Buffon, Cech, Van Der Sar…. Lately it’s been Brazilian International and Inter keeper Julio Cesar pushing to place his name among the elite after multiple high level performances that have seen the 29 year old single handedly win matches for Inter.
Feeling that track..
Firstly, let me preface my preface by admitting I’m a blatant Brasilophile. What is there not to like the birds? Food? Footie? All world class and top notch by any standard and I’m all for it, bruv. My first time at the Emirates was oddly anticlimactic, dunno if I was expecting magnums to pop-pop off and Vieira and Henry to come sprinting back on Walt Frazier flavour but it seemed weirdly small and vacuous.
Sitting right behind the red, ribbed, condom-like tunnel my mate Mohammed and I were on the 50 yard line in the 20th row, absolutely pukka. Wearing my bastard, spamalot Gooner Brasilophile gear I wound up smack in the Ital section. All quite cool people though but being a friendly and a evenly matched crowd of 60,777( IT! TA! LY! chants versus CLAP,CLAP,CLAP,BRAAA-ZIL!) (more…)
Brazil’s players applaud after the final whistle during the international friendly soccer match against Brazil at the Emirates Stadium, London Tuesday Feb. 10, 2009
Brazil turned on the style to beat world champions Italy 2-0 in a friendly on Tuesday and end coach Marcello Lippi’s bid for a record 32-match unbeaten run.
Elano and Robinho scored first-half goals to help Brazil make light of Kaka’s absence and put on a performance at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium which belied their coach Dunga’s reputation as a dour tactician. (more…)
UPDATE - Juventus have reportedly denied Amauri the opportunity to face Italy after Brazil submitted their request too late for the upcoming Friendly in London, with other reports claiming that Juve have denied the initial request ever took place.
“With regards to the statements assigned to me in the press from Brazil and Italy, I want to clarify that I meant it was impossible that I play for the Italian national team in the upcoming Italy – Brazil friendly,” the former Palermo player explained, according to Datasport.
“Any other references to the national team of Brazil or Italy is absolutely without credibility. My only thought at this moment is to give my best is to train and give my best for Juventus. I consider this episode closed and will not be coming back to this topic.”
While he wasn’t included in the initial squad due to Dunga’s reluctance into forcing him to make his Brazil debut against the country in which he plies his trade, Juventus’ Amauri has finally gotten the call after Luis Fabiano withdrew due to injury ahead of their February 10th Friendly against Italy in London.
Manchester City’s Robinho gestures during their English Premier League soccer match against Newcastle United in Manchester January 28, 2009.
image via daylife.com
In the early hours of Wednesday 28 January 2009 Robinho was arrested and questioned, by West Yorkshire Police, in relation to a sexual assault in a Leeds nightclub. He was released on bail shortly afterwards.
Stories on the alleged assault : (more…)
