Snak

Cruzeiro to meet Vasco today over Dedé deal - report

Dedé´s potential transfer from Vasco to Cruzeiro may be decided today as representatives of both clubs and the investors that own a percentage of the defender´s rights meet later on this Monday.

The clubs have already reached an agreement over the three players that will be loaned by Cruzeiro to Vasco, according to newspaper Lance!.

Vasco wanted to include Ricardo Goulart in the deal, but Cruzeiro denied the possibility, while Wellington Paulista could be included, but he would have to remain on loan to West Ham until the end of the European season.

The three players that will be loaned by Cruzeiro to Vasco until the end of the Brazilian season are instead more likely to be relatively young players who could gain valuable experience before returning to their club.

Cruzeiro will be helped to fund the transfer fee due to the support of a group of investors called ´DIS´, who already own 45% of Dedé´s economic rights and are willing to buy part of the remaining percentage.

The investors also intend to help Vasco find a replacement for Dedé, but sports newspaper Lance! reports that they have ruled out Ponte Preta´s Cléber, who was the preferred option but is deemed too expensive

EVENT HORIZON

In the last month or so, it’s become cool to trash Óscar Washington Tabárez, but lets be honest, no man has done more for Uruguay’s football than OWT. When he signed up for another 4 years in late 2010 as Uruguay’s NT Manager, many breathed a sigh of relief. Under his watch, Uruguay had managed a 4th place World Cup finish which juxtaposed with the last 40 years of Uruguayan football was and still is impressive.

And this was followed by an “Italian Job” like capture of the Copa America in Argentina. Yet from the end of that Copa America, something went wrong – this side is receding , not functioning anywhere near what we, the average fan, saw in 2010 thru 2011. So we need to ask ourselves, “what were the events that led to Uruguay’s mercurial fall from 1st to 6th place in the WCQ table?” –– or in layman’s terms, “What went wrong?” ––– the answer is, there is no answer! Many events conspired against Uruguay’s NT. Some events were beyond OWT’s control, some were events born out OWT’s decision-making, for example, leaving a player too long on the pitch or call-up policies that at times have prevented any type of regeneration. This timeline, however objective and subjective it may be perceived as, tries to best paint a picture of what has happened, and how all of these events have in some way led to La Celeste’s present situation.

• August 14, 2010 – Ecuador names Colombian born Reinaldo Rueda as their NT manager – No one seemed to care when this little news item appeared, after all Rueda had guided Honduras to the 2010 World Cup where Honduras lost first two games and drew with Switzerland nil-all in their last game. But since taking over Ecuador is undefeated at home. Ecuador have also managed impressive draws at Montevideo and Venezuela… they are now sitting comfortably in 2nd place of the CONMEBOL qualifiers.

• September 10, 2010 – OWT puts pen to paper and his contract as Uruguay’s NT manager and youth-side coordinator is extended for another 4 years. This was still the correct decision back in 2010 – and La AUF would be vindicated when OWT helped capture Uruguay’s 15th Copa America in 2011.

• August 16, 2011 – “¡El técnico voy a ser yo!” — Tabarez announces he will be coaching Uruguay’s 2012 Olympic Squad, thereby replacing Juan Verzeri, the man who actually qualified Uruguay to the Olympic games. Tasked to build a team made up of local league players + 3 over 23 veterans, Tabarez instead created a team that would underwhelm at the London games. An excessive amount of strikers were taken, and yet Uruguay would only score 2 goals in 3 games combined.

• October 7, 2011 – Uruguay defeats Bolivia 4-2 at El Centenario. Suarez picks up yellow card in 89th minute.

• October 11, 2011 – Uruguay’s Diego Forlán surpasses Hector Scarone to become Uruguay’s all-time scorer in the 68th minute of Paraguay vs Uruguay WCQ match – 22 minutes later, Paraguay’s Richard Ortiz scores, robbing Uruguay of what looked to be their first ever victory at Paraguay. Despite the late defensive blunder, Uruguay’s media hails the draw as a win-win since it’s the first time Uruguay does not lose to Paraguay at Asuncion.

• October 15, 2011 – Following a 1-1 draw at Anfield, Manchester United defender Patrice Evra and MU manager, Alex Fergusson claim Luis Suarez racially abused Evra during the encounter.

• November 11, 2011 – Uruguay destroys Chile 4-0 at home, Suarez scores all four goals. Forlan did not play match. With this win, Uruguay were in 1st place of CONMEBOL’s qualification table.

• November 15, 2011 – Uruguay defeat Italy 1-0 in a FIFA Friendly date in Rome. Forlan not called up, Suarez kept on bench, Cavani plays full 90 minutes… but game’s only goal was provided by usual bench option and unusual starter Sebastian Fernandez in 3rd minute of play.

• December 20, 2011 – Suarez handed 8 match ban by England’s FA from incidents alleged to have taken place on October 15, 2011 in a match between Liverpool and Manchester United – The FA pronounce that Suarez did indeed racially abuse Patrice Evra during the game.

• Jan 6, 2012 – Colombia signs José Pékerman as their NT Manager. Probably one of the moves that in hindsight led to Uruguay’s fall from CONMEBOl’s grace. Just 4 months after signing, Pékerman oversaw a Colombian renaissance that started with a 1-0 win in Lima over Peru, followed by the 4-0 thrashing of Uruguay at Barranquilla and then a 3-1 away victory over Chile at Santiago. They would go on to get a 2-0 win over Paraguay at home and more recently a 5-0 win over Bolivia. Despite losses to Ecuador and Venezuela at home, Colombia under Pékerman are currently 3rd in the CONMEBOL qualification table.

• February 11, 2012 – Luis Suarez’ infamous handshake snub of Patrice Evra, After Manchester United get the win over Liverpool, Evra is allowed by referees to prance around like an Irish Leprechaun high on Ecstasy near an exiting Suarez – no yellow card is given to Evra for his bizarre behavior. After the match, the high lord of bullshit issues following communique: “He’s a disgrace to Liverpool Football Club, that certain player should not be allowed to play for Liverpool again.”

• February 29, 2012 – Romania 1-1 Uruguay: Once again, Uruguay score in first 5 minutes of play – Cavani provides Uruguay’s lone goal and is subbed out in 60th minute for Sebastian Abreu! Romania level match 5 minutes after the restart.

• May 25, 2012 – Russia 1-1 Uruguay: Forlan, Cavani, Suarez play full match but only Suarez scores. Russia’s equalizer comes one minute after Uruguay had scored!

• June 2, 2012 – Uruguay 1-1 Venezuela – Forlan scores in first half – Lugano goes down to injury in 77th minute, seven minutes later (84th minute) Salomón Rondón levels match which allows Venezuela to come away with a draw at El Centenario. Forlan substituted for Abreu 3 minutes after Venezuela’s equalizer.

• June 10, 2012 – Uruguay 4-2 Peru: Uruguay goes up 2-0 but 5 minutes before first half is over, Godin gives up an own goal to make it Uruguay 2-1 Peru – after the reset, The Peruvian Paolo Guerrero levels match 2-2 for Peru. Tabarez makes 2 substitutions that pay off, both Rodriguez and Eguren score which allowed Uruguay their last win in qualification (at the time of this writing). Suarez picks up a yellow which rules him out for subsequent clash with Colombia in September.

• June 11, 2012 – Tabarez names Muslera, Suarez, Cavani and Arevalo-Rios as three (plus 1 alternate) over 23 players for London games.

• July 26, 2012 – Uruguay defeat UAE 2-1, the match played at Old Trafford, sees Uruguay’s national anthem booed shortly before start of the game. Suarez who had been named team captain is booed throughout the match by the Old Trafford boo-birds. Uruguay’s 2 goals provided by Gaston Ramirez and Nicolas Lodeiro.

• July 29, 2012 – At Wembley Stadium, Uruguay’s Olympic undefeated streak dating back to the 1928 games, is finally broken when Senegal defeat them 2-0. Note – Senegal played with 10 men after Abdoulaye Ba was issued a red card in the 30th minute.

• August 1, 2012 – Great Britain, an amalgamated association made up of England, Wales and Northern Ireland defeats Uruguay 1-0. Uruguay fail to advance in Olympics for first time in it’s history in the Olympic tournament. 5 Uruguayans issued yellow cards, most issued in Uruguay’s 2012 Olympic tournament. Tabarez only makes one substitution, bringing on Lodeiro for Viudez.

• September 8, 2012 – Colombia 4-0 Uruguay. No Suarez around, but plenty of Barranquilla heat. Cavani and Forlan fail to score – Colombia score 1st goal in 2nd minute of play – Tabarez makes 3 substitutions in 2nd half bringing on Alvaro Gonzalez, Gaston Ramirez, and Walter Gargano, Colombia score second goal shortly after Alvaro Gonzalez is inserted into game. Gargano earns yellow card 8 minutes after entering match. Positives: Diego Perez becomes 2nd most capped player on this squad with this game – while Forlan becomes first Celeste player to reach 90 games with the Sky-Blue jersey.

• September 11, 2012 – Uruguay 1-1 Ecuador – Cavani-Forlan-Suarez play all 90 minutes, Cavani scores and Suarez who had just served a one game suspension following yellow card accumulation, earns a yellow card in 55th minute.

• October 12, 2012 – Argentina 3-0 Uruguay. Messi scores a brace while 3/4th’s of Uruguay’s back-line (Caceres, Godin and Lugano) all earn yellow cards, meaning they would miss out the encounter with Bolivia.

• October 15, 2012 – Curiously, before the Bolivia match is even played, Tabarez’ tenure as NT manager ratified by AUF — “the NT project must continue” said Bauzá.

• October 16, 2012 – Bolivia 4-1 Uruguay. In the high-altitude of La Paz, Bolivia routs Uruguay, while Uruguay score last goal of the match via a Suarez free-kick. Uruguay’s biggest loss margin at La Paz.

• November 14, 2012 – Chile fire Claudio Borghi as NT manager. The man who gifted Uruguay’s 4-0 win in November of 2011 by dismissing 5 starters for disciplinary issues is fired after Chile’s friendly loss with Switzerland.

• December 3, 2012 – Chile hires Jorge Sampaoli as NT manager. Sampaoli aka the New Bielsa, inherited a team which was tied with Uruguay for 5th place.

• March 17, 2013 – at around 3:20 am, in Turin Italy, Martin Caceres is involved in a head-on collision – accident rules him out from WCQ games. Who knows if Caceres would have committed the moronic blunder his replacement, Alvaro Pereira would commit in the WCQ match with Chile.

• March 22, 2013 – Uruguay 1-1 Paraguay: Despite an impressive goal from Luis Suarez in 81st minute, Paraguay once again come from behind to draw with Uruguay following Lugano/Godin’s defensive blunder.

• March 26, 2013 – Chile 2-0 Uruguay: Matias Aguirregaray and Alvaro Pereira’s defensive blunder allows Chile to score inside 10 minutes – Argentinean Referee Nestor Pitana fails to signal clear as day handball infraction by a Chilean player which should have been an automatic penalty situation for Uruguay – Suarez draws a yellow which will rule him out for crucial match with Venezuela in June.

• April 11, 2013 – Weeks after Uruguay’s 2-0 loss to Chile, FIFA announces it will open a case against Luis Suarez for allegedly punching Chilean Gonzalo Jara during the match. Uruguay’s FA is given until April 17th to respond.

So here we are, all caught up. As of today, April 14th, 2013 – Uruguay is in 6th place in the CONMEBOL qualification table and 17th in FIFA’s World Ranking. There is of course, no crystal ball certainty that Uruguay will miss out on the 2014 World Cup. And mathematically speaking, Uruguay still has a chance to get in, a lot will depend on what Tabarez does from here on end and how he goes about in reconfiguring the squad. Of course, a potential ban of Suarez does not help matters. Uruguay’s next fixture will be with France on June 4th in a match friendly to be held in Montevideo– but it will be what happens in Puerto Ordaz that will be more important for Uruguay’s survival

@ Samba

Hvad har du på ham her...

Vitinho – Botafogo Stars of the Future

Vitinho is a promising young forward who has previously impressed at youth level with Botafogo, and is now starting to play himself into the senior team at the age of 19.

Having been limited for the last two seasons – first to youth football, and then the odd appearance in the Carioca state championships – this could be the season where Vitinho starts to break through and show his considerable talents on a bigger stage.

He started 2013 with some regular appearances from the bench in the state championships, usually just for twenty minutes or so at the end of games, but showed glimpses of what he could offer on a more regular basis if given the chance by his coach, Osvaldo de Oliveira.

His two solo goals against Olaria in April cemented his place as one of Botafogo’s most exciting young prospects, and he followed this up with another well taken goal against Friburguense in the next game – again coming off the bench to score. His celebration with his manager following one of the goals shows the close relationship they have, which could mean we’ll be seeing Vitinho more regularly as the season progresses.

The scouting report below will be updated as he plays more games for the club and we learn more about his style, and the skills and attributes he can bring to the team.

http://www.youtube.com/w…B1FKyy_pN3I

http://www.youtube.com/w…er_embedded


Scouting Report

Full Name - Victor Vinicius Coelho Santos
Born – 09/10/1993 – Rio de Janeiro
Postion – Forward
Foot – Right
Height – 5.10 (178cm)

Vitinho is an athletic forward player who has the pace and power to take on defenders. He’s shown in recent games that he possesses a good shot with both feet, and is good at getting in positions where the midfield players can feed him the ball regularly

Vitinhos første mål er godt, taget i betragtning af at han losser til den med det svage ben.

Ham og Bruno oppe foran med Andrezinho bagved, ville være sjovt at se.

Nu undlod jeg i sagens natur det her....

http://www.youtube.com/w…e8ENCzrBwEo

Vitinho, det nyeste stjerneskud for Botafogo.
Dygtig forward, som har fået hul på målbylden på seniorniveau. Har nogle finurlige driblinger med de lange stænger og han kan gå begge veje. Han sparker bedst med højre, men venstreskøjten er ikke ueffen. Scorer på hovedet, volley etc. Trækker nogle gange tilbage i banen og starter sine raids med bolden på tæerne. Han har også fint blik for medspillerne. Det viste han i hvert fald på U/20-holdet, hvor han også var straffesparksskytte. Vitinho virker ikke som nogen decideret sprinter med en super acceleration på de første 5 meter, men han har en ok topfart med de lange ben. Lidt Kanu-agtigt for dem, der kan huske den gamle Ajax-spiller.
Jeg kan faktisk godt se Vitinho som en kant på lidt længere sigt.

Bianchi har, ifølge radioprogrammet Boca de Selección, udset sig 4 forstærkende klubfolk:
- Walter Samuel, Carlos Tévez, Fernando Gago y Cata Díaz.

@ Samba - han lyder som the real deal....


@ FF17 - de har sgu også brug for forstærkninger ....:-)

Mané Garrincha – Joy of the People

As brilliant on the pitch as he was wayward off it, Garrincha lived ever in the spotlight. Born Manuel Fransisco dos Santos in Pau Grande, a district in Magé, Rio de Janeiro on October 28th 1933 his life started in typically extraordinary circumstances. His right leg pointing inwards and left leg pointing outwards, one 6cm shorter than the other and a spine deformation, it meant he would never likely walk, let alone play football. He would go on to win two World Cups and be one of the most highly regarded footballers of all time.

Known by the nickname Garrincha meaning ‘Wren’ after the small bird he loved to shoot, among other complimentary names such ‘Joy of the People’ and ‘Angel with Bent Legs’, would go on to be enormously popular throughout Brazil. His upbringing however was anything but easy, being born into poverty and, in addition to his birth defects, his father was an alcoholic – a trait Garrincha would unfortunately inherit.

At just 14 years old he would start his own obsession with Cachaça, Brazil’s most popular alcoholic drink, a problem that would prove one of the defining factors in his troubled future. In football terms, Garrincha left it late before taking to football in a professional capacity though certainly didn’t make it easy for himself, becoming an alcoholic, husband and father before reaching his 20th birthday. The beautiful game could have missed out on one of its most beloved sons as continuous rejection from clubs left the tricky winger dejected and close to giving up. Even when Botafogo eventually came calling he took to the opportunity with a poor attitude and initially wasn’t to attend. Despite his reservations Garrincha would grab the opportunity with both hands, continually beating his marker, Nilton Santos, to the point where the legendary Brazilian defender would personally take Garrincha to the president and pressured him to sign him so he didn’t have to face him. He would join from Pau Grande youth team.

On his debut for Botafogo, against Bonscesso in July 1953, came a hat-trick. His period with Botfogo would last 12 years, the vast majority of his career. As it goes, in football, fans loyalties lie with few specific individuals but not Garrincha, such was his ability to entertain, his sensationalist approach to football that love for Mane Garrincha knew no boundaries, thus his nickname ‘Joy to the People’.

The Estádio do Maracanã provided the foundation on which Garrincha would tailor his iconic style of football, seducing the world of football with his overriding sense of responsibility to entertain, likeable attitude to build a legacy which symbolized such creativity and imagination – a legacy never accounted for not by statistics but more often than not by celebrated myth. It is said that, during one particular game, Garrincha confused an opponent to such an extent that he fell to the floor whilst being beaten. Instead of carrying on, Garrincha would dribble back toward his marker, pick him up off the turf and continue down the wing. In another match against Fiorentina, Garrincha would beat the goalkeeper and four defenders before stopping just short of the line, waited for his opponents to catch up with him before beating them for the second time and casually rolling the ball into the goal.

The Fogão would offer the canvas to which ‘The Little Wren’ would paint with his inevitable entertaining style, though his time with the Seleção would prove the embodiment of much of what we remember of him today. The notable existence of Julinho would however prevent Garrincha from joining the national side until 1958, by which time he’d helped Botafogo to the Campeonato Carioca by scoring 20 goals in 26 games, finishing as the second highest scorer in the league, the previous season.

Sweden 1958 arrived and provided the stage that Garrincha, and a 17-year-old Pele, finally deserved, though not until the final and decisive group, against an imposing USSR, game did they get the chance to show the world what they could offer. The first 3 minutes would change football forever with Didi, Vava, Pele and Garrincha tearing the Russians to pieces, hitting the post twice and scoring. Garrincha offered innocence, flamboyance and a mentality portrayed perfectly after beating Sweden 5-2 in the final – incidentally the first of Brazil’s many World Cup trophies – when, it is said, post-match he asked his teammates, confused, as, without understanding the competition format, he thought they’d get to play them twice.

1962 would arrive and bring with it the World Cup in Chile, Garrincha’s crowning glory. It’s not always mentioned alongside Maradona and Pele in terms of single-handedly winning a tournament, but just as good. Garrincha and Pele would arrive at the tournament as stars, and Brazil favorites. Garrincha stood out from the very beginning and with Pele injured in the second game, a 0-0 draw with Czechsolovakia, Garrincha rose to the occasion. Proving the inspiration for Brazil he would score two as Brazil beat England in the quarterfinal, one a delightfully curled effort from outside the box. The semi-final brought an expansive Chile, though a double from Garrincha and Vava saw off La Roja before beating group opponents Czechsolovakia 3-1 in the final. The 1962 World Cup would cement Garrincha as one of football’s all-time greats.

Despite returning from Chile and taking Botafogo to yet another Campeonato Carioca win against Fiorentina in a game, it was argued, was the best of his career, it would represent a period which saw Garrincha fall desperately from grace. He would become maligned figure in Brazil, despite his success in ’62, after an affair with singer Elsa Soares was made public an his performances on the pitch followed suit to his popularity decline. As the star of the Botafogo side he was contractually obliged to play regularly though having picked up a long- term knee injury it would take countless injections in order for him to step onto the field. He would ultimately consign to the arthritis in his legs and the continuing pressure to perform.

Regardless of his noticeable decline Garrincha would go to the 1966 World Cup due to huge political influence. Much of the side, and particularly Garrincha, were a pale imitation of the players from ’58 and ’62, and Garrincha’s career was effectively over. His alcoholic lifestyle would soon take a grip of his life and lead to suicidal thoughts, having also been involved in a car crash that would kill his mother-in-law. If he inherited his drinking problem from his father, he inadvertently caused retribution by knocking him down when drunk at the wheel in 1959, fueling his depression.

His last game for Brazil would be a 3-1 defeat by Hungary – it would be the first time he were ever on the losing side for his country, after 60 appearances. With the infamous Pele injured and unable to play in the game it would mean the pair of them never finished on the losing team in the Selectao colours when playing together. Garrincha’s career was effectively over, though he spent many years drifting around both South America and Europe trying to prolong it, with spells at Corinthians, Portuguesa Carioca, Atletico Junior, Flamengo and Olaria between 1966 and 1972 – of which he only managed 17 games for collectively.

An archetypal comparison for Garrincha always points toward George Best, and it presents itself as the obvious one, but that included drinking, and where Best survived Garrincha didn’t. In 1983, before reaching his 50th birthday, football lost one of its greatest entertainers to cirrhosis of the liver. He had spent the previous 12 months being submitted to hospital 7 times, after his body rejected anything that wasn’t alcoholic. Much is said, to this day, about the way the Brazilian FA dealt with Garrincha’s final years as a true legend would pass away in desperately saddening circumstances – penniless, in misery and unable to conquer the demons that were to inevitably cut his life so tragically short. Widely regarded as football’s all-time greatest dribbler, Mané Garrincha will always be fondly remembered as the people’s favourite.

Fla-Flu man of the match Gabriel given a car by sponsors

Flamengo´s midfielder Gabriel was named man of the match as his team beat Fluminense 3-1 in the traditional Fla-Flu derby.

Gabriel played the game although he got the flu and thus was not fully fit, that did not prevent him from shining.

The former Bahia midfielder shone throughout the match until he had to be subbed off in the second half as he was too tired.

He said: "I had to leave because I got the flu, I really wanted to play the game, but [manager] Jorginho subbed me off because I asked him to, I was too tired."

Gabriel was named the man of the match by the sponsors Peugeot and was given a ´Peugeot 208´ as a gift.

He will not keep the car, he said: "I´m not a good driver, the whole squad deserves the car, so I will sell it and split the value with my teammates."

This was Flamengo´s best match since Jorginho was hired as manager, according to Gabriel: "In my opinion this was the best game with Jorginho, games against big clubs are different, they have to attack more and give us more space."

He completed: "I can´t relax, I have to improve my passing, finishing, crossing, seek my best."

Two fans shot dead before 2014 World Cup test event

Two fans were shot dead as they travelled to a test event at a World Cup stadium in Fortaleza on Sunday.

The Ceará supporters were shot in the head after a confrontation with Fortaleza fans before their side´s game at the Castelão stadium.

The venue is one of 12 stadiums for next year´s tournament and the match served as a test event for the Confederations Cup this summer.

"We lament what happened. But there is work being done by the police and the army in many areas of security, so we are not concerned with that for the Confederations Cup," World Cup organising committee member Tiago Paes was quoted as saying by AP.

Witnesses told police the victims were on their way to the stadium when rival fans on a motorcycle opened fire.

Authorities later detained a man on a motorcycle near the crime scene who allegedly carried a gun, but no details about the suspect´s identity have been released as of yet.

Furthermore, over 180 people were arrested for vandalism and disorderly conduct before Sunday´s match, which Ceará won 1-0.