Copa Libertadores 2012 Property of Brazil? is a post from: Just Football
South America's flagship competition, the Copa Libertadores, is up and running
for another season with the group stages kicking off this week. 32 of Latin America's finest will
compete to succeed Santos as champions, and thanks to the increasing strength of
the Brazilian economy and the country's increasing ability to keep hold of and attract their finest
countrymen, Brazil is once considered the trophy's most likely destination come the final in
July.
It's OFFICIAL... Brazilian pop singer Michel Telo is taking over the
football world! When you have a Number 1 hit song in Latin America and Europe, players are dancing
to your songs as part of goal celebrations and Valdebebas welcomes you with open arms, you've
bloody well arrived!
With a World Cup on the way and the 2016 summer Olympics on the horizon, Brazil is gearing up
for a high-profile decade by hosting the planet's two largest sporting events. This brilliant
decade in Brazilian sports will kick off with the 2014 World Cup estimated to bring millions of
football fans into the country.
Jeremiah Makes Case For Mauro Rosales As MVP
Also with an intriguing story about an agent pitching the player in a men's room. For me though
this is the quote that should be able to sway more players to come to MLS;
"I pushed all the benefits of playing here: excellent training facilities, a safe atmosphere
for players and their families, paychecks that don't bounce, etc.
By DAVID MOSSE
Ronaldinho confirmed his good form by scoring a goal and helping set up another, but Flamengo was
held to a 2-2 draw by Internacional on Sunday thanks to the brilliance of Leandro Damiao. The
Internacional hitman is one of the rising stars of Brazilian soccer and was recently called up to
the national team along with Ronaldinho for the upcoming friendly against Ghana in London.
By DAVID MOSSE
The recent World Cup draw didn't receive nearly as much attention in Brazil as one might expect
thanks in large part to a spectacular game that same week between Flamengo and Santos, which
dominated the headlines. Flamengo came from three goals down to claim a 5-4 victory, and the two
star attractions didn't disappoint, as Ronaldinho and Neymar carried their respective teams.
Frank Sinatra crooned "South of the border...down Mexico way" on a popular 1953 recording. He
was referring to a lovely senorita in the song, but ten years earlier the popular Mexican Primera
Division soccer league was born. This colorful league has blossomed to become the 12th ranked
domestic league in the world (according to by FIFA rankings).
Frank Sinatra crooned "South of the border...down Mexico way" on a popular 1953 recording. He
was referring to a lovely senorita in the song, but ten years earlier the popular Mexican Primera
Division soccer league was born. This colorful league has blossomed to become the 12th ranked
domesic league in the world (accoridng to by FIFA rankings).
COPA AMERICA TROPHY ON DISPLAY AT AVENTURA MALL THIS WEEKENDAVENTURA, Fla. – June 30, 2011 – Copa America kicks off in Argentina on Friday, but South
Florida residents and visitors will have a unique opportunity to view the soccer tournament's
prestigious trophy this weekend at Aventura Mall.
I won't bore you with another mega-post detailing this FIFA crap. Just remember two things: 1)
As long as FIFA gets (practically) free labor from players and shifts the burden of hosting to
countries, then they will be a money-grubbing gang of crooks with no incentive to change. 2) FIFA
is not a dictatorship, it is a 21st century kleptocracy ala Latin America where the forces of
capital hollow out democratic mechanisms.
The U.S. was drawn into Group D of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, and will play its group games in
Torreon and Pachuca. Before the young Americans have a chance to explore, here is a bit of
background about the city of Torreon and Estadio Corona.
Torreon
Torreon, nestled in what used to be a lake bed in north central Mexico,
is about 250 miles due south of Big Bend National Park in Texas.
The other day news came out that Takahito Soma will be leaving club Energie Cottbus this summer
to come to Major League Soccer. The Japanese left back is quoted as saying
"I have had an offer from an MLS club and want to move in the summer," Soma was quoted as saying
Thursday in the online edition of Lausitzer Rundschau.
The loss of Blaise Nkufo has a minor benefit. It allows us to dream of greater things, to
partake in the fantasy of "rosterbation." Considering the current window closing on 15 April, and
that most leagues are in season dreaming of a Free is pointless. Difference makers aren't Free at
this time. Difference makers are under contract, but hopefully a short one so the fee would be
lower.
An American goalkeeper will have a chance at playing in Latin America's most prestigious tournament
as Bolivian club Jorge Wilstermann have signed Matt Glaeser to its squad for the upcoming season.
David Beckham: yadda yadda EPL loan yadda yadda (AP Photo).
I will mark a dozen years of employment at the Daily Breeze Monday by taking the day off so
there will be no column Tuesday.
*I'll leave you with the usual blather out of England that include reports Newcastle United want
David Beckham on loan.
