

Argentina and Brazil, meanwhile, play entirely to their attacking strengths, even against each other. The trend of late has been for Argentina to dominate possession in the midfield while Brazil gets the goals through individual brilliance. Brazil has outscored the Argentines 20-10 in compiling a 6-2 advantage since 2000, with the most recent win being last year's 3-0 thrashing in the Copa America final.

Brazil has beaten Argentina's A team in the last two Copa finals, despite being at less than full strength. In fact, it appears as though the Brazilians have a hex of sorts on the Argentines, whose two wins in this decade came in World Cup qualifiers played in Buenos Aires. Brazil, which leads the all-time series 35-34 with 23 draws, has won in London, Peru, Venezuela and twice at home during that same period.

The 2007 Copa final was especially galling for Argentina, which had scored 16 goals in five games leading up to the final. Brazil coach Dunga, sensing his team was outmanned for once, stifled the Argentina attack by having his team commit 37 fouls, many of them on midfield playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme.

That tactic may not play well in front a home crowd Wednesday, even though Dunga will be short-handed again because of injuries to Kaka and Ronaldinho. As always with Brazil, there are options. According to a news report out of Brazil, Dunga may start Robinho alongside Luis Fabiano, who scored 24 goals for Sevilla last season in La Liga.

The only omission for Argentina will be Carlos Tevez, who Basile is resting after his season at Manchester United. Riquelme didn't play during a two-game tour of the U.S., but he'll be in Belo Horizonte along with veteran midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, and 20-year-old forwards Lionel Messi and Sergio "Kun" Aguero (19 goals for Atletico Madrid).

Before playing each other, the teams play South American qualifiers today, with Brazil at first-place Paraguay and Argentina hosting Ecuador. It's a foregone conclusion that Brazil and Argentina will be among the four South American teams that will play in South Africa two summers from now, but that can't possibly diminish the drama of Wednesday's match.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/columnists/sfl-flsprusnak15sbjun15,0,6299948.column

Alexandre Pato Is the Record Smasher

Alexander Rodrigues Da Silva, more widely known as Alexander Pato, was born on the 2nd of September, 1989, in Pato Branco, Brazil.

Pato started playing football when he was seven years old, playing indoor soccer.

At just 16 years of age he was the star of the Brazilian championship. In November of 2006 he was chosen to be part of the senior International squad.

In his very first match he needed only one minute to score his first goal.

In his second game he broke an old Pele record becoming the youngest player ever to score in a FIFA tournament. He scored for Brazil's Internacional, who would go on to become World Club Champions that year, beating Ronaldinho's Barcelona in the final.

On the 28th of August, 2007, Milan spent 20 million euros to buy Pato.

In his very first match for Milan he did it again and scored a debut goal on his very first touch of the ball.

In 2008 Pato was called to the Brazilian national side in a friendly against Sweden. Sure enough, he did it again, scoring in his debut match after only being on the field for minutes, joining only a handful of greats to score for Brazil on their debut, alongside the likes of Zico and Pele.

Surely this bright talent is destined to break many football records in a very bright future. At 18 he has already done more than most dream of in a career.

http://www.bleacherreport.com/articles/26978-Alexandre-Pato--The-record-smasher

IOC ANNOUNCEMENT MAKES RIO DE JANEIRO A CANDIDATE CITY TO HOST THE 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES

Athens – In an event carried out this Wednesday, in Athens, Greece, the International Olympic Committee announced that Rio de Janeiro is one of the candidate cities to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The announcement made by the International Olympic Committee Director Comunication, Giselle Davies, also named Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid as cities that are able to host the 2016 Games. Doha, Praga and Baku were eliminated by the IOC.

The Brazilian delegation present at the announcement included Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee and Rio 2016 Bid Committee; Orlando Silva Júnior, Minister of Sports; Sergio Cabral, Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro; César Maia, Mayor of the City of Rio de Janeiro; and João Havelange, FIFA President of Honor and Senior Member of IOC. The following also attended the event: Carlos Roberto Osório, Rio 2016 Secretary-General; Leonardo Gryner, Rio 2016 Marketing and Communication Director; Edson Menezes, representative of the Rio 2016 Business Council; Ricardo Leyser, Federal Government Secretary; Eduardo Paes, Sports and Tourism State Secretary; and Ruy César, Rio 2016 Special Secretary. As for Rio 2007, collaboration among the three governmental levels will be crucial for the success of the Rio 2016 project.

For the president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, the IOC announcement proves the quality of the Rio de Janeiro bid. “We are very happy with IOC’s decision because it is the first time Rio de Janeiro is a finalist in the effort to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This shows the IOC recognizes the development of Brazilian sports and trusts that Brazil is able to stage the Olympic Games. But just the first battle has been won. The other cities are extremely strong and we have to prepare an excellent dossier of our Olympic project. We will work together, with the three governments – federal, state and city -, towards the 2016 Games. The in Brazil will impact millions of teenagers in South America. The fact that we are one of the finalists increases our responsibility to come up to the Olympic world’s trust and expectations in regard to the Rio de Janeiro bid,” stated Nuzman.

The Minister of Sports Orlando Silva pointed out that Brazil will make every effort for Rio to be the 2016 host city. “This is a great time for Brazilian sports. Undoubtedly, IOC’s decision is reflects the quality of the Rio de Janeiro bid. Brazil offers highly favorable settings to host the Games, with economic stability, consolidated democracy and a cycle of sustainable economic development. The Rio de Janeiro bid is a project that mobilizes the entire Brazilian society. We are committed to working in partnership with the Brazilian Olympic Committee, the private sector and the State and City governments to stage in Rio de Janeiro the best Olympic Games in history, with the trademark of happiness and competence of the Brazilian people,” explained the Minister.

Governor Sergio Cabral stated that the State of Rio will do whatever it takes to host the Olympic Games. “The presence of Rio de Janeiro among the finalist cities shows the level of trust of the international sports community in Brazil, especially after the Rio 2007 Pan American Games. The bid dossier is being prepared to meet all IOC’s requirements. The Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro will provide whatever is necessary for the 2016 Olympic Games,” Cabral stated.

Mayor Cesar Maia pointed out the importance of the Rio 2007 Pan American Games in this process. “The Rio de Janeiro City government is both honored and happy because it did its homework to defend its city. To have won the bid for the 2007 Pan American Games, the investments made to stage it and the quality of its organization were certainly essential for the success of the event. The new challenge for 2016 just increases our enthusiasm and commitment,” said Cesar Maia.

In Brazil, the president of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee, Vital Severino, celebrated IOC’s decision. “We were confident we would move to the candidacy phase because the Rio de Janeiro bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games is quite solid. We have a great challenge ahead of us – that of bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games to South America for the first time. The Brazilian Paralympic Committee is part of a strong current that roots for Rio, believes in Rio and, above all, works for Rio to bring the planet’s greatest sports event to our country,” he stated.

Now, the candidate cities will prepare a dossier detailing the 19 candidacy items. This dossier will be delivered to IOC by February 12, 2009. In April and May 2009 an Inspection Commission will visit the cities and prepare a report, which will serve as basis for the IOC members to vote. The election of city that will host the 2016 Games is scheduled for October 2, 2009, in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Check the main points of the Rio 2016 project:

Financing – The budget of Rio’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games is US$42 million. The financing of the candidacy will be equally divided between the three governmental levels: Federal, State and City, and the private sector will participate in order to reduce public investments.

Sports Venues – All competitions will take place within the city limits of Rio de Janeiro. Rio 2016 presents a compact and operationally efficient Master Plan having 50% of the competition venues within 5 to 10 minutes from the Olympic Village and 80% of the venues within 30 minutes. The only sports venues outside Rio will be the regional cities for the football preliminaries, which are planned for Brasília, Belo Horizonte, São Paulo and Salvador. The confirmation of the football Olympic cities is dependent on FIFA’s final decision for the 2014 World Cup host cities.

The Rio Olympic Project creates an Olympic Park in Barra. This is the concept used in the last four Olympic projects (Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London). Fundamental non-competition venues (Olympic Village, Media Villages, MPC, IBC and Official IOC and IPC Hotels) will also be located in Barra close to the Olympic Park. The Olympic Training Center will be built in this area, no matter if the Rio bid wins or not.

The venues plan proposes a total of 34 venues within four zones:

Barra: At the heart of the concept is the Barra zone, located in of newer and fastest growing regions of the city, framed by spectacular mountains, beaches and lagoons. This area will house 20 of the sports (56%) in 14 venues as well as key non-competition venues.

Copacabana: With its natural beauties and public spaces, the region will stage 8 sports to be carried out in 5 venues, including the Copacabana beach itself. This Zone is the site for a range of outdoor events with dramatic, iconic scenery creating broadcast and spectator appeal.

Maracanã: 4 venues will be located in Maracanã, taking advantage of the renovation of the complex for the FIFA 2014 World Cup and of the fact that it is located in the central area of the city demanding investments for urban recovery, including the Port region. This region will house 5 sports and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies in the Country’s most emblematic sports stage.

Deodoro: The Deodoro zone is the target of social development projects for its high concentration of young people and was chosen to stage 7 sports for having successfully hosted several competitions (equestrian sports, shooting and modern pentathlon) during the Rio 2007 Pan American Games. The main characteristic of this region is the great availability of green areas, reason why it was chosen to receive the X Park. The X Park will be a huge space for Olympic and adventure sports, meeting a desire of the International Olympic Committee to provide increased connection with the new generation. It will host the Canoe-kayak (slalom), Cycling (BMX and Mountain Bike) competitions. In addition to these venues, a Modern Pentathlon National Center will be built, using the existing facilities constructed for the Rio 2007 Pan American Games.

Transportation – The transportation solutions developed together with the Federal, State and City governments meet the long-term needs of the city and are compatible with the time required for their construction and the Country’s investment capacity. The Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic projects are in accordance with the city’s transportation development plans and are supported by the three levels of government involved.

One of the main solutions adopted for the Olympic and Paralympic Games is the implementation of three high-capacity transport systems BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), in the following corridors: Barra-Deodoro, Barra-North Zone and Barra-South Zone. The deployment of BRT systems presents feasible costs and faster execution when compared to underground subway. Thus, priority is being given to mass transportation to meet the demand by the population in general and by the Games spectators. These corridors are an important, long-waited-for legacy to the city.

The transportation planning for Rio 2016 is oriented not only to the improvement of the city’s transport structure or to the implementation of new projects but also to the development and implementation of technological and operational measures (rationalization of public transportation, discouragement of use of private vehicles, improvement of the traffic control system, creation of a single agency to manage city transportation, among others). In addition, the Olympic Games will take place during school and university holidays, which naturally reduces traffic demands in the city.

Accommodations – The city of Rio de Janeiro will offer 49,570 rooms for the 2016 Olympic Games in hotels, two media villages, referees accommodations and cruise ships, among others. This quantity comfortably meets IOC’s requirements of 40,000 rooms for mandatory for Games constituents.

Environment – According to the project presented this Tuesday, one of the major environmental legacies of the Olympic Games will be the environmental awareness program targeting the wellness of the future generations through the development of sustainability-promoting actions covering the following aspects: climatic changes, waste management and handling, biodiversity, social and cultural inclusion, health and quality of life. The cleaning of the Jacarepaguá and Barra lagoons will be one of the priorities in the environmental agenda of Rio 2016, which will benefit the communities around it.

Security – The internationally praised Pan American Games experience will be used as a platform for the security plan to be implemented for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The safety provided by Rio de Janeiro during large scale events is traditionally recognized, as it was proved during the Rio 2007. For the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, security will be managed in an integrated way, under an unified command, associated to a social integration policy with local communities. This program will be improved to meet the Brazilian society’s and the International Olympic Committee’s requirements. The investments in security to be made for the FIFA 2014 World Cup will be a guarantee of advanced delivery of a series of projects in this area. Forty thousand agents will be used in the Rio 2016 security plan.

http://www.sportsfeatures.com/index.php?section=pp&action=show&id=46925

Iraqi Refugee Gets Pass to Become Soccer Star in Brazil

Soccer player Abu Taha A Brazilian soccer team from Brazil's capital Brasília hired its first international football player last week. The team is Brazsat Football Club. The player is the Iraqi Ali Khaled Abu Taha, aged 18.

The youth, who spent the last four years in Ruweished refugee camp, in Jordan, is now practicing to play in the "C" Series Professional Football Champion in the Federal District, where the Brazilian capital is based, in June. "My dream is to play in a large Brazilian team," says Taha.

The new member of the team arrived in Brazil at the end of last year together with 116 Palestinian refugees that the government of Brazil decided to receive. Since November, Taha had been living with his parents in the city of Mogi das Cruzes, in Greater São Paulo, where he played with his friend in an amateur team.

"I am the first Arab player in Brazil and am very happy," he said. Taha does not yet speak fluent Portuguese, but he already understands the language and can already produce many phrases.

The contract with Taha is for two years. According to the club president in Brasília, João Gilberto Vaz, it was an Al Jazeera TV correspondent in Brazil who informed him about the young Palestinian talents.

"I therefore decided to bet and bring Ali to my team," said Vaz. According to him, Taha's arrival is going to open a new phase for business between Brazil and the Arab countries. "Many Brazilians leave to play in Arab teams. Now, we are going to show that it is possible to do the opposite too," he said.

Vaz believes that Taha may grow in football and go to other larger teams. "Now our priority is to train him and show that it is possible to adapt an Arab player to a Brazilian team," he said. The president at the club also stated that Taha would be an example to show Arabs and Brazilians that it is also possible to work together in football.

For the time being, Taha is training daily from 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm, with Sundays off. According to the team supervisor, Ricardo Beserra, the youth is now working on stronger physical rehabilitation over the first few days and is being worked on in his abilities.

"I need to practice very much and need help. I want to become famous," said Taha. Practice sessions are at the Foreign Ministry Employee Association's Club (ASMRE), where the teams training center is located.

The Brazsat Football Club team was established last year and is betting on the 2008 edition of the "C" Series of the Professional Football Championship, which begins on June 15. The club, which is named after Brazsat Commercial Space Services, in the area of technology, the company belonging to it's founder, is seeking partnerships with the Middle East and Europe.

The club also plans to offer its youths schooling and English language teaching in the case of those presenting potential to play abroad. Another novelty at the club is bringing foreigners to play. Among the several projects is the establishment of an International Juvenile Football Tournament.

http://www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/9363/1/

Robinho lifts Brazil to beat Canada in soccer friendly

Robinho's second-half strike lifted Brazil to a 3-2 victory over Canada here Saturday in a friendly tuneup for their upcoming qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.

Robinho scored in the 63rd minute to break a 2-2 deadlock.

With the score knotted at 2-2, Canadian midfielder Julian De Guzman tried pass the ball back from just short of midfield, but his attempt sailed behind his intended target.

Robinho took it from there, collecting the ball, dribbling past goalkeeper Pat Onstad and drilling the ball into the back of the net.

De Guzman's 56th-minute goal had evened the match at 2-2.

Diego had opened the scoring for Brazil in the fourth minute, and Canada's Rob Friend equalized in the 11th. Luis Fabiano had put Brazil back in front in the 45th.

Despite De Guzman's one miscue, Canada coach Dale Mitchell had praise for the player.

"I thought he had an excellent game," Mitchell said. "He does a lot of work in midfield, he can distribute the ball, scored a good goal, perhaps could have had another one in the first half on his left foot.

"A mistake like that can happen to anybody, but, in general, another excellent performance from Julian De Guzman."

Brazilian coach Dunga credited both clubs for a tightly contested match.

"It was a tough game," Dunga said. "We knew Canada is a very disciplined team. They have two or three plays that they repeat to perfection. It was a difficult game and a good test. Good preparation for Brazil."

The victory was a triumphant start for Brazil in their brief US tour, which will include a match against Venezuela in Foxboro, Massachusetts, on June 6.

It was also the first victory for Brazil against Canada in three meetings between the two countries.

In the Copa Confederaciones in 2001, they played to a goalless draw, and the drew 1-1 in a friendly at Edmonton, Canada, in 1994.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gUMXAyN4ZC6xawXK0ZmZ0MTWqetw