Fútbolita

Your manos are back and ready as ever for the game against Greaseano’s Army on Friday! Yes, it’s the return of Selecao Bootcamp, a Futbolita tradition! Of course, it doesn’t matter what the outcome against Portugal is because they’ve already qualified and the probability of fielding the subs (Graças a Deus, Nilmar!) is very high. Obviously, Luisao is dying to play as well but everyone has had enough of his jokes! NAO é engraçado cara!!!

Nevertheless, Dopey rounded up the entire gang yesterday before training and made sure that they listened to what he had to say. There was a warm-up session led by Senhor Paixao (again) while the starting eleven who played on Sunday were forced to do aerobic exercises. Ramalho made the goalkeepers train with him as well (who knows? Doni might get to start on Friday!)

Anyway, Kaka who is now enjoying his 7-day holiday was in full-praise of Elano’s third goal, which for the record was “muito legal”. He said : “Elano’s gol was also very cool, because that was a classic pass.”

via R.Ribeiro

OK pessoas, if you were wondering about Seleção Bootcamp, it will be back at full force this weekend. Fútbolita has been trying to find the right percussion instruments to play at the Fairway Hotel and Nilmar approves, so watch out for it!

Meanwhile, while you pretend to read about the Korean war, Robinho has admitted that he “forgot to shave” during the match against North Korea last night. He probably should have – Maicon did and it worked! Sure, the score was “only” 2-1 against the North Koreans but este é o jeito brasileiro!!

“I even forgot to shave,” admitted Robinho. “Ugly face (but) nice football, God willing!”

Here’s a video of the Portuguese squad and Greaseano stripping ‘preparing’ for battle – presumably against that stalemate of a game you and your uncle had to watch the other day. Listen, the World Cup is NOT boring and if anybody says that to you, just hand them a packet of ice and tell them that Juande Ramos is waiting to tell them fairytales. Geez, it’s only the first game! You know Rui Costa is rolling his eyes as we speak!

OK, Dani Alves has the case of The Morning Face which often occurs to the likes of his fellow countryman, Curly da Silva. When you have a BUS that looks like that, even you can’t wait to rub the sleep from your eyes! Forget about taking the popular “flag car” – the bus is the way to go in South Africa. That’s a bus we’d board in três segundo!

Caras are now in Tanzania to play a match against their national team tonight. Meu Deus, we have many friends in Tanzania and they have told us how the country is going berserk with the selecao’s arrival. They’re also bunking at the Hotel Mövenpik (no relation to the Swiss ice-cream, por favor) so if you happen to be there, please remember to bring a bag of flour for Elano!

via R.Ribeiro

We’re in day two of the Seleção Bootcamp specials… and these manos skipped gym conditioning and went to the Emirates stadium to start work immediately! According to Dopey, the objective was to get the players back to their clubs in ‘fine form’. And if you’re in London and have yet to wrap yourself in a flag at Hotel Dorchester, please sit up AGORA!

The team was divided into two as usual for an 11-a-side match-up yesterday evening , but since there was one extra player, Lucio wore a white vest and was allowed to play for both sides! As a result, whenever he picked up the ball, they started booing him. “Please do not mention who was the worst player on the field today,” joked Kaka. “Today there were so many that you can’t choose (only) one.”

Sadly, the game takes place tomorrow – so tipos won’t be getting into the jacuzzi anytime soon!

fotos de R.Ribeiro

Robinho & Companheiros would like to welcome you back to Seleção Bootcamp, a uniquely Fútbolita tradition! Está pronto? Let’s go!

The boys have all arrived in London for the friendly against Ireland on Wednesday and are staying at Hotel Dorchester, sipping earl grey tea as we speak. Training kicks off this afternoon and while most of the Brasilian-based manos arrived last night, they’re all paired up to bunk with a fellow teammate apart from Carlos Eduardo who has a room to himself! They’d better have the infamous PS3 console there and a DVD Player, of course. Thiago Silva should also prepare himself for random hairdryer jokes from the resident joker himself, Luisão! And as for Maicon... ser cuidadoso, grab the bed nearer to the mini-bar before your roommate Adriano does!

Adriano-Maicon / Daniel Alves-Nilmar / Doni-Julio Cesar / Elano-Robinho/ Felipe Melo- Grafite
Gilberto-Michel Bastos / Gilberto Silva-Kleberson / Josué-Ramires / Juan-Lúcio / Julio Baptista-Kaká
Luisão / Thiago Silva / Carlos Eduardo

Photo by R.Ribeiro

Oooooh, enfim! The crucial player list for “Seleção Bootcamp: Irlanda” has been announced by both Dopey and Jorginho. If you were rooting for the return of The Dinho, he was kindly ignored so you’d best put back the wig into the cupboard. Basically, Dopey left the poor dude out of his plans completely. No lovelies, we’re not talking about his holiday plans… it’s his World Cup plans! Vá dormir, Dinho … ir dormir .. (go to sleep)

Anyway futbolitas, the usual manos were called up including Kaka, Robinho, Fabulouso, Dani Alves and Elano. Adriano, who is expected to hook up with all the Carnaval dancers this weekend also received the good news, so the Catwalk Club in Rio had better line its VIP area with samba floats. Also, Parabens to Nilmar who received his call up… he too can take namorada Laura out for a nice candlelight dinner tonight! We’re not really feeling Ramires or Kleberson – they’ve both been mediocre at best. Porrr queee??!!

GOALKEEPERS: Julio César (Inter de Milão), Doni (Roma)

DEFENDERS : Maicon (Inter de Milão), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Gilberto (Cruzeiro), Michel Bastos (Lyon), Juan (Roma), Lúcio (Inter de Milão), Luisão (Benfica), Thiago Silva (Milan)

MIDFIELDERS : Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Josué (Wolfsburg), Felipe Melo (Juventus), Kaká (Real Madrid), Ramires (Benfica), Elano (Galatasaray), Julio Baptista (Roma), Kleberson (Flamengo)

STRIKERS : Robinho (Santos), Adriano (Flamengo), Nilmar (Villarreal),Luis Fabiano (Sevilla)

“All players have a chance. We analyze and look at options for the group. At present, he (Ronaldinho) is not part of it,” declared Dopey. “There will be no more surprises. If you pause to see, everything we have (achieved) is a result of what has been done far. You (journalists) always want big names. But for us there is no big and small name. Everything we do has a sequence. We can not create problems for ourselves.”

For a complete breakdown of the full selection including each jogador – courtesy of UOL Esporte (including an old-school Internacional Nilmar passport photo)… READ ON, BEBÊS!!!

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Kaka and Dani Alves welcome you to Day 4 of the Brazilian Bootcamp! And you really need to clap your hands at that photo. What on Earth were those two thinking?! They’re putting all of us in the spirit of el clasico next week. Vamos a preparar!

Anyway, manos had another one of their fun Orange Bibs VS Blue Shirts duels yesterday. This time, the laughs went to Julio Baptista and Lucas who were elected Captains of the Orange and Blue sides respectively. Sadly, the men wearing the blue shirts did a lot better and thrashed their compatriots 6-1. Dani Alves was already yelling :” Let’s do more, they are lost! They’re not looking at the ball!” when they were up 4-0. Kaka tried to score a “goal of honour” for his side, but changed his position to that of a “recreational defender” much to everyone’s amusement.

Julio Baptista left the field looking for the worst player in his team. “My vote goes to Kaka!” he yelled.

Anyway, the guys are very happy to be in Oman now to play a friendly in honour of the Sultan’s birthday (he’s turning 69 tomorrow). It will also be the last time the selecao will gather together this year and Fabulouso said : “In particular, it was a very happy year for me. I scored many important goals. I’ll end this year with one more victory.” Added Kaka : “I‘ve been in Qatar (transit), but never actually explored it. It’s a pretty cool experience.”

via R.Ribeiro, Globo & UOL

Welcome to Selecao Bootcamp, Uma Tradição Futbolita! Everyone gather yourselves because it’s that time of the year so ya’ll better get excited. Anyway, our manos have landed in Qatar, more specifically, the Four Seasons Hotel where they’re putting up during their stay in Doha. Everyone gathered in the ballroom for a nightcap again, although they had to be considerate because Kaka was around and coach Dopey was just a table away. Of course Elano was on the lookout for vodka, but Robinho made sure he carefully hid it under the table. All this time, Fabulouso pretended not to know….

Also, plenty of awkward and incredibly fofa (cute) photos await you. They all shared stories around the table and cracked jokes. The four “New Kids on the Block”, Fabio Simplício, Carlos Eduardo, Hulk and Michel Bastos were all excited to join their amigos. Felipe Melo is looking fine as usual (despite being bombarded by Italian journos on the plane – true story from his rep who told us this last night!). On the other hand, someone please give Lucas and Josué cotton candy for looking like ballet dancers. The white shirt is too Billy Elliot than Brazilian for Lucas. We’ll ask him if he needs a catalogue soon, para você!

Training starts in a few hours time, so keep close by futbolitas!

Todas as fotos por R.Ribeiro

Fotos de R.Ribeiro

E ai tipos??!! It’s the final day of our Selecao bootcamp specials and if you’re already bored, please sit by the window and speak Joel Santana English. Yes, you must… we insist!

Anyway, Miranda celebrated his birthday with his amigos yesterday – his cake wasn’t as zany as Julio Cesar’s – but you can never go wrong with strawberries and chocolate. Filipe looks mesmerized by the cake… although you know Juan looks like he’d much prefer tiramisu. Awww.

In more serious news, Dunga has called up four players to face the Chileans later. They are André Dias (São Paulo), Cleiton Xavier (Palmeiras), Diego Souza (Palmeiras) and Diego Tardelli (Atlético Mineiro). Robinho flew home yesterday afternoon, after suffering a nasty injury and will continue treatment at Man City. We hope Nilmar starts!

Brazilian fans gather outside their hotel in Chile to welcome them! / via globo

So tipos have landed in Chile for their friendly against the national side tomorrow, and immediately checked into Hotel Sofitel Salvador. The substitutes trained at an open area within the hotel while the starting 11 enjoyed some muscle regeneration time with Senor Paixao at the physical therapy pool. Robinho is totally checking out the valet, OK? Lucky for him, he’s been ruled out of the friendly tomorrow which means either Nilmar or Adriano will take his place.

Also, Andre Santos doesn’t look like he can play the Repinique (samba drum) but looks can be deceiving! Everyone is in a great mood after the win on Saturday.

“It was too good! We had a wonderful game, and the team played a very smart in the field with catimba and the whole atmosphere that was created for the game. Congratulations to the team,” said Kaka.

TODAS AS FOTOS POR R. RIBEIRO

Bom dia! Day Four of the Soldados Bootcamp and the Argentinean Spiderman welcomes you with open arms! Yes, the fans went out in full force to buy tickets yesterday. A few succeeded, the rest didn’t but who cares when you have Spiderman in your queue?

Anyway, the Argentineans have been very calm about the prospect of facing their biggest football rivals so far. “We saw them waving positively when the bus arrived, they took photos and recognised us as a team with prestige in world football,” said our amigo in the team.

Fotos de R.Ribeiro

The selecao had an interesting mini game yesterday. The team was divided into 2 – led by ‘Captain Kaka’ and ‘Captain Robinho’. As usual, there were jokes aplenty, when Robinho’s team won 8-4.

Dani Alves, who was on Kaka’s losing side, complained : “Our team has not kicked in a goal but all we do is play, play, play. We’re like Exalta Samba!” (Brazilian pagoda musical group). Teased Luisão : “You’re getting boring!”

Kaka conceded defeat and when asked who was the worst player (again) in his team, he muttered : “At dinner, you will know …” Meanwhile, Gilberto Silva was happy with his performance. “The Gunner’s back! I scored three goals and also made two assists for two more,” he declared.

Photos via R.Ribeiro & Reuters

So it’s Day 2 of the Soldados Bootcamp and they’re already bullying Robinho! Anyway, the manos did field work yesterday while Daniel Alves, Luisão, Ramires and Elano were immediately sent to the gym upon arrival. Muito grave, indeed!

For training, Dopey divided the squad into two teams- Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lúcio, Miranda, André Santos; Gilberto Silva, Felipe Melo, Julio Baptista, Kaká; Robinho and Luís Fabiano formed one side while Victor, Cristian, Gérson, Juan and Filipe; Sandro, Lucas, João Pedro and Wellington; Nilmar and Adriano made up the other. Crowds formed outside Granja Comary to watch the selecao in action and the U-17 squad also trained with them in preparation for the Copa Sendai in Japan.

These bombshells will board a flight to Rosario at 8pm later tonight and arrive at the Rosario International Airport around midnight. They’d better distribute packets of oreo and milk or else…..

Fotos de R.Ribeiro

Bom dia a todos! Here at Futbolita, it’s become almost a tradition for us to welcome all of you to our Brazilian Bootcamp Specials which help make the world a better place. Você concorda? Of course!

Anyway, manos headed to the gym to do muscular exercises with Senor Paulo Paixão yesterday and followed this up with afternoon training at 3:30pm. Stop intimidating us, Luis Fabulouso! Also, if any of you happen to be in Rosario, the squad is staying at the Hotel Holiday Inn in Dorrego so please come armed with food for Adriano…

After training Victor admitted that Dunga had asked for distractions to be thrown out the window. “We cannot think of anything else – we cannot afford to lose our focus. We need to get a victory in 90 minutes. Victory will guarantee that our squad will be in the WC finals,” he said.

Gilberto Silva wants better grass. “Within the field, it will be 11 against 11. The game against Argentina is always tight, but with shorter grass, it will be a great show for the fans. The ball will roll straight and the players are accustomed to it.”