Fútbolita

From the looks of it, all Detinho (next to Ronaldo) wants is a FREE PASS to Mano Menezes‘ next seleção bootcamp! That expression on his face says it all. You could dial an ambulance and you still won’t be able to incept the Menezes/Detinho mind game because dude is dying to go to Granja Comary ASAP. They have a secret pact which does not include Roberto Carlos, infelizmente.

The point of this is to put our hands together, stand in a circle and say “Bem-vindo!!!” to the former Corinthians coach who will needing some of Dopey’s sleeping pills now as the official Brazilian national team coach! E ai MANO?!

Take a good look at the man whose first job is to say “Felipe Melo Who?”

Photos via Mauricio Lima/AFP

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

Within the next week, Futbolita will reveal our list of exclusive World Cup player interviews and yes, Nilmar happens to be one of the sexy jogadores! For the record, we can confirm that he is THE coolest nerd in seleção bootcamp, so desculpe Kaka, but you have officially lost that title to your friend from Paraná!

Anyway, here he is in full-on geek mode in one of Nike’s unique seleção pre-Copa del Mundo videos featuring the enthusiastic Robinho and straight-talking Fabuloso. You can also catch glimpses of nossos meninos training. Of course, they’ll be playing Zimbabwe in a friendly later today, so this is your preview!

The seleção have checked into their temporary boot camp in Curitiba (poooor fin!) and have taken their medical tests (courtesy of the Atlético Paranaense team!) Poor Nilmar seems afraid of needles while Fabuloso and Elano struggled to be brave men. They boys are also doing muscular exercises daily under the watchful eyes of Senhor Paulo Paixão and Fábio Mahseredjian. Oh Mio dios, those two instructors are not to be messed with.

Unfortunately, Kaka and Fabulouso sat out training but they’ll be back soon. Read more to see a MEGA GALLERY.. and yes, Luisao’s pained expression below wants you to go check it out!

Photos for Futbolita via R.Ribeiro
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Meet Raio Gomes, Brasil’s Official Fútbolita! The journalism student from Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, works at a news agency for children’s rights and supports Flamengo passionately. She also hopes to work as a professional journalist in the area of Sports and Culture one day. So let’s all say “BEM-VINDO, menina!” to Raio as she joins Fútbolita on our World Cup journey!

“Well, Brasilia is the political mainpoint of Brazil. It’s a very young city that reaches the 50TH anniversary in April 21st. We don’t have any beaches here, and we are not in the touristic mainstream. A very curious aspect of Brasilia is that it was “built”. I like it here very much. Lúcio was born and his family still lives here.”

On how she fell in love with football…

“Originally I fell in love with volleyball and I played it for one year. Then I stopped playing do keep going with my studies. The interest for football started in my home ’cause my father is completely crazy ’bout Flamengo, but I was never a very talented player. When I was around 14 all most of my friends were boys, and it influenced me a lot in understanding and talking about it.”

On her favourite Brasileirao team…

“Flamengooooooo!!! Por que é o maioooor! The greatest!!! The team of Garrincha, and now, Adriano!”

On Brazil’s chances at this year’s World Cup

Now is the time for our sixth championship!!! I hope Dunga can work better than he shown so far. But I really trust our players, and I hope Dunga to put Ronaldinho in the team, cause he knows what to do when it comes to World Cup (note : sadly, he’s only a reserve)

On the passion of the Brazilians…

“Here in Brazil, the World Cup changes everything. Football is a very important part of the Brazilian people lives. When Brazil squad plays, student are allowed to stay home to watch the match, people leave their jobs, and things like that!”

On her favourite players from past and present…

“Luis Fabiano, Adriano, Garrincha and of course, Pelé. It sounds a little obvious to choose those guys, but I really like them. Luis Fabiano has improved his playing style a lot. But he is, like others, the face of Brazilian’s football failure, because all those excellent players do not remain here in most of cases.  Which is one of the reasons I admire Garrincha so much. Despite of nowadays, players used to love their teams as well.”

On representing Brazil as the official Futbolita…

“I’m very excited and happy for that. To me it’s a great honor and responsibility to do so, especially in a country where people breathe football. I hope to represent my country very well in this journey. I am a Futbolita because as much as my compatriots, I LIVE FOOTBALL”

Photos by Gustavo Aguiar © for Fútbolita.
Raio is wearing the Cultzeros Luis Fabiano Futbolita Tee
(COMING SOON : Read more interviews & features with and by the chicas & chicos who’ll be celebrating the Fútbolita World Cup with you!)

If you saw Dopey enjoying a little suntan at the beach, would you stop him? Of course you would! It’s the right thing to do – especially if you get fotos clássico like this one! Anyway, who cares about the World Cup, right Dunga? He hasn’t even decided his squad list yet and neither has he made the pilgrimage to check on his players all over Europe to see if they’re the right fit.

Instead, it’s time to enjoy the sun and the sea in Garopaba, Brazil while the rest of Europe endures freezing temperatures and Earl Greys next to a warm fireplace. They might as well play “Boy from Ipanema” now as Dunga starts eliminating names from his diário (“Ronaldinho, não. Hulk, talvez. Nilmar, sim ou Futbolita vai me matar ……”)

via Ignacio Mendez and Ole

Fabulouso is injured, but he’s not letting all that pessimism get to him! Cara over here is supposed to be prepping himself for the Copa del Mundo, but in true Brazilian style, he’s totally laid back and ready to sip your aunt’s piña coladas.

“I feel a little better about my injury. I’m undergoing treatment and it’s going well, because your ankle does not hurt much. I look forward to returning to training (for Sevilla) again, but I have to be tranquil (about it). I can’t give you a return date because I will not lie,” he declared.

Anyway, after all your Samba d’Or votes, our friends at Sambafoot tell us that Fabulouso has indeed won the title of the Best Brazilian Player in Europe of 2009. Bem merecido, Fabulouso! Now it’s time to get a new suitcase…

We love this tipo, and we’re sure you do too! Yes, CQC’s resident louco reporter, Felipe Andreoli recently went on one of his missions during the legendary Selecao Bootcamp week and he got pretty far asking Lucas, Luis Fabiano, Dunga, Julio Cesar and Kaka absurd questions. And yes, he even passed them toys! There’s also a cameo appearance by a clone of The Dinho and an intermission featuring Felipe himself at Oktoberfest. E muito engraçado a explicar. Enjoy!