By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – After two years and nine months Rio’s Maracanã Stadium has reopened in time for the Confederations Cup. Yet before the FIFA tournament, comes the arena’s second test-event on June 1st when the Brazilian national side host England at the Maracanã, as part of the [...]
Opinion, by Robbie Blakeley RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The scene was the immediate aftermath of the Campeonato Paulista final, the São Paulo state championship, in which Corinthians had just defeated Santos to lift the trophy. The reaction of the press was telling. As Santos starlet Neymar left the field and was customarily surrounded by [...]
Opinion, by Alfonso Stefanini RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – I will do my best to refrain myself from using a white elephant idiom in the next couple of hundred words, though tough, I will try. Futebol, aka “soccer,” is the most popular sport in Brazil for good reasons: people love it and it is part [...]
By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Flamengo qualified for the next round of the Copa do Brasil with a 2-1 win over Campinense last night. It took an own goal and a late strike from Elias to see the Rubro-Negro through to the third round, as the side continues to [...]
By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL- Belo Horizonte’s Mineirão Stadium is ready to host some of the biggest names in world football (soccer) over the next twelve months. The renovated arena was finished at the end of 2012 and has already hosted three major events to test the stadium’s efficiency at [...]
Opinion, by Robbie Blakeley RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Seleção coach Luiz Felipe Scolari this morning announced his squad for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and it was refreshing to see some daring in the coach’s choices. Much debate has surrounded the possible, and previously likely, call-up of either Ronaldinho Gaúcho or Kaká. But neither has [...]
By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Fluminense are through to the quarter-finals of the 2013 Copa Libertadores after a 2-0 win over Ecuadroain side Emelec at São Januário. Following a 2-1 reverse last week the Tricolor’s victory gave them a 3-2 aggregate win. The game saw the return of influential [...]
By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup kicks off in just over a month and the six host cities are putting the finishing touches to their respective stadiums, as well as preparing to receive tens of thousands of ardent football fans. On June 15th the ball [...]
By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The northeastern city of Recife is finishing off the Arena Pernambuco as it gears up for major participation during the Confederations and World Cups. The brand new stadium is estimated to be 97 percent ready and will host its first test-event on May 14th. [...]
By Robbie Blakeley, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Botafogo were crowned 2013 Campeonato Carioca champions yesterday after winning the Taça Rio. A 1-0 win over Laranjeiras outfit Fluminense gave them the trophy, and with the Taça Guanabara success in March, was sufficient to give them the state crown, the twentieth in their [...]
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