[WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN] Brazil, the co-favorite with Spain to win the World Cup, played its first international match since March on Wednesday and easily beathost Zimbabwe, 3-0, on goals by Michel Bastos, Robinho and Elano in a span of 15minutes either side of halftime. Brazil got a scare when Inter Milan goalie Julio Cesar had […]
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Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
High-visibility match to be played at Meadowlands
[USA-BRAZIL] Four years ago, the USA didn’t play a game the rest of the year after the World Cup. In 1998 and 2002, it went more than four months beforeplaying a friendly after the World Cup. This year, the Americans will be back in action less than a month after the final in South Africa, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Brazil braces for World Cup beer thirst
The Brazilian government has cut beer duties to avoid shortages during the World Cup because local brewers warned they would be unable to meet surging demand despite sharply increasingproduction. Import levies are being cut from 16 percent to 2 percent. “The industry itself declared in a letter to the Foreign Trade Chamber that it won’t […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Kaka insists he'll be ready
[BRAZIL] Considering the long list of stars whom Brazil passed on, the recent dip in form of Kaka, the star who is goingto the World Cup, is worrying to millions of fans of the five-time world champions. The Real Madrid midfielder tried allay those fears as he began a personal fitness program before heading topre-World […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
World Cup squads: the predictable surprises
By Paul Gardner Looking at the preliminary World Cup squads, there are certainly some selections and omissions that you could call “surprises.” Except inthe case of Brazil, of course. No one should ever be surprised at who is, and is not on the Brazilian roster. This is a country with so many good players that […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Dunga ignores Ronaldinho
[BRAZIL] There’s no Ronaldinho, and no Pato Alexandre and no Adriano and no Neymar in Brazil’s 23-player roster for the World Cup. The surprise inclusion: Wolfsburg forward Grafite. Brazil coach Dunga‘s decision to not take Ronaldinho, who played well for AC Milan for parts of the 2010 Italian season, wasnot unexpected. “There is no doubt […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FIFA worried about World Cup 2014 in Brazil
Brazil won the right to organize the 2014 World Cup without opposition from other South American nations. Whether it should still have been given the tournament is now open to question as FIFAwarned that the country “is not on the right path.” With the difficulties of South Africa’s World Cup front and center, FIFA doesn’t […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Young Brazilian star striker hospitalized
Santos’ 18-year-old striker Neymar, whose scoring feats have made him a candidate for the World Cup squad, was sent to the hospital after injuring his eye in a 3-2 win over SantoAndre in the first leg of the Sao Paulo state final. He was being treated for bleeding in his right eye. The injury occured […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Kaka returns in style
Out six weeks with a groin problem, Brazilian playmaker Kaka returned to action for Real Madrid, entering its game against Real Zaragoza on Saturday with 15 minutes left. Kakascored the gamewinner on an assist from Cristiano Ronaldo, in the 2-1 victory over Real Zaragoza that keeps Real Madrid on the heels of leader Barcelona. Kaka, […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying
“His house has a lot of glass and the crew had four cars and trucks and were shining those bright lights into the house. His family were forced to hide and he was taken by surprise when hearrived.” — A Rio de Janeiro police spokesman after a comedy television crew showed up at the house […]