Fútbolita

So The Messiah is incredibly exhausted.. but he still has six months to go until they crown the new FIFA World Player of the Year, so tipo has to WORK IT! It must be incredibly tiring to go back to playing football right after the World Cup, so he was nice enough to pick all the players whose teams went out early in the tournament. Obviously, folks like Materazzi had ample time to go for a spa, enjoy a manicure AND get inked at the same time while Lucio, as ya’ll know, has been hitting the bitch with Juan!

Edgar Davids and Kevin Urandi also didn’t have anything to say to Marco and Lucio, so they decided to have their own conversations (as seen below) instead. Seriously, what could Edgar and Lucio have spoken about? Felipe Melo?

It’s that time of the year again… the “Gêmeo Season!” The question is, can you tell the Da Silva brothers apart below? Meu Deus, someone needs to give them a hairdryer, the Perpetual Greaseano look is not working!!

Anyway, caras are now in the USA with the rest of the United gang as part of their pre-season tour. They’d better bring their Futbolita tees along for the ride. Hmmm, Fabio (left) is trying to recall where na terra he put it!

Last, and certainly not least, es hora de Ikerbonero! They’re now officially Pap material, which means you’ll probably be seeing them every morning at the breakfast table as you sip tea next to Arsene Wenger.

Anyway, here they are after enjoying a nice little dinner and getting into Wedgiellas’ car. OK, we don’t really care where they’re heading to or if he decides to get a new haircut, but he’d better keep Sara because she’s one of the few girls he has dated with actual brains!

via Gettyimages, Hola and AFP

Lucio and Juan have been spotted everywhere together in Rio de Janeiro) since their return to the country after Brazil’s elimination from the World Cup (there, we’ve said it). They’ve done everything from hitting up the country’s best Churrascaria restaurants to hanging out with David Brazil, who is the country’s most famous “club promoter” and also BFFS with Ronaldo Lima. Like their Argentinean visitor, The Messiah, Lucio and Juan were also in Barra da Tijuca to soak up the sun… and the sea. Obviously, they didn’t bother to invite Felipe Melo.

Also, you gotta love Dione (Lucio’s wife) and her choice of shirts. This one reads : “Touch my Toy!” Isso é engraçado!

via EGO

And now it’s time for our hardest challenge in this World Cup. It’s time for Robinho, Luís Fabiano and Kaká to face Snejder, Van Persie and Robben. Everybody is getting nervous with the possibility of going home. In the streets, the talking today was “What is going to happen tomorrow?” Though everybody here has something like faith in our squad, I saw a different look in people’s faces. Like a challenge has finally come. A very beautiful match appears to be arriving, and very balanced too.

Today Mr. Johan Cruyff said to the journalists that would never pay to watch this Brazilian Squad play. A very hard pronouncement to what Dunga responded in a ver elegant way. “He might have won a free ticket from FIFA.” Finally a humorous answer from our coach. I liked it, didn’t you?

Felipe Melo seems to be ok, but is still a doubt (Photo: Zimbio)

Let’s talk about our players for tomorrow. Elano is out. Felipe Melo is still a doubt Josué might play in  Melo’s position if he doesn’t feel alright. Ramires (suspended), lost a great chance to show his game. A shame, but there’s nothing to do for him for tomorrow’s game. Our guys must be: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lúcio, Juan, Michel Bastos, Gilberto Silva, Felipe Melo or Josué, Daniel Alves, Kaká, Robinho and o FABULOSO.

Lúcio, our captain, is doing a very good job in this Cup. He is making the team unite on the field. Although he is a defender we can see him every time in the most important moves during the matches. He is showing himself as a complete player. A very important piece in our squad.

I’m here with all my positive thoughts with 190 million brazilians expecting A SELEÇÃO to bring us the Hexa!!!!

Signing off,

Your anxious Brazil Futbolita

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

So the million dollar question for you Greaseañies today is – WOULD YOU TAP THAT? Well, mano looked pretty clean cut at at the launch of his “I’m wearing this for the World Cup” Nike boot launch yesterday. And the Portugal jacket looks ridiculously comfortable (almost like the blue/white selecao bootcamp ones!) Anyway, he also revealed that he speaks to Kaka a lot because they understand a common language and they both share hope for a Brazil/Portugal final on July 11. Você acredita? (do you believe?)

Here’s another brilliant Crackovia episode again – this time featuring two Barca presidential candidates on their way to watch Barca play Stuttgart. Nunez and Gaspart approach the counter to purchase a ticket at the airport – but Nunez is taken aback at the price. You’ll love his classic reaction!

We were surprised at Senhor Julio Cesar’s poor eye injury last night. It kinda reminded us of Rustu Recber, the intimidating Turkish goalkeeper who happens to be our amiga’s favourite goalie of all time – don’t ask. Anyway, it’s high time we applaud the Inter manos for their hard work – particularly Lucio, who has been hailed by the Brazilian press for his performance against Chelski last night. Also, what a stunner from Diegol…. and Cambiasso!!

via AFP, Reuters, tv3

• For the love of Kun, the Rojiblancos have been slapped with a fine of 150 euros (about the cost of a decent La Liga ticket these days). Anyway, RFEF meted out that small punishment after Atletico’s fans were said to have thrown objects at Pellegrini from the stands during the Madrid derby on November 7.
  
  “In the 66th minute, the game was stopped for about a minute, because the visiting coach, Manuel Luis Pellegrini, had to be handled by the Medical Services, suffering from a blow to the face caused allegedly by an object thrown from the stands,” read a report. Lo siento chicos, esto es serio!
  
• So apparently, Robin van Persie is heading off to Serbia to treat his injury with placenta. Sounds absurd, but believe us, we’ve heard worst. Cara is going all traditional now, as you can see but as long as Arshavin doesn’t start sticking voodoo dolls around into faux Christian Dior dollhouses, we’re still ok!
  
• Poor RobinHood Amauri had to defend himself after Sampdoria’s Pazzini acted like a selfish brat on Monday. “My decision to play for Italy with or without a passport was made one year ago. I always respected everyone’s opinion, even that of Pazzini, and I want my respect: I chose Italy for a year, rather than Brazil,” he declared. That’s it, Amauri! The Brazilians will not like you for saying that so be careful! A few Italian futbolitas are already showing resentment towards Amauri….



• There was a lot of controversy that followed the selecao’s 2-0 win over Oman yesterday in honour of the sultan’s birthday. First, journalists in the mixed zone had to fight with security guards who allowed the sultan’s relatives and guests to roam freely near the changing rooms. Some journalists were beaten and even exchanged shoves with security guards who guarded the door. How unnecessary and incredibly RUDE!

  The last time that happened to us, a friend from the selecao came to our rescue (Agradeço a Deus!) The trick is to scream at 92 decibels. Also, who cares if you’re royalty? It’s pathetic that they can’t teach their children any basic manners – they were tugging at Lucio’s shirt while he was doing an interview and he looked disturbed (você está inculto?).
  

Crédito da foto :R.Ribeiro

Kaka and Lucio cordially welcome you to Day 3 of the Brazilian boot camp with towels! In today’s edition, Julio Cesar celebrated his 30th birthday (with one of the coolest cakes you’ll ever see, futbolitas!), the selecao arrive safely in Rosario and everyone poses gamingly for a yearbook photo (see below). Muito adorável!

Upon arrival at their hotel, a group of Argentinean fans (hoho) welcomed the manos. Among them was a girl wrapped in a Brazilian flag named Sara de la Vega. “I love Brazil. I’m saving money to live there. I already know Florianópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador … I’m rooting for Brazil because I am practically a Brazilian,” she declared. The other fans arrived in the form of a group which nicknamed themselves Globeleza.

There will be light training later today, so in the meantime, enjoy the sight of Julio’s cake!

VIA AP Photo

Marcelo Lippi was wrong – Juventus are not the best team in Italy and they’re certainly not favorites to win the Serie A. Listen to Lucio instead, amigas! At least you can’t accuse him of looking like Paul Newman.

“Just because Lippi said it (and he’s the national coach) doesn’t mean he’s right. Inter have been champions in recent years, but we are not the automatic favorites. We have difficulties but we have the strongest team in Serie A,” declared Lucio with pride.

Earlier this week, Mourinho also claimed that Lippi showed a “lack of respect” to other clubs in the championship by openly choosing his favorites, but the Portuguese refrained from commenting further on the Azzurra.

“I don’t wish to speak a word of it,” he said.

Inter will take on newly promoted Bari this Sunday while Milan play Siena tomorrow. Benvenuto, Serie A!

Lucio joining Inter Milan may seem a tad bit odd of a deal to some people, but as usual, mano wants to set a good example and he doesn’t really care if they’ve been winning anyway.

“Some people may say that they find the group unmotivated because of their (back to back) Italian titles in recent years but I think its the complete opposite. The players here are all great champions who want to continue being No.1 in Italy and also win in Europe. Off the field I am quite reserved, but I love talking about the game and helping my (teammates). I feel at home and would like to become a leader at Inter one day,” he said.

“This is only the first week of work here and I’m trying to understand Mourinho’s ideas and what he wants from us. I do not think that it will be a problem for me to adapt to any system he has in mind.”

Awww, isn’t Lucio just so nice … offering to sign an autograph for that little nina? As one of the few veterans from Uncle Cafu’s World Cup winning squad, he takes on that crucial Capitão role very seriously. Phew! Now, if that role had been given to The Dinho instead, there’d be dodgy girls in thongs waiting at the lift lobby of the hotel. Ok, maybe not after a game but after hours, nothing is impossible.

Anyway, Lucio has been reminiscing about the good old times and the mistakes he made the 2002 World Cup. He was blamed for that fluke Michael Owen goal in the second round of the tournament. No matter though – you and your non-existent gardeners know who won the game at the end of the day. But since you asked for it again, here ya go…

Lucio said : “I know that failure is inevitable. But when I make a mistake, I feel upset that I’ve disappointed my colleagues. That day, God helped me and granted Ronaldinho a goal that caused an upset and led to a goal.”

And with great power comes great responsibility. Lucio, we want to see you holding the cup tomorrow!

Simply because we have plenty to share and the cool fact that these manos have their own barber on hand 24/7, here are some photos that caught our eye in the past week. Also because we spot our awesome friends in some of them. Enjoy! [Photos courtesy R.Ribeiro and AP] Read the rest of this entry »

Bom dia, friends! In Day Three of the WC-Qualifiers training camp, the seleção mingled with the U-15 squad, veteran Lucio spoke about his pride and everyone had to undergo an oximetry exercise.

“To play the Brazilian National Team is something major and the (biggest thing) to aspire to in your (football) career. Whenever I play for the team, I always make sure it’s like I’m playing for the first time,” said Lucio.

Luisao joked: “A defender needs to be able to have a good laugh on the field. The attacker must know that you aren’t nervous.”

Big Brother Pato also met two promising U-15 players, Romullo and Adryan, in the locker rooms.

Our friends tell us it’s “LIGHTS OUT!”  for the team at 11PM everynight. We hope there’s no snooping around, although this story might spell the opposite!

Read the rest of this entry »

What could these three amigos be talking about? Man City’s epic failure to land Kaka, of course! Robinho and Elano are probably doing some investigative reporting for the douchebag Sheikh Mansour. The photo looks like they were caught in an uncomfortable moment.

Anyway, the Brazilian caras have returned home to train for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. It’s like being back in school again! The players were at the gym doing muscular exercises yesterday afternoon (check out Dani Alves, Luis Fabiano and Robinho - are those manos hard at work or what?!) This was followed by a training session that was unfortunately, marred by the rain. Depending on your preferences, Futbolitas, it might also be a sight to enjoy.

Both Dunga and Pato have expressed their excitement about Neymar, the latest Brazilian whiz kid. “Neymar is a player we are tracking. I am happy for him. Currently, the most important thing is that he has the support of his family and true friends. This will help him,” said Pato.

Photos by R.Ribeiro