I haven't visited the half-full vs. half-empty review style in a while, so before I hit the web, Twitter, and fifteen different views of player ratings which will inevitably color my perspective, let's dust it off.

To level set though, let's remind ourselves that for all intents and purposes, the USA vs.

The United States walked off the field in the Meadowlands with disappointment written on their faces. The national team did not show well against a young and relatively inexperienced Brazilian team. Although the game didn't mean much in the scheme of things, the US missed an opportunity to gain a some respect in the soccer world.

The U.S. team held its sole training session tonight at the New Meadowlands Stadium, testing out the turf for 75 minutes before tomorrow night's match against Brazil. The grass was installed over two days at the end of last week.
The training activity itself was standard fare, with a long warm-up, passing, an 8 v.

By AVI CREDITOR

For those who thought that David Beckham's injury would prevent him from being with England during the World Cup, think again.

Kind of.

England manager Fabio Capello has extended an offer for Beckham to travel and stay with the team in South Africa, a unique move considering Beckham has no shot of playing in the competition.

Neymar (5 Feb 1992) plays striker / winger for Santos and the Brazilian national team. During his national team debut last night in a 2-0 win over the United States, Neymar netted a goal just 29 minutes into play.

When more eyes are on you than Robinho, you know you have arrived. A fresh new Brazilian team took the pitch last night, and they are again starting to look like the Brazil of old.

One of the best aspects of Jonathan Wilson's book is that he does not simply rely on glib, widespread assessments of the teams of yesteryear. And this is best exemplified in his remarks on past Brazilian teams.
The introduction of the 4-2-4 by Vicente Feola's Brazil in the 1958 World Cup, and its shift to 4-3-3 for the 1962 instalment, are well-known.

Tonight I played in an after-work soccer league. The game itself isn't much to talk about, especially my contributions – which are never much to speak of.

But as I tried to stay warm on the sideline during a cold (for June) driving rain, I had a very interesting conversation that made clear a problem that I alwaays guessed the New England Revolution had, but never saw so obviously.

10+ minutes highlights of the 1974 World Cup match between Netherlands and Brazil.

Clockwork Orange showing off "total football" by Johan Cruyff, Rob Rensenbrink, Ruud Krol, and Arie Haan. Goals by Johan Neeskens and Cruyff overcome a scrappy Brazilian team that resorted to physical intimidation.

Brazil have been practising their own pressing game while the Netherlands, have taken a leaf out of Dunga's side and adopted a more pragmatic approach.
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There's not been much talking between the Brazilian team and the country's press.

Mano Menezes has a tough job ahead of him. He's taking over as the Brazilian national team coach right after a World Cup of failure for the nation. Carlos Dunga failed to win the 2010 World Cup, and in a country which expects to win the tournament every four years, that's not good enough. Now Menezes will be under a huge amount of pressure having taken over the team, especially with the next World Cup in 2014 taking place in Brazil.

The first leg matches in the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana have been completed with no team enjoying a lead over their opponents. That's because all of the quarter-final ties so far have been drawn and it shows that the competition is being taken seriously by those clubs who are remaining.

It's time to check in on Deportivo's Filipe Luis who is suffering from a fracture in his right leg. He was recently discharged from the hospital and almost everyone especially Pepe - sent flying kisses and wishes. Que doce! "Unfortunately, I could not fight for a place in the seleção, but the Brazilian team is in my heart and I certainly have hope for the group.

Something of a Friday time-waster for you here this morning, with "The Greatest Goals Of World Cup USA '94″. Note the slight change in name from the previous videos in this series. For whatever reason, it was decided that the compilation vdeo for the 1994 World Cup would not include all of the goals scored in the tournament.

Take a good look at Hotel Fairway in Johannesburg... because this is where the selecao will be based at during the World Cup! Que magníficoooo.

"It's the place that comes closest to what the Brazilian team is accustomed to having. We need a place that gives us comfort and privacy," said Dopey.

We just wanted to bring your attention to Bobojan, whom we failed to highlight in yesterday's weekend Señor wrap. Granted, tipo's looking a little too delirious here but he wants all you Gooners to know that Barca will NOT be playing chess against Arsenal tonight.

All Things Considered did a piece tonight about the U-17 U.S. Women's team consolation of the Haitian goalie after their 9-0 victory over the Haitian team. Many of the Haitian players lives' had been upended by the January 12th earthquake. The goalie had lost her parents in the earthquake, and most of the team members had similarly lost family members.

Juninho's smile would brighten up any grey and miserable Saturday afternoon on Teesside just like his silky skills would bring joy to many, even during mediocre battles at Selhurst Park or trips to Filbert Street. The small Brazilian was the best thing to happen to Middlesbrough during the 90's and into the early parts of the new millennium with every Boro fan being mesmerised with his every move.

This is the bus that will be taking the selecao's manos around South Africa. And yes, it looks really cool. Everyone at Villarreal is now teasing Nilmar about the fact that he'll be able to make coffee, watch a film and enjoy a foot massage all within the bus.

The Libertadores saw all of its brazilian representatives play mid last week. Cruzeiro took on Sao Paulo, Flamengo played against Universidad de Chile, and Internacional fought it out against argentine rivals Independiente.
In the Brazilian Derby between the 2nd teams of the states of Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo, respectively, Cruzeiro disappointed their home fans in a packed Mineirao and lost 2x0 to Sao Paulo.

The good

Chelsea and Inter secure doubles (the league title and the domestic cup) in England and Italy respectively, while Barcelona also win La Liga after being pushed all the way by Real Madrid. Chelsea overcame a plucky Portsmouth 1-0 at Wembley despite giving a penalty away to the south coast side, which was missed, and fluffing a spot kick of their own.

Zimbabwe has been haunted by economic and other kinds of disaster for the last ten years or so.So even though their team went down by 3 goals to zero there was joy on the streets that the Brazilian team had passed through their nation on the way to the World Cup.
"Today is a momentous occasion for Zimbabweans.

Brazil renewed their criticism of the World Cup ball on Thursday, coach Dunga saying players from other countries were also unhappy with it.

You don't think they are a little biased based on the fact that Nike is basically the owner of the Brazilian team?

Dunga was also angry with Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke, who implied during a news conference this week that, in criticising the ball, Brazil were looking for excuses in case they failed to win the tournament.

One week away! One week! The pulses of football tragics the world over are starting to quicken. Answers to the last quiz can be found here.
Last but not least:
The Goals
1. Which World Cup final featured two opening goals that were almost perfect mirror-images of each other?

Brazil's soccer players Luisao, right, and Lucio, attend a press conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, June 6, 2010. Brazilian team is preparing for the upcoming soccer World Cup, where they will play in Group G. Photo: Andre Penner / AP ...

As the entrants lined up for the 1938 World Cup finals in France, storm clouds were building up the horizon, and the tournament itself wasn't exempt from such global concerns. Three months prior to the start of it, German tanks had marched into Austria, annexing the country through the Anschlüss agreement.

Every World Cup features a "Group of Death," and this year that distinction falls on Group G. Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast are all capable of a deep tournament run, but only two will reach the knockout stages. In a tight group, all three will look to fatten up against the group's weak link, North Korea.

BRAZIL Along with Spain, Brazil are favourites to lift the trophy in Johannesburg on July 11th. Yet even with flair players like Kaka and Robinho, there is no hiding from the fact this Brazilian team is more USA '94 than Mexico '70, mostly due to boss Dunga (captain on that day in LA) who has ditched [.

Whilst Spain have been installed as favourites to win the 2010 World Cup with most bookmakers its hard to look past the 'Samba Stars' wining their sixth tournament.

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Brazil's soccer players Luis Fabiano, right, and Luisao, practice during a training session, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, June 11, 2010. Brazilian team is preparing for the soccer World Cup, where they will ...

Brazil's soccer players Luis Fabiano, left, Kaka, center, and coach Dunga, during a training session, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, June 11, 2010. Brazilian team is preparing for the soccer World Cup, where they ...

Brazilian international would not be averse to an Eastlands return.

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Robinho has refused to rule out the prospect of returning to Manchester City after the World Cup finals.

According to John Nisbett at The Independent, Robinho did not rule out returning to Manchester City this season. Robinho said,

"I honestly don't know what will happen at City. We will just see what happens over the summer but I haven't ruled out a return.

By Eric Beard, writing from Boston

When I met up with my brother Tuesday afternoon at the Phoenix Landing pub in Cambridge, Massachusetts to watch Brazil take on North Korea, I was just hoping to see a bit of Joga Bonito from the likes of Robinho and Kaka. The bar was predominantly filled with Brazilians singing their national anthem on repeat before the match even kicked off, and a man originally from the Ivory Coast started talking to me because he (obviously) liked the Drogba shirt I had on.

Sunday, June 20th at 19:30 GMT from Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg

While Brazilian fans can't wait to face Portugal in their last group stage fixture, they couldn't have asked for a better way to prepare than taking on a spirited Ivory Coast side. The Elephants held the Portuguese to a goalless draw in what many considered to be a very dominant performance from the Africans.

Disgraceful incident creates comedian out of Brazilian coach.

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Brazil coach Dunga described the sending off of Kaka as "unjustified" after the incident marred his team's 3-1 victory over the Ivory Coast.

I was rewatched the Nike "Write the Future" commercials today and noticed that all of the players involved actually had pretty sub-par World Cup performances. Wayne Rooney, for example, was a shadow of the player we saw at Manchester United last season, and Cristiano Ronaldo did not look very dangerous.

Johan Cruyff:

"I would never pay for a ticket to watch the matches of this Brazilian team. Where has the Brazil team we all know disappeared to in this World Cup?"

Where have you been, Johan? Dunga has been the coach for the last four years and this is no big secret.
Dunga responds:

My grandfather said in his day football was excellent.

Into the quarter-finals then, and now it starts getting serious.This was the first clash between two teams with serious winning credentials or at least, Brazil's pedigree was beyond dispute. Maybe there were still some doubts about the Netherlands, coming into this game, for all their long unbeaten run and their hundred percent records both in qualifying and in the group phases it still remained to be seen how they'd fare against top class opposititon.

After an early exit made by Brazil two days ago, coach Dunga and his staff were fired this afternoon.

The announcement came via the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF). Most saw this decision coming a mile away. Unlike most countries, Brazil doesn't just hope to make it out of the group stage.

Brazil manager, Carlos Dunga, who played for many years in the Italian Serie A, responded directly after the elimination by the Netherlands to the Milan sports daily, La Gazzetta dello Sport. Former Selecao star, Ronaldo, weighed in with heavy criticism on Dunga and Felipe Melo.