Snak

England and France name squads to face Brazil

England manager Roy Hodgson and France boss Didier Deschamps both named their squads to face Brazil on Thursday.

The Seleção will face England at the Maracanã on June 2 before taking on France at Grêmio Arena one week later, less than one week ahead of the upcoming Confederations Cup.

Luiz Felipe Scolari suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of England during his first game back in charge of Brazil in February.

Hodgson has included Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, who scored against Brazil at Wembley, in his squad and recalled West Ham striker Andy Carroll.

Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy was called up for the first time, while Three Lions captain Steven Gerrard is set to undergo shoulder surgery so misses the end-of-season friendly.

Meanwhile, Deschamps recalled Manchester City´s Samir Nasri to the France squad for the first time since Euro 2012 but Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery was omitted due to the winger´s upcoming Champions League and DFB-Pokal finals with Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart.

Elsewhere, Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala and Saint-Etienne midfielder Joshua Guilavogui were both called upon by their country for the first time, while Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra was left out.

England will also face the Republic of Ireland, while France are set to take on South Americans Uruguay.

England squad: Foster, Hart, McCarthy; Baines, Cahill, Cole, Jagielka, Johnson, Jones, Lescott, Walker; Carrick, Cleverley, Lampard, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott; Carroll, Defoe, Rooney, Sturridge, Welbeck.

France squad: Landreau, Lloris, Mandanda, Clichy, Koscielny, Debuchy, Mathieu, Rami, Sakho, Mangala, Cabaye, Gourcuff, Matuidi, Nasri, Capoue, Guilavogui, Benzema, Giroud, Gomis, Valbuena, Menez.

Grêmio striker Hernan Barcos says there is no room for mistakes against Santa Fe

Argentine forward Hernan Barcos admits that Grêmio have been inconsistent so far in this year’s Copa Libertadores competition but believes there is no room for error in the second leg of their round of 16 tie away to Santa Fe on Thursday.

Grêmio enter the game with a 2-1 lead from the first leg but Barcos is well aware of the potential pitfalls they could face in Bogota against the Columbians.

He told Globo Esporte: “What is important is the qualification. We can take and make goals, of course, but need to pass this phase.

“We hope not to suffer, after all, we are winning. We will not stand 90 minutes. It´s hard to be defensive and not concede.

“We have experienced team for controlling the ball and we will attack. You must have the intelligence to know how to do it. We cannot miss. We had irregular campaign until now but there is more room for recovery.”

And Barcos also spoke about his ever-improving relationship with his striking partner Eduardo Vargas.

“We´re good. These things happen, you play good and bad. For now, we´re fine, both on and off the field. Every day we improve,” he added.

Corinthians midfielder Ralf refuses to blame ref for Libertadores elimination

Corinthians midfielder Ralf refused to criticise the referee for his performance during the Timão’s 1-1 draw against Boca Juniors on Wednesday.

Both Tite, the Corinthians manager, and Mário Gobbi, the club president, had criticised Carlos Amarilla for the number of errors he made during the match which saw the current Copa Libertadores holders knocked out of the competition.

He told Globo Esporte: “It is difficult to question somethings. In the heat of the game, we see very little.

“To watch the replay is easy. Not for me to crucify. We lost, now is we must look forward.”

But Ralf is keen for Corinthians to move, especially with another big game this Sunday against Santos in the second leg of the Paulistão final.

“Sunday brings one more test. We knew that Boca would defend and hold the game.

“We missed chances to get the goal. If we had, we would not be lamenting. Now is time to turn the page and think only of Santos.”

Marseille make Internacional striker Leandro Damião their top target - Report

French giants Olympique de Marseille have made Internacional striker Leandro Damião their number one transfer target this summer, according to reports in L’Equipe.

Damião, 23, has quickly become one of the most sought after forwards in the world following his superb form for the Porto Alegre club and has attracted interest from a number of top European clubs, with Tottenham Hotspur expressing an interest in signing the player during the last three transfer windows.

However, respected French sports paper L’Equipe are reporting that coach Élie Baup and sporting director Jose Anigo have identified the Brazilian as the ideal man to help the club challenge Paris St-Germain for the Ligue 1 title next year.

Damião had seemed set to join Tottenham this summer but may be swayed to join Marseille if they meet the €20 million valuation of the player and will be able to offer the striker Champions League football at the Velodrome next season.

Sådan Olimpia !

Olimpia shows Tigre its Copa credentials

https://www.youtube.com/…MimVDESSygU

Olimpia beat Tigre 2-0 after losing the first game in the series 2-1, and with the victory classified for the quarterfinals of Copa competition in a game played in front of 30,000 spectators in Defensores del Chaco stadium in the Paraguayan capital.

The goals for the home team were scored by Fredy Bareiro and Norberto Paparatto (own goal) at 51 and 64 minutes, respectively.

The Argentinian team tried to use brute force, playing physically and pushing the limits of the rules of the game to seal the victory and classification. They had an advantage, given that they won the first game of the series.

However, in one of the easiest opportunites the Paraguayan team saw, at 27 minutes, forward Richard Ortiz of Olimpia lost the opportunity to score the opening goal when his strong shot at point blank range was miraculously blocked by the goalkeeper for Tigre, Javier García.

Ortiz had received a long centering pass form the right side, which was delivered by Uruguayan midfielder Alejandro Silva.

When twelve minutes of attacking plays by Olimpia finally calmed down, Tigre counterattacked and was almost able to score when defender Mariano Echeverría made his way to the offensive end of the field, but his the ball he headed was blocked by goalkeeper Martín Silva at 39 minutes.

At 50 minutes, forward Fredy Bareiro put García´s goalkeeping to the test after a defensive failure by Norberto Paparatto. The goalkeeper for Tigre suffered a muscle contraction on the play, as he had over-extended himself.

On the next play, a corner kick generated off the previous play developed into a series of rebounds in the penalty area of Tigre. The series of volleys was finally changed into a goal for Olimpia, scored by forward Bareiro at 51 minutes.

Smelling blood in the water, Olimpia pressed the issue with urgency to the point where they received a second goal scored by Tigre themselves at 64 minutes. Olimpia received support from their adoring fans who came to cheer in the principal football stadium of Paraguay.

Later, forward Bareiro and defenders Herminio Miranda and Julio Manzur got on the offensive end of the field after a corner kick, and in the frenzy of the attemptss to block the play, defender Paparatto put the ball through the goal posts of his own goal to seal the game 2-0 in favor of Paraguay´s Olimpia.

Roma interested in Atlético Mineiro right-back Marcos Rocha

Roma are interested in Atlético Mineiro´s right-back Marcos Rocha, according to reports from Italian press.

Marcos Rocha has been shining for Atlético Mineiro since last year and has already got called up for some Brazil national team games.

Italian newspaper La Gazzeta dello Sport claims that Roma are interested in signing him, although he is not their only target.

The right-back was linked to Newcastle in January, but in the end the English club never made any offer.

Marcos Rocha´s agent Luciano Brustolini talked to Brazilian newspaper Lancenet about the rumor, he said: "I just found out now that Roma are interested in Marcos Rocha. but there is nothing. "

"He is focusing on having a good performance for Atlético Mineiro, and he started very well this year. We know this kind of speculation is normal. It was Bernard last week, now Marcos Rocha, next week it will be some other Atlético Mineiro player."

Roma already have several Brazilians in their squad, including highly rated defender Marquinhos, who came from Corinthians.

noooooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!

Eneste positive er at Peru, Colombia, Paraguay, Mexico har hold med i kvartfinalen....

Santa Fe se quedó con el último pasaje a cuartos

https://www.youtube.com/…0otRSkjIO2U

Santa Fe clasificó a los cuartos de final de la Libertadores tras vencer como local 1-0 a Gremio con un tanto de Wilder Medina en un intenso partido disputado en el estadio El Campín de Bogotá.

El feroz atacante Medina marcó el crucial gol a los 79 minutos de juego.

En el partido de ida, el ´Expreso Rojo´ colombiano había caído 2-1 ante la escuadra del suspendido timonel de Gremio, Vanderlei Luxemburgo, en Porto Alegre.

Santa Fe se enfrentará en cuartos al sorprendente Real Garcilaso de Perú, que viene de eliminar a Nacional de Uruguay y hacer historia en su primera participación en la Libertadores.

Durante la segunda fase por el Grupo 6, el ´Expreso Rojo´ le sacó un empate 1-1 a Garcilaso en Cusco, y luego lo derrotó 2-0 en Bogotá.

"Hoy fue un gran premio, la clasificación. Es una alegría inmensa. Ahora disfrutar esta victoria", declaró Medina al finalizar el partido contra Gremio.

"Ellos (los brasileños) jugaron a hacernos gol pero nosotros sabíamos que con un buen manejo de la pelota y con la tranquilidad, el gol iba a llegar. Dida estuvo fenomenal pero yo sabía que iba a marcar", agregó el delantero.

Santa Fe, fundado en 1941, intentará levantar por primera vez la Copa Libertadores en su séptima participación en el torneo intercontinental, en el que siempre había logrado avanzar hasta octavos de final y sólo en su debut, en 1961, alcanzó las semifinales.

Under-20: Chile outlasts El Salvador in Quillota

It was not a simple victory for the Under-20 Chilean football selection which is getting ready for the World Cup in Turkey. The young men directed by Mario Salas needed to give their all to be able to beat the clock and El Salvador by 2-1 in an exhibition game played this Wednesday in Quillota.

The way ´la Roja´ carried out their duties got the 6000+ spectators who came to Lucio Fariña stadium to root for their team. Even though the score was 0-0, 20 minutes into the game the chants of ´ole´ could be heard in the stands.

Chile did not get nervous. With the expulsion of central American midfielder René Gómez, who was the connecting link between the midfielders and the forwards, their victory looked even more sure. It was surprising that it was the visiting team that put the first points on the board. Henríquez centered the ball from the right hand side and found Kevin Herrera, who got around Nicolás Mancilla and put the ball into the net. It seemed a suprise was brewing in Quillota, just a few minutes into the second period.

Playing one man down, the El Salvadorians needed to withdraw into their zone to withstand the Chilean onslaught. In spite of their efforts, at 69 minutes the squad from Chile tied it up 1-1. Oddly, the shortest player on the team for Chile, Diego Rojas, managed to get his forehead onto the ball after receiving a centering kick from the right hand side.

Mario Salas´ team did not let its guard down and was rewarded for its effort 12 minutes before the final whistle. Nicolás Mancilla managed to redeem himself after his error on the play where El Salavador scored and precisely put the ball in the net after a corner kick to end the game at 2-1.

Det ser ud til vi kan få en Clasico joven( som finale i Mexico. Ihvertfald slog Cruz Azul Santos Laguna ganske overbevisende i den første semifinale med hele 3-0 i Torreon , Gerardo Flores , Pablo Barrera og et selvmål af Figueroa stod for målene.

https://www.youtube.com/…JChTIAA0xe4

Marcos Rocha = den falske 2´er. Han spiller nærmest over det hele, når han er i aktion for Atlético Mineiro :) Det skal de nok pille af ham i Italien.

Øv for Grêmio, som blev sendt ud 10 minutter før tid på en Medina-scoring (som ikke hed Christopher...). Sejren var fortjent nok. Santa Fe havde masser af chancer og Dida gjorde en god figur i buret. Mon ikke Luxemburgo får æren/øksen for nederlaget? Det var himmelråbende dumt at hive en lang karantæne i sidste puljekamp mod Huachipato, fordi man skal spille smart over for modstanderne.

Medina-målet minder om et, som Frank Arnesen satte ind i en landskamp. Kan bare ikke huske hvilken...