For the last few weeks Arsenal have been constantly linked with a move for the Shakhtar winger Willian, but according to the agent of his Brazilian team-mate Douglas Costa it is his client who has been the subject of a bid. Costa is a Brazilian U20 international and was hugely impressive for Shakhtar in their [.

The Copa America officially kicks off today, and like Neymar's hair, everyone will be staying up to watch the best in South American football as they fight for the trophy. Of course, it's normal for the Seleção to be feeling the pressure ahead of their tournament opener against Venezuela on Sunday, but they're doing it in true Brasileiro style, with the laid-back swag and Bromance in tow!

Team USA Defeated by Sweden 2-1

Writer Jerrod Roh will provide coverage, analysis, and opinion for the 2011 Women's World Cup for IMSoccer News. He has attended the last 3 men's World Cups in South Korea, Germany, and South Africa as well as the 2003 Women's World Cup in the U.

Safe hands: Allstate had nothing on Kasey Keller when he was in the U.S. National Team goal (AP Photo).

One of the greatest performances of Kasey Keller's outstanding goalkeeping career came before just 12,298 fans at the cavernous Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

And I was there, as a fan, in the stands.

This week there were several friendly games amongst which France Brazil, a classic! France won 1 0 helped by a Brazilian player being sent off just before the end of the 1st half. I think that friendly games are there to help coaches prepare their squads for the different competitions they are involved in.

Ronaldo bids farewell to football His legacy lives on! - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

In the mid-90s a striker from Brazil was making tremors throughout the world football as he scored 42 goals in 46 appearances with PSV Eindhoven.

His journey continued from there to Barcelona to Inter Milan to Real Madrid and greatness pursued in all the four leagues he played in.

Dener Augusto de Sousa was a very talented Brazilian player that disappeared without getting a lot of attention globally. In 1994, and just before the World Cup, his career, and even his whole life came into halt. He died in a car accident while driving his fast car.
He was a center-forward, and before turning 20, he played his only international games vs.

Abby Wombach scored in the dying moments. It was almost as though a script was written to bring women's soccer and the U.S. Women's National Team back into the limelight. If there was such a script, then the team played out there roles perfectly.
It was in dramatic fashion that the United States took the lead in the second minute of the match, only to find themselves down a player and two goals into the last minute of the second overtime.

Neymar oh Neymar, você esqueceu o seu ... concealer?!! (did you forget your concealer?) Oh never mind all that make-up, tomorrow is the World Club Cup final between Santos and Barcelona. With all that hype surrounding Neymar in recent days (oh come on, you guys are late to the party!

Former SLeague side Tanjung Pagar are considering a return to the SLeague according to this report. But would the SLeague, with their expressed penchant for foreign clubs, last year they decided to let in Beijing Guoan rather than Yishun Super Reds with disasterous results, be willing to let them back?

The real Ronaldo, the player called O Fenomeno retired a day ago. In a nutmeg, he was brilliant. You could have had three legs and he would have found a way between each of them. He brought immense beauty to the game. Enjoy.

As for the present Brazilian team something tells me their swansong days will be hard to replicate.

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. | Subscribe: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Our football review of the week look sat the big club competitions in Europe and South America, a setback for FIFA in its search for reliable goal-line technology and trouble flaring in the West Midlands derby in England .

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. | Subscribe: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Our football review of the week look sat the big club competitions in Europe and South America, a setback for FIFA in its search for reliable goal-line technology and trouble flaring in the West Midlands derby in England .

Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva has put an end to any doubts over his Liverpool future by signing a new, long-term contract that will keep him at Anfield until 2015.
The 24 year-old has emerged over the last two years as one of the club's most improved players and the club's newly-appointed director of football, Damien Comolli, revealed that tying him to a long-term deal was a priority after his arrival on Merseyside last year.

By NESTOR F. SEBASTIAN

Argentina's Velez Sarsfield and Uruguay's Penarol each have a step into the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores after their shutout wins in the home legs of their quarterfinal ties.

Santos, the lone Brazilian team remaining in the field, got a vital away victory in Colombia, and Mexico's Jaguares needed a little English flavor to equalize at the last minute in this week's other first-leg quarterfinal matches.

Remember, I promised my children that we would be in the Maracana for the 2014 World Cup final. Here is a small tribute to Sergio Mendes, the 1966 album, a year which was not the most stellar performance of a Brazilian team in a World Cup though!

Maracanazos like Sergio Mendes!

Santos From Pele to Neymar on the road to immortality is a post from: Just Football

by Gordon Fleetwood

It has been a long road for Santos this year in the Copa Libertadores. This was Santos' first campaign since 2008, when they exited at the quarter final stage.

In 1996, Zagalo entered the Olympic with a dream Brazilian team to win the only title that Brazil never won so far. That team was almost the one that won the world cup in 2002. It had Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Dida, Bebeto, and many other stars.
I used to say for people who doubts the big progress of the AfroAsian football, that the time came when we see Brazil loses to a team from Asia (first round Brazil lost to Japan 0-1) and a team from Africa (SF Brazil lost to Nigeria 3-4) in a span of two weeks.

Welcome to Seleção Bootcamp... a Fútbolita tradition! To make up for lost time (desculpe, desculpe), here's a series of candid shots featuring Mano's manos getting ready for the Copa America which officially kicks off on Friday. First up, we don't know exactly what's going on here but Robinho's pose resembles one of those freaky Tiger mascots on cereal boxes ("Take yo' cereal every morning, kids!

In 1996, Zagalo entered the Olympic with a dream Brazilian team to win the only title that Brazil never won so far. That team was almost the one that won the world cup in 2002. It had Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Dida, Bebeto, and many other stars.
I used to say for people who doubts the big progress of the AfroAsian football, that the time came when we see Brazil loses to a team from Asia (first round Brazil lost to Japan 0-1) and a team from Africa (SF Brazil lost to Nigeria 3-4) in a span of two weeks.

FC BARCELONA is presently in Munich (Germany) in a fabulous tournament with Porto Alegre, Milan & hosts Bayern Munich. Yesterday Barça won the Brazilian team PORTO ALEGRE 4- 2 in the penalty shoot out after the match finished in a exciting 2-2 draw. Barcelona gave a run to most of its players especially the youngsters & changed the composition of the team during the match.

FC BARCELONA is presently in Munich (Germany) in a fabulous tournament with Porto Alegre, Milan & hosts Bayern Munich. Yesterday Barça won the Brazilian team PORTO ALEGRE 4- 2 in the penalty shoot out after the match finished in a exciting 2-2 draw. Barcelona gave a run to most of its players especially the youngsters & changed the composition of the team during the match.

Lucas praises 'amazing' Luis Suarez for replacing Fernando Torres & hopes his Copa America form continues for Liverpool

The Uruguayan made an instant impact at Anfield after arriving in January and his Brazilian team-mate wants to see his international form carry over into the new season

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-08-11 10:01:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Lucas praises 'amazing' Luis Suarez for replacing Fernando Torres & hopes his Copa America form continues for Liverpool

The Uruguayan made an instant impact at Anfield after arriving in January and his Brazilian team-mate wants to see his international form carry over into the new season

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-08-11 10:01:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

The U-20 Seleção won the World Cup yesterday beating Portugal 3-2 during the overtime with a stellar performance by Oscar. The players of U-20 teams don't always carry through with the promises that they show at this stage but who knows if some of these will be future World Cup stars.

Yeah, we know this photo screams "UNGLAM!" like there's no tomorrow, but BROS like Chicharito and Neymar have to put their skills to work when they're on the pitch. Not everybody is capable of keeping appearances up like Ronaldo anymore!

"I would love to play with Lionel Messi. But Messi is an incomplete player because he can't use his head. Also I played football for 20 years, Messi has only played for several years.", Pele, last week.
Only a person who follows football from a distance, and really into the details of the game would say such a comment.

Lucas praises 'amazing' Luis Suarez for replacing Fernando Torres & hopes his Copa America form continues for Liverpool

The Uruguayan made an instant impact at Anfield after arriving in January and his Brazilian team-mate wants to see his international form carry over into the new season

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-08-11 10:01:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

TUDO BEM?!! Welcome to Day 2 of the Selecao Bootcamp, brought to you by the "Caras Novas" or newbies of the Brazilian team - Alex Sandro, Bruno Cesar, Dudu, Kleber and Willian! Many of them are from the winning U-20 Brazilian national side and were picked based on those performances.

Liverpool defender Jose Enrique hails Lucas' ‘amazing' performance in draw with Manchester City

The Spaniard admits Joe Hart was in inspired form but insists his Brazilian team-mate was the best player on the pitch, and says his side were unlucky not to win the match

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-11-28 11:12:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Liverpool defender Jose Enrique hails Lucas' ‘amazing' performance in draw with Manchester City

The Spaniard admits Joe Hart was in inspired form but insists his Brazilian team-mate was the best player on the pitch, and says his side were unlucky not to win the match

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-11-28 11:12:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Liverpool defender Jose Enrique hails Lucas' ‘amazing' performance in draw with Manchester City

The Spaniard admits Joe Hart was in inspired form but insists his Brazilian team-mate was the best player on the pitch, and says his side were unlucky not to win the match

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-11-28 11:12:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Liverpool defender Jose Enrique hails Lucas' ‘amazing' performance in draw with Manchester City

The Spaniard admits Joe Hart was in inspired form but insists his Brazilian team-mate was the best player on the pitch, and says his side were unlucky not to win the match

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-11-28 11:12:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Speaking on Absolute Radio before the weekend, Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said that it was unlikely that he would be bringing in any new faces to White Hart Lane this winter.

Rumours have persisted in the press, most of them suggesting that Tottenham will be looking for a new striker at the very least, but Harry claims that the current form of the side means that there is no need for reinforcements.

Watching the 1982 World Cup in my parent's basement, my brother and I pranced around our basement trying to imitate the beauty of Socrates. No-look passes, flicks and back heels were introduced to a growing soccer nation, and I was clearly swept up in it.
With the passing of the Brazilian midfielder this past weekend at the age of 57, Gabriele Marcotti writes of the great playmaker and leader of the Brazilian football revolution.

One of the best things that happened in the recent years in the Football world is the return of the big giant, Uruguay. Personally, I was surprised but mesmerized with that strong return. I thought Uruguay football was only a history and will never make it again, especially with a very pale qualifying results to the World Cup.

Belatedly, a roundup of links regarding the passing of Brazilian great Socrates a couple weeks ago: Remembering Brazil's Soccer Philosopher King, penned by Gabriele Marcotti, appeared in the WSJ the day after his death:

Sunday [December 4] morning marked the passing of Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, better known simply as Socrates.