FIFA Seeks "Good Solution" To Olympics

FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants to address the “sensitive issue” of football at the Olympics.

Brazil won the men’s tournament for the first time at Rio 2016, beating Germany at the Maracana Stadium.

However, while Infantino feels the women’s game has developed due to its inclusion in the Olympics, he says problems remain to be solved.

“The men’s game, which is primarily for under-23 players with a few added, is not a good solution,” Infantino said.

“The tournament is neither fish nor bird in this form. Also, the football calendar is too tight.”

Apart from 1896 and 1932, football has been in every summer Olympics, with the women’s tournament added in 1996.

Sixteen teams contested the men’s tournament in Brazil, with 12 sides in the women’s competition in which Germany beat Sweden in the final.

Following legal action by Barcelona, Werder Bremen and Schalke in 2008, clubs are no longer required to automatically release their players because the competition falls outside the recognised FIFA international calendar.

BBC

FIFA Seeks "Good Solution" To Olympics

Coutinho Scores Hat-Trick In Brazil Win

Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho scored his first international hat-trick as Brazil thumped Haiti 7-1 in Group B of the Copa America.

Two of his goals were long-range efforts and coach Dunga said Coutinho had seized his chance.

“He’s been acquiring more trust and belief in himself and taking more risks. That’s what we wanted,” he said.

“We’ve been encouraging Coutinho during training to be the player he is in Liverpool and he did that for us.”

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The victory in Orlando moved Brazil level on four points with Peru, whom they play on Sunday.

Coutinho, 23, had previously only scored one goal for his country, in a friendly against Mexico last year.

“We have to keep our focus for the next game. We have to be dreaming about big things, but we also have to prepare well for the next game. Peru is a very strong team,” said Coutinho.

In the other group game, Peru and Ecuador drew 2-2.

BBC

Coutinho Scores Hat-Trick In Brazil Win

Brazil Name Copa America Squad, Kaka And Oscar Out

Santos starlet Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa and Liverpool’s Coutinho were among those named in Brazil coach Dunga’s final 23-man squad for June’s Copa America Centenario.

Orlando City’s Kaka, Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, PSG’s Lucas Moura and Cheslea’s Oscar were were among 17 players to be cut from the preliminary 40-man squad announced last week.

The others were Marcelo Grohe, Fagner, Alex Sandro, Jemerson, Gabriel Paulista, Wallace, Fernandinho, Ganso, Felipe Anderson, Luan, Jonas, Alex Teixeira and Gabriel Jesus.

Captain Neymar will be absent after an agreement was reached with Barcelona that will see the forward play the Rio Olympic games instead.

Inter defender Miranda and Chelsea midfielder Willian, Dunga’s first choices for his remaining two overage slots at the games, were named in the final 23 which appears to have ruled them out of the Olympics.

Real Madrid’s Casemiro returns to the squad following an impressive season with Spanish giants, as does Barcelona’s Rafinha who had been missing since suffering a serious knee injury in September.

Elias of Corinthians, Dunga’s most-capped midfielder after Willian, also returns after overcoming injury problems.

Any late replacements to the squad must be selected from the remaining 17 from Dunga’s preliminary squad.

Brazil have been drawn in Group B of the centenary version of the competition, set to be played in USA, alongside Ecuador, Haiti and Peru.

The Copa America Centenario has been organized to celebrate 100-years of the South American football championships. It will be played outside of the continent for the first time and feature six teams from North American Confederation CONCACAF

Brazil’s Copa America Centenario squad

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Internacional), Diego Alves (Valencia), Ederson (Benfica)

Defenders: Miranda (Inter), Gil (Shandong Luneng), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Rodrigo Caio (Sao Paulo), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Fabinho (Monaco), Douglas Santos (Atletico Mineiro)

Midfielders: Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Elias (Corinthians), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Coutinho (Liverpool), Lucas Lima (Santos), Willian (Chelsea), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Rafinha (Barcelona)

Forwards: Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich), Hulk (Zenit), Gabigol (Santos), Ricardo Oliveira (Santos)

Goal

Brazil Name Copa America Squad, Kaka And Oscar Out

Barcelona Set To Sign Young Brazil Defender

Barcelona wants to sign a new defender from Brazilian football and would’ve already identified their target.

According to the information from Brazilian journalist Jorge Nicola on Rádio Bradesco Esportes FM, the player wanted by Barcelona is Fluminense defender Marlon who has been on the radar of the Catalan team’s for quite a while, and can move to the Camp Nou.

As mentioned by the journalist, the representative of Barcelona in Brazil, André Cury, would have met with president Peter Siemsen at Fluminense’s training centre to enquire about the transfer values of the defender to move to the Spanish team.

The idea of the representative would be to pass on the information received from Fluminense to the Catalans.

On the other hand, Barcelona would have competition from other European teams in their pursuit of Marlon this summer.

Italian sides AS Roma and Juventus have also made inquiries for the Fluminense player’s situation, but an official proposal is yet to be made.

Last year, Barcelona reportedly reached an agreement for a first-option on Marlon, Kenedy and Gérson.

Kenedy is currently at Premier League side Chelsea, while Gérson was sold to AS Roma.

Sambafoot

Barcelona Set To Sign Young Brazil Defender

Manchester United After Brazil Teen Sensation

English Premiership giants, Manchester United are believed to have tabled in a bid for one of the most coveted players in the Brazilian game, Gabriel Jesus.

The Palmeiras’ forward is sought after by some of the top clubs in Europe, and he is expected to leave the club after the Olympics later this year.

Behind the scenes, agents are already trying to sell him and says that they have big proposals from clubs like Atlético Madrid and Manchester United.

His release clause at Palmeiras is €30 million, and clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Manchester United and Bayern Munich have all shown interest in the 19-year old.

Manchester United have made their move, and, he could be heading to Old Traford next season should negotiations go through with his parent club.

Gabriel Jesus will be expected to star for Brazil at the Olympics in August as they attempt to win the football tournament for the first time.

The player has also been included in the Brazil preliminary 40-man squad for the Copa America.

Manchester United After Brazil Teen Sensation

David Luiz and Thiago Silva Out Of Brazil Copa América Squad

Brazil Coach Dunga has announced a preliminary squad for the Copa América with the Paris Saint-Germain duo of David Luiz and Thiago Silva being left out.

The good performances of Paulo Henrique Ganso in recent games for São Paulo seems to have convinced Dunga to include him.

In the preliminary list of 40 players released for the Copa América Centenário, the coach included the number 10 of São Paulo, who’s been absent from the national team since 2012.

Other new names on the list by Dunga are Fágner [Corinthians], Rodrigo Caio [São Paulo], Casemiro [Real Madrid] and Walace [Grêmio].

The squad also includes Gabigol, Gabriel Jesus and Grêmio attacker Luan. As expected, Neymar was left out, as Barcelona would only release the player for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The final list of 23 players for the tournament will be released on Thursday.

Goalkeepers: Álisson (Inter), Diego Alves (Valencia), Marcelo Gröhe (Grêmio) and Éderson (Benfica).

Full-backs: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Fagner (Corinthians), Fabinho (Monaco), Luis Filipe (Atletico Madrid), Alex Sandro (Juventus) and Douglas Santos (Atlético-MG).

Defenders: Miranda (Inter Milan), Gil (Shandong Luneng), Marquinhos (PSG), Jemerson (Monaco) and Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal).

Defensive-midfielders: Rodrigo Caio (São Paulo), Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Walace (Grêmio), Elias (Corinthians) and Fernandinho (Machester City).

Attacking-midfielders: Ganso (São Paulo), Rafinha (Barcelona), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Kaká (Orlando City), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Oscar (Chelsea), Lucas Lima (Santos), Willian (Chelsea) and Felipe Anderson (Lazio).

Forwards: Lucas (PSG), Douglas Costa (Bayern), Luan (Grêmio), Hulk (Zenit), Firmino (Liverpool), Jonas (Benfica), Alex Teixeira (Jiangsu Suning) Gabigol (Santos), Gabriel Jesus (Palmeiras) and Ricardo Oliveira (Santos).

David Luiz and Thiago Silva Out Of Brazil Copa América Squad

Brazil Defines 40-Man List For Copa América Centenário

The Brazilian Football Confederation has defined a preliminary list of 40 players for the Copa América Centenário, which will be played between 3 and 26 June, in the United States.

The meeting was attended by coach Dunga, his assistant Andrey Lopes, and team coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi.

The tournament’s rule requires all participating teams to send a list of 40 players to CONMEBOL within April 29. Then on May 5, Dunga will reveal the final 23 players he’s chosen, including three goalkeepers.

A possible replacement for an injury can be picked from the 40-man list, if a medical report is presented.

The Brazilian team starts their preparations in Los Angeles, on May 23. The opening game is scheduled for June 4 against Ecuador. They then takes on Haiti on the 8th, and Peru, on the 12th.

The main absentee from Brazil’s squad is Barcelona forward Neymar. Despite repeated attempts, the Brazilian football federation failed to convince Barcelona to release the player for two competitions, and he will play only in the Olympics.

Brazil Defines 40-Man List For Copa América Centenário

Brazil To Fight Barcelona Over Neymar

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has vowed not to give up in its battle to see Neymar turn out at both the Copa America and Olympic Games this summer.

As Goal reported on Thursday, Barcelona communicated to the CBF that they would allow the forward to play in only one tournament – effectively ruling him out of the Copa America.

But while the CBF have confirmed the existence of the letter, they are not willing to admit defeat in the battle ahead of a crucial period for the national team.

A statement reads: “The Brazilian Football Confederation received on Friday afternoon (April 8) a letter signed by the Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, leaving clear the club’s position over the participation of Neymar in the competitions the Brazilian national team will contest in the coming months: the Centenary Copa America and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

“The club will only agree to free the player for one of the competitions.”

It continues: “The CBF, by way of the National Team Committee, will make every possible attempt to have Neymar in the Centenary Copa America and Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

“Neymar has already publicly announced that he wishes to play both competitions for the Brazil national team and we will count on his efforts inside the club.”

Goal

Brazil To Fight Barcelona Over Neymar

Neymar Lacks Maturity To Lead Brazil - Zagallo

Mário Zagallo, a world champion for Brazil as a coach and player, praised the quality of Barcelona forward Neymar, ​​but thinks the 24-year-old lacks the maturity to be the captain of the national team.

Another issue addressed by Zagallo was the Brazilian defense, as he thinks the national team would be better with Thiago Silva and Marcelo over David Luiz and Filipe Luís.

Zagallo told Extra: “I like Neymar a lot. He is an exceptional player, he’s got everything it takes to go on even further, but he needs to develop an awareness that he’s leading the Brazilian national team. He can’t step out of line. He’s not as mature as he should be.”

He added: “I’m not a big fan of David Luiz, but Thiago Silva is the best [defender] in the world.

Why he’s left out I do not know, it’s a problem of them, and I don’t want to go into that here.

For example, Marcelo, who is also not playing. For me, he should be the starter on the left side, but the coaching staff has their own way of seeing things. The team would be better with Thiago and Marcelo.”

Credit: Sambafoot

Neymar Lacks Maturity To Lead Brazil - Zagallo

Future Of Dunga As Brazil Coach To Be Discussed

Senior leaders with power and influence in the Brazilian Football Federation (CSF) want to change coach Dunga and team coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi.

The Brazilian FA have growing concerns over Dunga following the recent results of the team, and is even considering appointing a new coach for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this August.

Officially, the organization haven’t commented on the subject, Gilmar Rinaldi said that the “planning is maintained for the Copa América and the Olympic Games.”

However, according to Globo Esporte, changes are being discussed by the Football Federation, and there will be a series of meetings next week to discuss the future of the national team, with the first one scheduled for Tuesday.

Several CBF leaders will participate in this discussion, but the decision must pass through president Marco Polo Del Nero, who chose Dunga and Gilmar to lead the national team after the failure at the 2014 World Cup.

The standard of football being displayed under Dunga is considered worse than the team’s results.

As mentioned in the report, the selection of players by the coach are not questioned; for example, Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva, who has been constantly ignored by Dunga, has a very bad image among the leaders.

Still, some line-ups of the coach begins to generate critics and there is a view that Dunga is losing the confidence of his players.

According to the information from Brazilian journalist Paulo Vinícius Coelho, everything indicates that Dunga will stay as Brazil’s head coach until the end of the Copa América Centenário.

But a source within the CBF has informed him that Dunga has his work analyzed, and the tournament in the United States may be his last test.

He adds that, chances of Dunga continuing after the Copa América are slim without the title, unless the football displayed is absolutely charming.

Credit: Sambafoot

Future Of Dunga As Brazil Coach To Be Discussed

Brazil Want New Coach For Olympic Games

The situation of Dunga as coach of the Brazilian national team is very uncomfortable.

Behind the scenes of the CBF, the criticism of Dunga’s work grew after the latest results of the national team.

According to the information from Globo Esporte, leaders with influence in decision making are already discussing the need to reduce the powers of both Dunga as well as team coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi.

Dunga was supposed to be in charge of the side competing in the Olympic Games this August, but an idea that gains strength now is to appoint a new coach for the tournament in Rio de Janeiro.

For the leaders, Dunga can lead the side during the Copa América Centenário in June, but wants a new name to take charge for the Olympics.

It’s important to remember that the Olympic Gold medal is the only title missing from Brazil’s trophy cabinet, and is considered much more important than the competition in United States.

The interim coach would be an outsider, and not Rogério Micale, who led the U23 side in recent matches. Brazil drew with Paraguay on Tuesday for the World Cup qualifiers, and currently sits 6th in the standings.

The new plans of CBF highlights their concern over Dunga and Gilmar, and the performances in the Copa América Centenário can decide the coach’s future with the national side.

Credit: Sambafoot

Brazil Want New Coach For Olympic Games

Neymar, Suarez Bet Ahead Of Brazil-Uruguay Clash

Luis Suarez has revealed that he and Barcelona teammate Neymar have a culinary wager riding on their imminent match up, as Brazil face off Uruguay in Recife on Friday evening in South American World Cup qualifying.

The club teammates will face off for their countries, with Suarez representing his country for the first time since the 2014 World Cup after serving a 10 match ban for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at that tournament.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Suarez revealed that he and Neymar have made a friendly bet on the outcome, “I have a bet with Neymar. The winner gets a burger. He is a great team-mate and we always make jokes at Barcelona.

“But whoever will win this game will be enjoying himself and he who loses will be hearing it from the other. Above all, we are team-mates and friends.”

Uruguay sit in second place in CONMEBOL qualifying, with Brazil back in 4th having already played tough away games in Chile and Argentina, Ecuador are the surprise pace setters in first place. The top four teams qualify for the World Cup in CONMEBOL qualifying.

Credit: Sambafoot

Neymar, Suarez Bet Ahead Of Brazil-Uruguay Clash

Brazilian Kid Released As He Supported Same Club As Kidnappers

A businessman had his car stolen and child kidnapped by thieves in the West Zone of Recife, late on Thursday.

According to a family friend, who refused to be identified, the kidnappers did not hurt the boy because they were fans of Santa Cruz and the boy was wearing the team’s shorts.

The businessman came home with his son when he was approached by three armed men, who were in a silver car, which reportedly had been stolen from another woman.

The kidnappers forced the businessman and the boy to step down from the vehicle and fled with the boy.

After being released, the teen told relatives that while he was with the robbers, he was told that they wouldn’t hurt him because of the shorts he was wearing.

The family friend said: “He said that the kidnappers were fans of Santa Cruz, and wouldn’t shoot him because the boy also supported the team. About an hour after the crime, he was released.”

Credit: Sambafoot

Brazilian Kid Released As He Supported Same Club As Kidnappers

Chelsea FC Confirm Ramires Departure

Ramires has today joined Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning in a permanent transfer.

The 28-year-old departs Stamford Bridge after five-and-a-half years as a Chelsea player, in which time he helped us lift every major domestic and European trophy.

Arriving in the summer of 2010, the Brazilian international gradually imposed himself with his strong running and tough tackling, scoring the club’s Goal of the Season in March that season with a fine solo effort against Manchester City.

More goals were added in his second campaign in England, including strikes at Wembley in both the semi and the final of the FA Cup as he lifted his first Chelsea silverware, though his most memorable contribution came away in the Camp Nou. With us trailing Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final second leg, the Brazilian latched onto a Frank Lampard through ball before sublimely chipping Victor Valdes to put us back in front in the tie.

A yellow card on the night meant he was suspended when we lifted the trophy in Munich, but Ramires had done as much as anybody to help us reach the final, and the goal earned him a second successive Goal of the Season accolade.

A year later he was on the field as we added the Europa League to a burgeoning trophy cabinet, and it was Ramires’s energetic late run that won the corner from which Branislav Ivanovic headed the winning goal. That 2012/13 season ended with the midfielder having played 62 of 69 games.

The former Benfica man remained an important figure under Jose Mourinho, largely as a holding midfielder but also as a right-sided winger charged with tracking back. It was on the flank he helped secure significant results away at Manchester City and Liverpool, bravely playing through the pain barrier in one win at Anfield and earning glowing praise from his manager for doing so.

Last season he started the Capital One Cup final against Spurs at Wembley before adding a Premier League winner’s medal to his collection.

In total, Ramires made 251 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 34 goals. We thank him for his service and wish him well in China, where he will be coached by another former Blue, Dan Petrescu.

Source: chelseafc.com

Chelsea FC Confirm Ramires Departure

Who Wears The Crown?: Ronaldo, Messi And Neywmar Head To Zurich Head For Award Gala

See Photos Of Messi, Ronaldo And Neymar Head For Ballon D’or Event

The king of world football will be crowned later today and among the shortlist of FC Barcelona/Argentina Lionel Messi, Real Madrid/Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo and FC Barcelona/Brazil Neymar Junior, it is the Argentine who stands out to be crowned for a record fifth time as world best footballer.

 

footballcrusader.com shares images of the three finalists arrival in the Swiss capital and headquarters of FIFA.

Northern Irish actor James Nesbitt will host this year’s Ballon d’Or award ceremony

Neymar Jr (far right) with his entourage en route to Zurich

Lionel Messi on board flight to Zurich with his partner

Skysports presneter, Kate Abdo will co-host for the second time

Cristiano Ronaldo touches down

Ronaldo poses along with his team

 

Who Wears The Crown?: Ronaldo, Messi And Neywmar Head To Zurich Head For Award Gala

Opinion: Dutch Legend Tips Messi For FIFA Ballon d"or Award

Messi Is Better Than Ronaldo And Neymar – Edgar Davids

Dutch legend and former Juventus defender Edgar David’s  has declared in his opinion who the world’s best footballer is – and the winner Lionel Messi.

Dutch legend, Edgar Davids

FIFA shortlisted Argentina and Barcelona forward, Lionel Messi, club mate and Brazilian forward Neymar Jr. and Real Madrid and Portuguese attacker Cristiano Ronaldo for the ballon d’or award for the 2014/15 football season at a an official ceremony on 11 January 2016.

Real Madrid and Portugal forward, Cristiano Ronaldo

Edgar Davids who over the course of his 23-year professional career, has played alongside a handful of players who have been crowned in FIFA’s yearly gala – Davids was team mate of 1998 world cup winner with France and FIFA ballon d’or winner Zinedine Zidane.

FC Barcelona and Brazil forward, Neymar Jr.

The former Ajax player spoke highly of his former colleague when he said, “He won the award and a couple of days later he showed up at Juventus’ training camp with a gift for each member of the squad, including the kit manager, or the lady who helped us with administrative matters. I’ll never forget that. That’s Zidane,” he remembers.

The former Dutch international, now 42 years old, has shared the football pitch with the likes of FIFA World Player of the Year winners George Weah and Ronaldinho, and he discussed what it meant for two players to dominate the fight for the sport’s highest individual accolade in the way that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been doing since 2008.

 

“It’s unbelievable what they have accomplished so far and still are accomplishing. I love Ronaldo, because he’s amazing: he works so hard. If Messi is not sharp he’s right there, prepared,” says Davids, whose favourite to be crowned at the Gala on 11 January in Zurich is quite clear, though. “If he’s fit, most of the time it’s Messi. But he is an anomaly.

The rest will have to wait until he falls off a little bit.”

Opinion: Dutch Legend Tips Messi For FIFA Ballon d"or Award