For the first time in about ten years, it must finally be relaxing to be a fan of the Brazilian national team. At the 2005 Confederations Cup, Brazil merrily captured the title with a squad containing the assurances of Kaka, Ronaldinho, Lucio and the phenomenal talents of Adriano and Robinho. That was the end of the fun.
The folks attending El Salvador's press conference before their World Cup qualifier against Canada got quite a surprise when the team played a tape of a man trying to bribe them to play well.
The man, alleged to be Honduran businessman Ricardo Padilla (if El Salvador draws or beats Canada, Honduras is guaranteed advancement to the 'Hex'), is probably the worst match-fixer of all time.
Adenor Leonardo "Tite" Bacchi might not be a name as widely known as Pep Guardiola or most European managers. But have no doubts that under Tite’s guidance Brazil has all of the tools to turn a struggling national team back into the powerhouse it used to be.
If his first match ahead of the squad proved anything, it was that the talent has always been at Brazil’s disposal. All they needed was someone to pick the right pieces and make them tick.
Venezuelan goalkeeper Dani Hernandez stopped two penalties against Colombian stars Carlos Bacca and James Rodriguez in less than 15 minutes in a World Cup qualifier Thursday. Colombia beat Venezuela 2-0 in Barranquilla.
Hernandez, who plays for Tenerife in the Spanish second division, is the first goalkeeper to stop two penalties in a World Cup qualifier in CONMEBOL history, according to @OptaJavier.
It just had to be, didn’t it? Lionel Messi announced his return to the Argentina fold by scoring the game-winning goal for La Albiceleste against Uruguay, catapulting his country to the top of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table in the process.
While Messi’s international retirement resulted in him missing zero action for Argentina, it was still an emotional return for the Barcelona man at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza, Argentina.
Sunday, the Uruguayan Primera Division finally started play. The league is currently changing the Uruguayan football season from the European format to a calendar year format.
After 11 seasons in the European format, in 2017 the league will be play from January to December.
The change has had several delays, first because cameras and increased security measures at stadiums were required, and then by storms that occurred Saturday, August 27.
The Uruguayan Primera Division will end on December 4. The 16 teams will play a round robin, totaling 15 games.
Diego Maradona is revered in Argentina, except, apparently, by the border police.
The 55-year-old football legend was reportedly detained by border police at an airport while traveling to Dubai from Buenos Aires. The police supposedly accused Maradona of having a false or stolen passport.
Maradona responded as would be expected, by throwing out conspiracy theories.
“I won’t let anyone control my life,” he told Diario Popular.
With Bolivia sitting ninth in the 10-team South American World Cup qualifying table, and having lost all three of their Copa America Centenario matches, newly appointed manager Angel Guillermo Hoyos is determined to get the most out of La Verde by going back to square one — the square where he determines who in Bolivia actually plays soccer.
Remember that time Germany beat Brazil 7-1 in the World Cup semifinals? Yeah, that's history now. Weverton came up with a save in penalties and Neymar scored his penalty (in addition to a monster free-kick earlier in the game) and Brazil became Olympic champions.
We're not sure if anyone out there knew this, but Neymar is really good.
We have to admit, we're happy for Nigeria. A couple weeks ago they were stranded in Atlanta and it looked likt they might not get to be in the Olympics. Saturday, they medaled after surviving, 3-2, against Honduras.
It looked like smooth sailing for the Super Eagles after two goals from Sadiq Umar and one goal from Aminu Umar put Nigeria up 3-0.