Something to read while you watch the madness at the Maracana... Israel halts construction of Palestinian stadium (BBC.co.uk) This FIFA conspiracy goes deeper than we though (Studs Up) Five football injustices (Shortlist) What happens when you fart in a referee's face? (Sports Rubbish) A lot of Top 10s for 2010 (Pies) Goal-line referees for World Cup 2010? Click to continue reading...

After granting a spot in next year's first division of Brazilian football, Vasco da Gama finished the combo and took home the dubious title of champion of the second division. Wearing a commemorative jersey (not very tasteful, if I may say), the club cameback to beat America-RN at a packed Maracana.

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"Low lie the Fields of Athenry, Where once we watched the small free birds fly!!!"

This Saturday at 8pm, I'll will be glued to the box with the rest of The Emerald Isle to watch the darlings of the nation again defy the odds against greater foes to reach the final of the greatest show on Earth.

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What seemed to be a terrible year for Fluminense may end up as a good one, after all (obviously, staying in the first division is fundamental to that). In the first-leg of the semis, Flu played as it is supposed to: as a big and traditional club. It played the first-half better than Cerro Porteno, but did not score.

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This is what the Maracana looked like in the victory against Palmeiras.

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Vasco da Gama is back from hell. The Brazilian giant granted its return to the first division of Campeonato Brasileiro less than a year after being relegated. Vasco was another giant that, as it's been happening a lot lately, felt the results of the poor administrations that control most of Brazilian football.

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The 33rd round of Brasileirao put on the top Palmeiras and Sao Paulo, creator (Muricy Ramalho) versus creation (Sao Paulo). Palmeiras leads because of the goal difference, three more than Sao Paulo.

On the weekend, Palmeiras played the derby against Corinthians whereas Sao Paulo played Barueri.

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Flamengo v Fluminense, Brazil

Over the coming weeks we'll be giving you the run down on the World's most passionate and fiercest rivalry in football. We start our list with two Brazilian giants.

History
Known as ‘Fla-Flu' this is Brazil's most passionate rivalry, dating back to 1911 when 9 Fluminense players quit the club to form Flamengo, which at the time was just a rowing club, any one for Pimms old boy?

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The World Cup of 1950 in Brazil was the only one ever that was played without a final. Instead, all four teams in the final round (Brazil, Uruguay, Spain and Sweden) played in a final group, where the winner would become world champion. In spite of this, the group went into what was practically a final when Brazil faced Uruguay in Maracana in the last group match on the largest football stadium Click to continue reading...

• Botafogo's fans made a banner teasing Fluminense's injured striker, Fred in their 0-0 home draw yesterday. The striker has been suffering muscular problems in his thigh and hasn't played a single match since July 23rd. The banner read : "Hey Vilma, where's Fred?

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An insight into the treatment and attitudes that for decades have surrounded Liverpool's England heroes from COS's latest writing recruit Michael Williams.

Since the mid 1980's there has been a distance between Scousers and England. In the depression years of the decade Liverpool became a target for the Government and the Southern based media joined in with Thatcher's persecution of the city.

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From the pages of Clarin

1959 Copa America Argentina defeats Brasil 3-0 and wins the Copa America. The great Enrique Sivori celebrates with several Peruvian kids.

1964 Nation's Cup Argentina defeats Brasil 3-0 and wins the Nation's Cup which was held in Brasil.

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via Globo

• Sao Paulo are in the top four of the Brazilian championship after beating Goias 3-1 on Sunday. They've won their last five matches and have been unbeaten for the last eight games. Way to go, Tricolor! They started out slow in the early stages of the season and the Libertadores Cup.

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¿Que hubo amigos?! We're back with some Brasileirao highlights from the weekend's games! Corinthians (who failed in their quest to sign Guti. Really?) defeated Barueri 2-1, thanks to goals from Souza and Jean. Ronaldo Lima was rested in the game due to a muscle injury he picked up.

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Got to love this video. No flashy effects, freeze frames or replays. Just Google Earth zooming in and the out of the world's 10 biggest soccer stadiums, and "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers on the soundtrack. The most interesting thing is that these stadiums aren't necessarily the ones you know. Click to continue reading...

The Maracanã has been chosen as one of the "Seven Wonders of World Sports" in a survey conducted among British fans. The Formula 1 circuit in Monaco was deemed the First Wonder of the Sporting World. The Rio stadium - built specially for the World Cup in 1950 -  ended up in sixth place, garnering 4% [. Click to continue reading...

Mané Garrincha
Originally uploaded by botafoguense Se cumplieron años de su fallecimiento e hicieron un reportaje de el en televisión abierta, lo que se me hizo curioso es que los datos eran muy similares a la wiki:
Manuel Francisco Dos Santos nació en Pau Grande, Río de Janeiro, Brasil, el 28 de octubre de 1933, y falleció el 20 de enero de 1983, a los 49 años, en Río de Janeiro. Click to continue reading...

This article says one year behind in the construction efforts.
Which is surprising because Brazil, of all countries, seems like it'd be able to get ready for a soccer fiesta.
I mean they got the Maracana!

Brazil hosted the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro last year without major glitches.

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Liga de Quito capped off its surprise run in Copa Libertadores by dispatching Brazilian powers Fluminense in a dramatic finale on Wednesday. Liga went in with a 4-2 lead, got a goal early and held on as Fluminense stormed back. The Brazilians eventually leveled the aggregate score and sent the match to PKs. Click to continue reading...

Fluminense midfielder Thiago Nieves scored a hat-trick as the tie finished 5-5 on aggregate but his efforts were in vain as LDU won the shootout 3-1 to stun the 86,000 crowd at the Maracana. Click to continue reading...

In a two-game series that saw 10 goals scored you wouldn't expect a goalkeeper to be the hero, but Liga de Quito goalkeeper Jose Francisco Cevallos was just that for Liga. Cevallos made three penalty kick saves to help Liga de Quito beat Brazilian club Fluminense, 3-1, in penalty kicks to capture the Copa Libertadores title last night at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.

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I know it's only highlights, but after watching the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final this morning I get the feeling that South America's continental tournament is way more exciting than it's UEFA Champions League couterpart. Little(ish) LDU Quito of Ecuador traveled to the legendary Maracaná in Brazil to face Fluminese last night with a [. Click to continue reading...

Cuando se habla del club América de Mexico para bien o para mal siempre se asocia con el antiamericanista fundador, su detractor y a la vez promotor numero uno que es Jose Ramon Fernandez, se que muchos americanistas, lo extrañan, también para bien o para mal. Otros quieren conocer que opina de lo ocurrido , si, lo de este miércoles el Maracanazo. Click to continue reading...

Las Aguilas del América, inyectados de coraje y pundonor dieron un extraordinario partido ante el Flamengo nada menos que en Maracana, uno de los estadios más grandes y díficiles del mundo. El América lidereado por un jugador, todo entrega y... Click to continue reading...

Brazil and Uruguay play tonight for the Copa America semifinal, in Maracaibo, Venezuela. The Brazilians are favourites, but not by a large margin - due mostly to the poor efforts the team has shown recently than any brilliance of the opponents in the last few matches.
True, both teams are coming from good victories in the quarterfinals (6-1 for Brazil against Chile and 4-1 for Uruguay over the hosts Venezuela). Click to continue reading...