Brazilian national team striker Adriano has been temporarily dropped by Flamengo because he began drinking again. After returning from London, where Brazil beat Ireland, 2-0, he did not show up for practice on Friday and missed Flamengo's 4-0 win over Resende on Saturday.

"When he starts drinking, he can't stop,'' Flamengo director Marcos Braz told Radio Bandeirantes. "He had overcome this, but it started again because of this personal situation he is going through.''

Sao Paulo media widely reported that Adriano got into an altercation with his girlfriend at a party in a shantytown. He had left Inter Milan last year because of personal problems. He helped Flamengo win the 2009 Brazilian championship and put himself in a position to win a spot on Brazil's World Cup team.