The Globe
Fla decides to wait for Fábio Luciano
Between a defender who is half-bomb and another who is half-clay, half-brick, Joel uses the tactic of patience.
Photo caption: OBINA, who replaced Souza in the game against Vasco, fights for the ball with Thiago Sales in the training session at Gávea
Márcio Tavares
This time, it's not a gratuitous mystery on the eve of a derby. Coach Joel Santana is truly at a crossroads and doesn't know who to start in Flamengo's central defense tomorrow against Vasco. Between a half-rock center-back (Fábio Luciano) and another half-clay, half-brick (Rodrigo Arroz), as he himself put it, the solution is to give it time to see if the stars and fate once again lend him a providential hand.
"It's a drag," says Joel Santana. "We'll wait for Fábio Luciano until the game. He's a man of courage, he'll want to play. But if he can't, the right thing to do would be to replace him, Rodrigo Arroz. But he's half clay, half brick. Tomorrow (today), I'll see how Thiago Sales performs in a quick training session. I don't want to change the team's structure too much."
The tendency is that, if he improves slightly, Fábio Luciano will be included. The theory is that he's so superior that it's worth the risk. And, if he relapses from the left thigh injury during the derby, there would be time to recover him for the next match, Sunday, against Juventude, in Caxias do Sul. As long as it's nothing serious.
For doctor José Luiz Runco, known for his optimism regarding his players' recovery, the situation is under control. Bruno and Cristian, who were rested yesterday due to pain in their left hand and right thigh, respectively, are guaranteed to be in the starting lineup:
"Fábio Luciano is still in pain, and we'll wait until Sunday for his recovery. But Bruno and Cristian have no restrictions. They'll be in the game."
A different game for Bahian Obina
Also heading into the game full of optimism is Bahia native Obina, who replaces the suspended Souza. Obina broke the silence he'd maintained since being sidelined for weight loss and showed confidence against an opponent he has both good and bad memories of.
"Against Vasco, I scored one of the most important goals of my career (in the Guanabara Cup final) and also suffered a knee injury. It's a different game," says Obina.
Flamengo could be punished by the STJD on Monday, with a fine of R$10 to R$200 and loss of home field advantage for one to ten matches, for the Beijoqueiro pitch invasion, on August 26, against Goiás.
Sports Panorama
Train for what?
Tuesday, the day before the game against Cruzeiro. Fan Moraes, a regular at Gávea since the 80s, went there to find out why the team was doing poorly in the Brazilian Championship. He thought he had succeeded: the mini-training session, timed by him, lasted 23 minutes and 12 seconds. At Maracanã, he braced himself for the worst. And he didn't understand a thing: Fla 3-1, with a great performance.
Sports Journal
Fullbacks, the path to success at Rubro-Negro
Joel Santana praises Leonardo Moura and Juan, the team's 'outlets'
Nathan de Lima and Thiago Bokel
Nina Lima
Leonardo Moura talks to coach Joel Santana, from whom he received several compliments
Amid the euphoria surrounding Wednesday's victory over Cruzeiro and the subsequent move away from the relegation zone, one aspect of Flamengo's resurgence in this Brazilian Championship is beginning to attract attention: the good form of the team's full-backs, Leonardo Moura and Juan. Both have been praised by coach Joel Santana, the mastermind behind the strategy that frees them up to attack.
"They are two highly qualified and competent players who provide the team with relief when the game is very congested in midfield. Juan is in great form and Leonardo is returning to showing the style expected of him. When they perform as expected, the chances of winning become greater," he assessed.
Juan is the team's top scorer in this Brazilian Championship with five goals and has already agreed to renew his contract with Flamengo until December 2010. The negotiation was finalized this Thursday, with only the player's signature remaining for the contract to be registered with the CBF. The Rubro-Negro acquired an additional 25% of his federation rights and now holds 75%. Juan also received a salary increase of approximately 30%.
On the right flank for the red-and-black team, Léo Moura's excellent performance against Cruzeiro is starting to excite the coaching staff and fans. After a strong start to the season, the full-back's form dropped after the team's elimination from the Copa Libertadores and was blamed by fans for the loss to Inter. Now confident, Léo projects more performances like the one he showed in the match against Cruzeiro.
Provoking the rival
"That's football. I failed against Inter, but I'll never shy away from the responsibility of being bold. I'm no longer a kid, I have some experience and I know my quality. Now my focus is on getting a good winning streak going," said Léo, who expects a very difficult match in Sunday's derby against Vasco: "It's always tough. If we win, it will give us morale and confidence to get closer to those above us in the table. They're fighting for a place in the Libertadores, and if we can hinder that goal, great," he teased.
Creature meets creator again in classic
Renato Augusto was named to the Flamengo squad for the first time by Celso Roth
Nathan de Lima and Thiago Bokel
Nina Lima
Marked by two reserves in the training session held at Gávea, Renato Augusto is one of the red-blacks' biggest weapons for tomorrow's classic.
Renato Augusto's first professional match for Flamengo was in the 2006 Copa do Brasil final, when the Red-Blacks defeated Vasco da Gama to become the competition's second champion. But it's not just the title that intertwines this young player's story with that of his archrival.
In 2005, when he was just 17 years old, he was included in the professional team for the first time by Vasco's current coach, Celso Roth, who worked at Fla. However, as he was still considered too young, the player ended up returning to the club's youth teams.
"Celso Roth has always been a decent guy. He gave me a shot and had the foresight to realize I wasn't ready to debut yet. I was upset at the time, but today I thank him," said Renato, who expects to be heavily marked in Sunday's derby. "He'll probably send someone to mark me, which is normal these days. All point guards are heavily marked. But we have a lot of good players here, and if they mark me, they'll leave space for my teammates," he said.
Renato Augusto has a love-hate relationship with Flamengo fans. Brilliant at the end of last year and the beginning of this year, the player was winning the hearts of the nation. But after being called up to the U-20 team that competed in the U-XNUMX World Cup, he hit a rough patch, which haunted him until his impressive performance against Cruzeiro.
A different function
"Without a doubt, every bad phase ends one day. I'm gaining confidence and I'm starting to take risks again, shooting from outside the box. Sometimes, when I took risks, I was lucky and I'll continue to do so," he warned.
The club's red-and-black fans have been complaining about the club's coaches' insistence on playing the midfielder as a striker. Even so, coach Joel Santana confirmed him alongside Obina for the Clássico dos Milhões. Yesterday, at Gávea, the player spoke with the coach and explained that he prefers to play further back. Therefore, it's very likely that in Sunday's match, Renato Augusto will play a bit more wide, playing a role similar to that of the Argentine Maxi.
"I like playing up front, I even spoke to Joel today and he made me play more wide. This only gains his credibility with us," he concluded.
Fábio Luciano, Fla's big doubt
Coach Joel Santana was under the care of doctor José Luiz Runco yesterday during training at Gávea. With five players in the medical department, Joel heard from Runco that only midfielder Ibson was not cleared for training. Cristian, with pain in his left thigh, and Bruno, who injured his left finger on Thursday, are cleared to play. Both were spared from yesterday's training session.
Maxi Biancucci has also been cleared by the medical department, but will need to undergo physical reconditioning. However, the biggest question mark lies in defense. According to Runco, defender Fábio Luciano, who felt a twinge in his left thigh adductor against Cruzeiro, has a 50/XNUMX chance of playing. He will be monitored until shortly before the game.
Regularized Colace
While the news regarding the medical department is good, the news regarding Hugo Colace is even better. The Argentine had his documentation sorted yesterday and was included in the squad for the derby. However, he's expected to remain an option for the remainder of the game. Yesterday, the starters beat the reserves 1-0, with Obina scoring.
Obina's favorite classic
It was in a match against Vasco that Obina began to become an idol
After losing his starting spot to Souza, Obina saw his teammate suspended for his third yellow card against Cruzeiro and inherited the starting spot against Vasco. And his memories of the derby are fond. He won over the fans after scoring one of the goals in the 2-0 victory over his rival in the first leg of the 2006 Copa do Brasil final. Since then, the support from the stands has made him a key player for the team, until a cruciate ligament injury in his left knee, sustained against Vasco in this year's Taça Guanabara semifinal, sidelined him for five months.
"I was lucky against Vasco. But it was also against them that I got injured, in a moment of happiness and sadness at the same time, because I had just scored a goal," recalled Obina, who has the confidence of Joel Santana: "Obina is much better physically than when I arrived here."
Dear kiss
Flamengo could be fined R$200 for the pitch invasion by the folkloric "Kisser" during the victory over Goiás. The Superior Court of Justice (STJD) has scheduled the trial for Monday. He invaded the pitch to kiss Obina.
The face and soul of the classic
Champion for Vasco and Flamengo, Joel Santana participates in his 24th game between the two clubs
Thiago Bokel and Leo Schabbach
When he steps into the Maracanã tomorrow to lead Flamengo in the derby against Vasco, coach Joel Santana will experience an emotion few in football have had the privilege of experiencing. Despite his time with Rio's four major clubs, it's undeniable that Joel's greatest connection lies with the two teams with the largest fan base in the state. The numbers in his favor attest to the quality of his work. Throughout his career, he has participated in 23 derby matches between Flamengo and Vasco, both as a player and as a coach. Upon learning this statistic, Joel commented.
"To be honest, I had no idea how many classics between Flamengo and Vasco I'd already participated in. I'm sure I've won more than I've lost," he joked.
However, Joel was wrong. Of his 23 matches, he won only six, drew ten, and lost seven. The coach was present at some historic matches. In 2001, the year of Flamengo's third championship, he witnessed up close, as Vasco's coach, the Serbian Petkovic accurately take a free kick into the top corner of goalkeeper Hélton's net in the 43rd minute of the second half.
But Joel Santana's career with these two clubs isn't just marked by defeats. With Vasco, he won the Rio de Janeiro state championship in 1992 and 1993, as well as the Mercosul Cup and the João Havelange Cup in 2000, leading the team in the final matches. With Vasco, in 1996, he led the club to an undefeated Carioca title victory. But it was in 2001 that he truly won the hearts of the club's fans. At the time, he managed to lead the team out of the relegation zone, a time when it was one of the main relegation candidates.
The Professor's feat
This year, Joel took over the team with nine rounds remaining in the Championship and achieved an incredible record of six wins and three draws. The fans almost had a statue erected in his honor in Gávea. With so many fond memories from both sides, Joel only hopes the derby will be exciting and worthy of its tradition.
"Flamengo and Vasco is a different game, with a magic behind it. They're two clubs that are close to my heart. I love participating in this derby, especially because it's on a venue I love, the Maracanã. I expect it to be a great match where technical and tactical quality prevails, with the violence remaining outside the stadium," said Joel, who, with so many appearances, has already become the face and soul of the "Clássico dos Milhões."
Reinforced policing for the Disney classic and show
Sunday promises to be a difficult day around Maracanã. This is because at the same time as the Flamengo vs. Vasco de Gama derby, featuring Rio de Janeiro's two biggest fan bases, Maracanãzinho will host the "Disney on Ice - Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey" event, aimed primarily at children. To avoid conflicts, police presence has been reinforced.
The meeting between the two distinct audiences is expected to take place at 18 p.m., as fans will be entering Maracanã at the same time that those who attended the 16 p.m. show at Maracanãzinho will be returning home. After the derby, at approximately 20 p.m., another meeting may take place between fans leaving the stadium and those attending the evening show.
For all these reasons, there will be more policing than usual on game days. According to Major Marcelo Pessoa of the Specialized Stadium Policing Group (GEPE), planning is underway for a Class A event, where 50 to 80 people are expected due to the overlapping schedules.
Reinforced policing
Outside, 500 men will provide police protection, including 12 pairs of horses, 18 support vehicles, and 25 battalion vehicles. Inside, 400 men will work on stadium security, and despite recent clashes between two factions of Flamengo's fans, there are no expected problems.
"I think this is over. Nothing should happen between them, but if it does, we'll be prepared," he said.
O Dia
Flamengo: Obina is just happiness
Striker, celebrated by fans, hopes to score against Vasco and regain his place
Rio - No bad memories. Obina is only thinking positively about his time on the field against Vasco da Gama tomorrow. Not even the sad memory of the serious injury he suffered in the Guanabara Cup semifinals against his rival, which sidelined him for four months, can wipe the smile from Obina's face. The Black Angel of Gávea thrives on the strength of its fans and hopes to repay the affection they've received with goals.
With Souza suspended, Obina will start alongside Renato Augusto. Yesterday, children at a school in Jacarepaguá screamed nonstop every time the striker ran around the field.
Obina laughed, gestured, gave a thumbs-up, and even signed autographs after practice. "I'm even more motivated by these displays of affection, which are spontaneous. I know the quality of Vasco's team, but I go onto the field thinking only about winning. Preferably with a goal of my own."
The game against Vasco could be the last of the year. The good Bahian's trademark smile turns yellow when he remembers the trial he will face on Tuesday, before the Superior Court of Justice (STJD), for the elbow he gave Internacional's Índio last Sunday.
The red-and-black player violated code 253 (physical assault against the referee or his assistants, or any other participant in the sporting event) and could face a suspension of 120 to 540 days. "Everyone knows me well; they know I've never been a violent player. I never wanted to harm Internacional or hurt an opposing player. God willing, everything will turn out well," he hopes.
In fact, Obina wants to wait to think about that until after the match against Vasco, a crucial match for anyone looking to return to the starting lineup. "I really respect Souza's current form and know I'm only playing because he's suspended. But of course I'd like to return to the team. And a good performance against Vasco is important for any player. I'll do everything I can to help the team," he promises.
A QUESTION, WITHOUT MAKING IT MYSTERY
This time, there's no mystery. Coach Joel Santana's only question is who to start with defender Fábio Luciano, who is recovering from a muscle injury and will be evaluated tomorrow before the game.
Argentine Maxi Biancucchi has been cleared by the medical department, but the coach decided to postpone his return to the team until the game against Juventude, when Roger will also be available to play.
"The team is ready. I'll just wait for Fábio Luciano, who is an important player," confirmed the coach, who will field the following lineup: Bruno, Léo Moura, Fábio Luciano (Rodrigo Arroz or Thiago Sales), Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Rômulo, Cristian, Jaílton and Toró; Obina and Renato Augusto.
Off the field, Flamengo will face further problems at the Superior Court of Justice (STJD), in addition to Obina's trial. Due to the Kissing Man invasion during the match against Goiás on the 26th at Maracanã, the club could lose home-field advantage for up to ten games and face a fine of R$10 to R$200. The club was reported for violating Article 213 of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice (failing to take appropriate measures to prevent and suppress disorder on its playing field).
Renato Augusto thanks his mother and Joel
Rio - The fear of taking risks is gone. The applause after the victory over Cruzeiro restored lost confidence. Renato Augusto is feeling more relaxed and ready for the challenge against Vasco. The encouraging message from psychologist Paulo Ribeiro, shown before the game against Cruzeiro, and the conversations with his mother, Dona Salete, were the beginning of the turnaround.
Renato Augusto himself admits that he carried a world of uncertainty on his shoulders. He was sadder and more withdrawn. But the pressure and boos from the fans served to accelerate his growth. "I was anxious, afraid to take risks and make mistakes. But my mother helped me a lot to overcome the difficult phase. It would have been much worse if everything had happened last year, when I was more inexperienced. Little by little, I'm maturing," says the 19-year-old.
His first professional opportunity came under coach Celso Roth, now at Vasco. He came on in the second half of a 2005 match against Corinthians, when the Red-Blacks lost 4-2 in Mogi Mirim.
The player only spent a week with the coach, but he formed an opinion of him. "I'm grateful for the opportunity. Celso is a serious, tough guy who doesn't tolerate being even five minutes late. He gave me some good advice: join the senior team pretending I was still in the youth team," says Renato.
Gávea's number 10 also appreciates Joel Santana's work. According to him, the coach knows how to listen to his players' opinions.
Renato Augusto is grateful for the freedom the coach gave him. "I talked to him and asked to rotate with Toró up front. And it worked out. It was great that he listened to me, and it was also great that I realized it would be productive for the team."
Sports Gazette
Players raised in the Flamengo youth academy celebrate 'special game'\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - At Gávea, the maxim "Flamengo makes a star at home" has always been true. This phrase has always been highly valued by the club's boards of directors and especially by the fans, who have always enjoyed seeing athletes who emerged from the club's youth ranks wearing the red-and-black jersey. And it is precisely on some homegrown talent that coach Joel Santana is banking on to win this Sunday's derby against Vasco. Midfielder Rômulo, who is confirmed in the team that will play, experienced a special situation this year, as he defeated Vasco in the final of the Campeonato Carioca junior team and, a few months later, has the chance to meet the Vasco fans again, this time in the senior team.
"That final was very important to me because I was the team captain. I've been playing at Gávea since the youth team, so I've faced Vasco on several occasions. The rivalry is truly something else. I believe this is always a different game. Beating Vasco is an added pleasure, a championship in its own right. The winners are boosted by morale, and we want that," said Rômulo.
Another player who grew up at Gávea is midfielder Renato Augusto, who is expected to play up front against Vasco da Gama on Sunday. He also recognizes that it's a special match.
"Every derby is always different. Facing Vasco, Botafogo, and Fluminense is always a new experience for a player who came up through Flamengo or is currently playing for the team. Winning a derby changes everything; motivation is much stronger, and winning on Sunday will be very important for us," said Renato Augusto, who is not yet at his best physically.
By the way, to prepare the team for this match Joel Santana has important absences, as he will be without defender Fábio Luciano, ruled out with pain in his left thigh, midfielder Ibson, with pain in his right ankle, and Roger, who continues to recover his physical form.
In attack, Maxi continues to recover from a strained left thigh, and Souza, suspended after receiving his third yellow card in the 3-1 victory over Cruzeiro, will also be out.
This means the midfield that played for the Minas Gerais team remains in place, with Thiago Sales moving into defense and Obina filling Souza's spot. The Rubro-Negro team is expected to field Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Thiago Sales, Ronaldo Angelim, and Juan; Rômulo, Jaílton, Cristian, and Toró; and Renato Augusto and Obina.
On Saturday morning, there will be recreational work, which will precede the period of concentration for this Sunday's duel.
Irritated, Joel Santana sends an inflamed message to critics\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Still criticized for the way he's been setting up Flamengo, coach Joel Santana vented this Friday after being asked if next Sunday's derby could be a technically ugly one due to the two coaches' reputation for being defensive. "I have fourteen official titles under my belt. I don't go around advertising what I'm going to do on the field. In Rio de Janeiro football, there's a lot of nonsense being sold. There are people who have never won a title and say they play forward. But football isn't won with words. I've worked for twenty years at top clubs like Flamengo, Botafogo, Vasco, Corinthians, Internacional—it's no wonder. I'm the only coach in the world to have won titles at the four major clubs in Rio de Janeiro, and that's no small feat," Joel Santana roared.
For Flamengo, the fiery coach was undefeated in the 1996 edition of Rio de Janeiro, winning both rounds and taking the trophy in advance, without the need to make the final.
Joel was heavily criticized before the game against Cruzeiro for fielding Rômulo, Jaílton, Cristian, and Toró in midfield. The midfield was considered overly defensive by many of the club's journalists, and this angered the coach, who responded vehemently to the criticism in his post-match press conference at Maracanã.
PeléNet
Hugo Colace is regularized and can debut for Fla in the classic
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Amid several absences, coach Joel Santana has gained an option for next Sunday's match against Vasco da Gama at Maracanã in the Brazilian Championship. Argentine midfielder Hugo Colace has already been registered with the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) and could make his Flamengo debut in the derby.
However, Colace is likely to be an option on the bench against Vasco. Last Thursday, Joel Santana had already announced that the Argentine would be included in the derby if he was regularized this Friday, but he didn't guarantee him a starting spot.
So much so that, in this afternoon's training session at Gávea, the coach used the same midfield that played against Cruzeiro, except for defensive midfielder Crisitan, who was rested due to left thigh pain. Thus, the midfield consisted of Rômulo, Jaílton, Léo Medeiros, and Toró.
In any case, Colace doesn't hide his excitement about making his Flamengo debut in the derby against Vasco. "I'm really looking forward to playing in this derby on Sunday and I'm anxious to get on the field. I've heard a lot of people talking about the rivalry," said the Argentine midfielder.
Hugo Colace is regularized and can debut for Fla in the classic
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Amid several absences, coach Joel Santana has gained an option for next Sunday's match against Vasco da Gama at Maracanã in the Brazilian Championship. Argentine midfielder Hugo Colace has already been registered with the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) and could make his Flamengo debut in the derby.
However, Colace is likely to be an option on the bench against Vasco. Last Thursday, Joel Santana had already announced that the Argentine would be included in the derby if he was regularized this Friday, but he didn't guarantee him a starting spot.
So much so that, in this afternoon's training session at Gávea, the coach used the same midfield that played against Cruzeiro, except for defensive midfielder Crisitan, who was rested due to left thigh pain. Thus, the midfield consisted of Rômulo, Jaílton, Léo Medeiros, and Toró.
In any case, Colace doesn't hide his excitement about making his Flamengo debut in the derby against Vasco. "I'm really looking forward to playing in this derby on Sunday and I'm anxious to get on the field. I've heard a lot of people talking about the rivalry," said the Argentine midfielder.
Joel awaits Fábio Luciano's release to decide on Flamengo
From the Editorial Team\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Coach Joel Santana still doesn't know if he'll be able to count on defender Fábio Luciano for the Brazilian Championship derby against Vasco da Gama next Sunday at Maracanã. With pain in his left thigh, the athlete is awaiting clearance from the medical department to determine his ability to play.
Thus, the coach also relies on the doctors' decision to decide the team. "It's in the hands of our medical department. As soon as they give me a decision, I'll give mine," he stated.
Due to muscle pain, Fábio Luciano was spared from Friday's training session in Gávea. The player simply completed some physical recovery work in the club's pool.
If the defender is ruled out of the derby against Vasco, Joel Santana will have to choose a replacement in Saturday's training session. "If he can't play, I'll decide between Thiago Sales and Rodrigo Arroz," said Joel, who has already chosen Souza's replacement, who is suspended.
"Obina comes in for Souza. It's not the time to make any major changes to the team's structure, as it's coming off a good result," the coach continued, referring to the 3-1 victory over Cruzeiro last Wednesday.
In addition to Fábio Luciano, two other starters were rested from Friday's training session: goalkeeper Bruno, who suffered a blow to the little finger on his left hand in the match against Cruzeiro, and midfielder Cristian, who has muscle pain in his left thigh. However, neither should pose any problems for the derby.
Midfielder Ibson, ruled out due to a sprained right ankle, and midfielder Roger, in the process of recovering his physical condition, remain out of the team.
Argentine striker Maxi Biancucchi, having recovered from a strained left thigh, has already been cleared by the medical department, but is also out of action due to his long layoff - he has not played in five matches.
Therefore, Flamengo should enter the field with Bruno; Leonardo Moura, Fábio Luciano (Thiago Sales or Rodrigo Arroz), Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Rômulo, Cristian, Jaílton and Toró; Renato Augusto and Obina.
BalloonSport
Vasco has Fla and Obina ahead of him
The Colina team wants to end its reputation as the Bahian's executioner in this Sunday's classic.
Obina and Leandro Amaral promise to shine
This Sunday's classic match, at 18:10 p.m., at Maracanã, will mark another meeting between Flamengo and Vasco, the first of the current Brasileirão and, surprisingly, part of the second leg of the national tournament (the first-round match was postponed due to the Pan American Games and will only be held on October 18). In addition to the renewed rivalry between the two fan bases, the match will feature striker Obina's duel with the team from Colina. In recent years, the history of Cruzmaltina and the Black Angel has been dramatic for both sides. Follow the classic in real time with exclusive videos on GLOBOESPORTE.COM or live on Premiere.
In 2006, Obina scored one of the goals that gave Flamengo the title against their rivals in the Copa do Brasil final. This year, the Black Angel also scored in the Guanabara Cup semifinal, suffering a serious left knee injury in the same match. In the following game, the second leg of the state championship, Vasco took advantage of the Bahian's absence to win 3-0. Now, the Gávea team has the striker back, and the Cruzmaltinos will have the chance to triumph with their executioner on the field. In the standings, Flamengo is in 14th place with 32 points. Vasco is in fifth place with 39.
Ticket sales
Tickets for Vasco and Flamengo can be found at the following points of sale: Gávea, RioSampa, São Januário, Calabouço headquarters and ticket offices 5 and 8 at Maracanã (except on Saturday)
Green, yellow and white grandstand R$ 25,00\ Green, yellow and white grandstand (half-price) R$ 12,00\ Special chairs R$ 100,00\ Special chairs (half-price) R$ 50,00\ Regular chairs R$ 20,00\ Regular chairs (half-price) R$ 10,00\
Joel bets his chips on Obina
For Flamengo, the derby against Vasco is being treated as a match that could put Flamengo back in contention for a spot in South American competition. Coach Joel Santana is treating the match with great care and says he's privileged to have been on both sides.
"Few coaches have had the chance to work at both clubs. I've been on both sides and know what this rivalry is like. It's a classic, and as the saying goes: a classic is a classic," says the red-and-black coach.
On the field, Joel Santana is once again having trouble selecting his team. Souza, suspended, is out. Maxi, recovered from a left thigh problem, will be prepared for the match against Juventude on the 23rd. Roger, meanwhile, will continue to improve his fitness. With that, Obina is the man of the moment, and the red-and-black coach is betting all his chips on the Black Angel.
- Obina is Obina. When he enters the field, he enters to score goals - analyzes Joel.
The coach's only doubt for the derby is defense. Joel will wait until the last minute to find out whether he'll be able to count on Fábio Luciano, who is still experiencing pain in his left thigh. If the Flamengo captain is ruled out, Thiago Sales and Rodrigo Arroz will compete for a starting spot.
Roth has doubts in the attack
At Vasco, the derby against their biggest rival always stirs up excitement for players, management, and fans. Vasco president Eurico Miranda has repeatedly admitted that duels against Flamengo are a separate tournament. And coach Celso Roth, who has been on the other side, understood the message well and summed up everyone's feelings at São Januário (watch the goals in the video alongside the last meeting between the two teams).
"The match against Flamengo is truly different here at Vasco. This is a unique, important game, not just because of our championship standings. I saw this firsthand through president Eurico Miranda," says Roth.
Without defender Vilson and midfielder Amaral, both suspended for their third yellow card, Vasco's coach is expected to opt for Argentine Dudar in defense, alongside Jorge Luiz and Júlio Santos. In midfield, Roth will rely on Roberto Lopes alongside Perdigão, who returns to the team after recovering from a right ankle injury.
Celso Roth's biggest question mark is in attack. The coach has yet to decide who will start alongside Leandro Amaral. Despite praising Abuda and Alan Kardec, Roth makes no secret of his preference for Marcelinho, who scored both goals in Vasco's victory against the Paraná team. Enílton, who hasn't recovered from a left thigh strain, is out.
Fla will be judged because of the 'Kisser'
Pitch invasion during match against Goiás could result in a R$200 fine for the club
Flamengo could be fined up to R$200 for the pitch invasion by the "Kisser" during the match against Goiás on August 26. The Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) has scheduled the club's trial for next Monday.
In the game, won 3-1 by Rubro-Negro at Maracanã, José Alves de Moura, better known as "Kisser", entered the field to kiss striker Obina.
Because of this, Flamengo was reported for violating article 213 of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice ("Failure to take measures capable of preventing and repressing disorders in its sports venue").
The penalties provided for are a fine of R$10 to R$200, and the loss of home-field privileges for one to ten matches.
Obina also in the sights of the STJD
On Tuesday, it will be Obina's turn to be tried by the Superior Court of Justice (STJD). The striker was caught elbowing Internacional defender Índio. The Flamengo favorite faces a suspension of between 120 and 540 days.
Renato Augusto: 'What matters is Fla's goal'
Midfielder dreams of a good performance, but is not interested in scoring the winning goal in the classic
Marcio Iannacca
Leo Moura and Renato Augusto hug each other
Midfielder Renato Augusto, considered one of Flamengo's key players by coach Joel Santana, is eagerly awaiting Sunday's derby against Vasco in the Brazilian Championship. He doesn't want to think about scoring; he just wants to help the team win.
"It's time to explode. It doesn't matter if the goal is mine; what matters is Flamengo's goal. I just want to play a good game."
Renato Augusto appears to have regained his form. After being booed by fans in previous matches, the midfielder played well in the 3-1 victory over Cruzeiro at Maracanã.
Joel confirms the team, without Maxi
Coach makes no secret of the derby and vetoes the Argentine striker
Marcio Iannacca
Joel Santana talks to the players
Unlike previous matches, coach Joel Santana didn't hold back on Flamengo's lineup for Sunday's derby against Vasco at Maracanã. The coach's only doubt is the use of defender Fábio Luciano, who is recovering from a muscle problem and will be evaluated on Sunday. The other ten players have already been confirmed.
Joel will field the following lineup: Bruno, Leo Moura, Fábio Luciano (Rodrigo Arroz or Thiago Sales), Ronaldo Angelim, and Juan; Rômulo, Cristian, Jaílton, and Toró; Obina and Renato Augusto. The Black Angel will replace Souza, who is suspended for receiving his third yellow card.
"There's not much to change. The only question is the defense. The rest of the team is the same, what you already know," reveals the red-and-black coach.
Maxi Biancucchi, despite being cleared by the medical department, was ruled out by the coach. The Argentine will work on his fitness to return to the team for the match against Juventude next weekend.
"Maxi didn't even train with the ball. He's just getting back into shape," explains Joel.
Fla confirms adherence to Timemania
Acting President Delair Dumbrosky says he signed the contract last Wednesday
Marcio Iannacca
Flamengo's board confirmed this Friday that it has already joined Timemania, a new lottery that will come into effect in 2008. According to the general vice-president, Delair Dumbrosky, the club signed the membership contract with Caixa Econômica Federal last Wednesday, the 12th.
From now on, the club will begin paying its debts to the government to obtain a debt clearance certificate. Once this document is in place, we will be able to receive sponsorship funds from Petrobras, which have been withheld since the beginning of the year, making it difficult for the club to meet its obligations.
President Marcio Braga is in London and arrives in Rio de Janeiro this weekend. He was a key proponent of the creation of Timemania, which will also include the participation of other Brazilian clubs.
Fábio Luciano has a 50% chance of playing
Flamengo doctor says he will wait for the defender until moments before Sunday's match
Marcio Iannacca
Fábio Luciano is confident about participating in this Sunday's game
Defender Fábio Luciano has a 50/XNUMX chance of playing in Sunday's derby against Vasco at Maracanã, according to Flamengo doctor José Luís Runco. The player is experiencing pain in his left thigh and is at risk of being ruled out. Coach Joel Santana will wait until noon on Sunday for the player.
This Friday, Fábio Luciano participated in a pool exercise session accompanied by one of the club's physiotherapists. Speaking to reporters, the defender stated he was confident he would be able to participate in the game.
If he's unable to play, coach Joel Santana will choose between Thiago Sales and Rodrigo Arroz. In Friday's training session, the latter started.
Throw
Colace is regularized and only depends on Joel
Argentine signed with CBF on three-month contract
Rodrigo Mandarini
Argentine midfielder Hugo Colace is registered with the CBF and is now legally eligible to play for Flamengo. Colace was registered this Thursday and will be available to coach Joel Santana. His contract with the club runs for three months, from August 30th to November 30th. Interestingly, the contract will end before the end of the Brasileirão, on December 2nd.
Hugo Colace was signed from Estudiantes in Argentina. The 23-year-old player had 25% of his rights purchased by Flamengo for approximately R$300. His contract was announced by Flamengo's board as running until June 2008.
Obina: 'I only joined because Souza is suspended'
Fan favorite recognizes that his teammate's moment is better
LANCEPRESS!
With Souza's suspension, Obina got another chance to start in Flamengo's attack against Vasco, before Tuesday's trial for the elbow he gave Internacional's Índio.
But the striker doesn't want to hear about the trial and said he's only thinking about Sunday's game, which will be an opportunity to show he can be a starter again.
"Souza is playing very well, and I only came on because he's suspended. I'll always be supporting him. And I'm sure he's rooting for me, too," he said.
But Obina ended up talking a bit about the trial, which could result in a 120- to 540-day suspension. He defended himself:
"It wasn't the way they're saying. I didn't mean to hurt Índio," he said.
For Joel, the classic will be decided by strategy
Coach considers teams to be very similar technically
LANCEPRESS!
Flamengo coach Joel Santana believes the derby against Vasco could be decided by details and strategy. When asked if he was concerned about the opposition marking his full-backs, the coach noted that he would do the same.
Therefore, Joel asked the press for help to find out if the opponent had already been selected.
"The two teams know each other well. In fact, you haven't told me anything about Vasco yet," Joel joked, adding upon learning the likely opposing lineup. "It's going to be a great game!"
Joel doesn't reveal his unforgettable classic
Fla coach has notable spells at Vasco
(Credit: Ricardo Cassiano)
Rodrigo Campos and Rodrigo Mandarini
Coach Joel Santana has coached Flamengo and Vasco in several Clássico dos Milhões. With memorable stints at both clubs, the coach preferred to avoid the question of which classic was his most memorable.
"Flamengo vs. Vasco is a classic that involves the entire city, known worldwide. They are the two teams with the biggest fan bases in Rio. The games are always decisive. Of the many I've worked on, I always have fond memories. It would be unfair to single out just one," the coach said evasively.
The ability he had to not say which was his unforgettable game Joel used to point out the favorite in next Sunday's match,
"Vasco is better in the table. But we're improving. We've reached a better position for the first time, caught a breather, and moved out of the trouble zone. But we have some injuries, and that's a hindrance. It's going to be a great game, and a classic will be decided on the field," he said.
Bruno and Cristian are spared at Flamengo
In a collective, Joel even puts Colace among the starters
Hugo Perruso
Flamengo coach Joel Santana led a training session this Thursday ahead of the match against Vasco da Gama, which will take place on Sunday at Maracanã. Goalkeeper Bruno, who injured his finger on Thursday, and midfielder Cristian, who is experiencing muscle pain, were rested, but they are not a problem for the derby.
Argentine striker Maxi trained separately with the ball and defender Fábio Luciano, with pain in his left thigh, did some work in the pool.
Without Cristian and Fábio Luciano, Léo Medeiros and Rodrigo Arroz started and were later replaced by Hugo Colace and Thiago Sales. Without Souza, who was suspended, the attack consisted of Renato Augusto and Obina, who scored a goal in the match.
Roger continued to regain his fitness with fitness coach Ronaldo Torres, while Ibson, with a sprained left foot, did not take to the field.
The starters played with: Marcelo Lomba, Léo Moura, Rodrigo Arroz (Thiago Sales), Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Romulo, Jaílton, Léo Medeiros (Colace) and Toró; Renato Augusto and Obina.