Maracanã Opens With Exhibition Match
By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Maracanã Stadium reopened its doors on Saturday, April 27th, 2013, for the first test-event in preparation for June’s FIFA Confederations Cup. The evening was a grand celebration for all who had helped renovate the stadium over the past two and a half years, as [...]
Rio Maracanã Stadium to Open Saturday
By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – An icon of Brazilian football (soccer), the Maracanã Stadium, is almost fit for purpose again after two and a half years out of action for renovation works. This Saturday, April 27th, is the first ever match at the refurbished international standard arena, now meeting [...]
Seleção Shapes Up for Confederations Cup
By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Seleção (Brazilian national team) is getting ready for its first taste of competitive football (soccer) since the 2011 Copa America as the Confederations Cup beckons. Under the stewardship of Luiz Felipe Scolari, who replaced Mano Menezes last November, Seleção has just two friendlies [...]
Two Shot Dead at Castelão Stadium: Daily
By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter FORTALEZA, BRAZIL – Two football (soccer) fans were shot dead close to the Arena Castelão in Fortaleza on Sunday, one of the cities scheduled to host Confederations Cup matches in June. The shocking news came after fights broke out between sets of supporters from local sides Fortaleza and Ceara [...]
Maracanã Stadium Near Completion: Daily
By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The roof at the Maracanã Stadium was completed yesterday as the arena nears its completion. The fibreglass and teflon structure is 68.4 meters long and provides protection for ninety five per cent of the 77,000 seats. It is now a nigh on certainty that [...]
Confederations Cup in Just Two Months
By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup is just two months away and Brazil is putting the finishing touches to what will be its first taste of hosting such a mammoth global footbal (soccer) spectacle for over fifty years. The latest positive news on the stadium [...]
Seleção Thrash Bolivia in Friendly: Daily
By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Seleção, Brazil’s national football (soccer) team thrashed fellow South Americans Bolivia 4-0 in a friendly game yesterday afternoon in the Ramon Aguilleira stadium. A brace from Neymar helped the Brazilians to an easy win, a first victory for Luiz Felipe Scolari in his [...]
Rio Reacts as Engenhão Closes
By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The closure of Rio’s Engenhão Stadium could not only play havoc with Brazil’s national and state football (soccer) calendar but the 2013 Confederations Cup as well. Last week, Rio mayor Eduardo Paes closed the stadium due to structural problems with the roof, sending shockwaves [...]
Maracanã Only for Confederations Cup
By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The most famous and iconic sporting stage in Brazil – Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã Stadium - will not be available for domestic football (soccer) prior to the 2013 Confederations Cup, it was revealed last week. Home of Carioca clubs Flamengo and Fluminense, fans and directors [...]
The Seleção Draw with Italy 2-2: Daily
By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil threw away a 2-0 lead against Italy yesterday to draw 2-2 in the Geneva National Stadium, Switzerland. Goals from Fluminense striker Fred and Chelsea playmaker Oscar appeared to have put the Seleção in control at the interval, only for strikes from Daniele de [...]
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