THE GLOBE
A ticket for two: gambling and boredom
Fans suffer in line to watch the final
Photo caption: JULIANA AND PAULA Barcellos smile: four-hour queue at Engenhão
Photo caption: FANS HAVE A HARD TIME TO BUY AT JOÃO HAVELANGE
Photo caption: MARACANÃ FULL of fans, but only outside
Photo caption: IN GENERAL SEVERIANO, the line goes around and along the cycle path
Gian Amato
Rio de Janeiro football began the same way it ended in 2007. The finalists from that state championship are repeating themselves in the Guanabara Cup final, and fans face the same difficulties in buying tickets. Separated by their colors, the red-and-blacks and black-and-whites face together the long lines, scalpers, disorganization, and lack of police. Until Botafogo and Flamengo step foot in Maracanã, their cries of joy will be muffled by the feeling of helplessness in the face of neglect. Proof that love for their clubs is greater than anything, the 43.581 grandstand tickets have sold out, and only seats are available in the lower seats.
Early in the morning, Warlley Hayalla left home. The black and white fan passed by Ticket Office 8 at the Maracanã stadium at 10 a.m., and it was closed. From there, he went to the North Ticket Office at the João Havelange Olympic Stadium, known as Engenhão, where he found a huge line and only five of the 12 booths open. Forty minutes before closing time, at 40 p.m., under a 17-degree sun, he hadn't bought his ticket.
- It's a mess to buy tickets in Rio - he said.
The military police looked impassively at the scumbags who weren't respecting the line. The ticket agent wouldn't give any information, but she couldn't hold back her words in her defense:
- Complain to Botafogo, who didn't hire more people to work...
At Maracanã, in the afternoon, demand was low. Those who swelled the line were scalpers, selling grandstand tickets, which cost R$40, for R$60, right next to the police. A fan who always goes to Flamengo games dressed as an angel, Marcelo Nuba suffered from the infernal heat and the prices:
- I always go to the lower seat, for R$30, and I get spat on and barked at.
While the fans suffered, the commander of the Special Stadium Policing Group (Gepe), Major João Jacques Busnello, planned the policing scheme, which will have 1.000 men:
- Organized fan groups cannot bring flags, drums and other equipment that we will define in a meeting on Friday.
Despite the major attempting a change in access, common sense remained and Flamengo fans entered via the Bellini Statue and Botafogo fans via the Uerj ramp.
Joel begins to assemble Flamengo with an undefeated midfield at Maracanã
Coach keeps it a secret and says the lineup will only be announced on Sunday
Photo caption: THE FAVORITES: Toró, Cristian and Ibson at Flamengo's training session yesterday
Carlos Eduardo Mansur
Faced with a team that considers itself in a period of adjustment and another with a solid, if not quite as extensive, track record, coach Joel Santana began the week of the Taça Guanabara final leaning toward the latter. Yesterday, in the first tactical training session for the match against Botafogo, he fielded Jaílton, Cristian, Ibson, and Toró in midfield. All key players in the team's run in the last Brazilian Championship.
Flamengo has played this formation six times. They've won five, four of them at Maracanã, against Santos, Corinthians, Grêmio, and Boavista. Their only loss was to Cruzeiro, 3-1, at Mineirão.
Of the eight reinforcements signed for 2008, only Marcinho starts the week of the final as a starter. He replaced Diego Tardelli. In his case, too, history favors him. In the four times he started, the team won.
Directors and cast reach agreement on awards
Joel says he'll only announce the team on game day. According to him, Jônatas, who replaced Cristian, isn't ruled out.
"It'll tell us everything: technical, physical, and mental. Jônatas played with us for 21 days. Cristian has been with us for six months. He and Jaílton may be more fit, but Jônatas wins with his good passing," said Joel. "I tried to adapt Jônatas to last year's style of play. I couldn't change everything for him. He can fit in, or, later on, I can find another solution. There's no going back when it comes to decisions. At Botafogo, everyone is dangerous, even Manequinho."
Yesterday, Jaílton left training with hip pain, but according to Flamengo doctors, it is not a cause for concern.
The board announced an agreement with the squad regarding the prize money for winning the Guanabara Cup. Amounts were also set for the initial stage of the Copa Libertadores. The club's plan to pay a percentage of the revenue will be discussed again after the first stage of the South American tournament.
Today, President Márcio Braga travels to Switzerland. He will file a lawsuit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) requesting that CONMEBOL be forced to ban games at altitude. The lawsuit may include a request for an injunction to prevent the match in Cuzco against Cienciano on April 9th.
SPORTS JOURNAL
Arbitration seeks to turn things around
Sergio Mello
Marcelo de Lima Henrique is one of the candidates for the position of main referee
Marcelo de Lima Henrique or Wagner dos Santos Rosa. One of the two will officiate the Guanabara Cup final between Botafogo and Flamengo next Sunday. The draw will take place today at 15 p.m. at the Federation's (FERJ) headquarters in Maracanã.
Jorge Fernando Rabello, who took over as president of the Rio de Janeiro State Football Refereeing Commission (COAFRJ) in March 2007, discusses the draw, assesses the refereeing in Rio, and what has been done to improve the quality of referees. The former referee took the opportunity to clarify that Djalma Beltrami was not vetoed, as reported by a Rio newspaper. According to him, the referee himself asked not to participate in draws for Botafogo matches, as he is suing some of its directors.
“We accepted the request, I understand that it would be a way to preserve it,” said Rabello.
Balance
After years of harsh criticism of Rio's refereeing, the 2008 Championship features new referees and a marked improvement in their technical level. With less than a year at the helm of the Committee, Jorge Rabello took stock of the situation so far.
"Since I took over in March 2007, the results have been better than expected. Despite the difficulty, with the big teams playing at home against the smaller teams, of the 58 matches, the officiating was successful in 97%. In the second round, we'll be using more referees from the new generation," reveals Rabello, who warns the more experienced referees. "With these new referees performing well, we're taking the experienced ones out of their comfort zone. We believe that with this healthy competition, the officiating team in Rio can only benefit."
Restructuring
Jorge Rabello explains that the Rio Football Federation invested in structural improvements, raising the level of refereeing.
"A good example is that, in the past, when a referee was removed, he would stay home. Today, if he is removed, he will go through a retraining process. We don't intend to solve all the refereeing problems that have existed for years in one championship. Our goal is to ensure that the image of Rio's referees has credibility within three years."
The cards kept for the decision
Ibson and Túlio are elevated to the category of protagonists of the decisive classic of the Guanabara Cup
Jorge Lourenço
Photo by Nina Lima
Ibson is considered the key piece of Flamengo's scheme
Every team has its aces up its sleeve. But the one that worries Botafogo the most in the Guanabara Cup final is Ibson. Considered Flamengo's brain trust, he's primarily responsible for setting up the plays, and the black-and-white team's victory could depend on how well he's marked.
"Ibson is a dynamic player and will be a big problem for us in Sunday's final," says Cuca, who already has someone chosen to mark the red-and-black midfielder: Túlio.
Túlio himself, known among the black and white fans as Botofogo's watchdog, recognizes that his target in Sunday's game is the opponent's most dangerous player.
"Flamengo's two full-backs, Juan and Léo Moura, are two of Joel's powerful weapons. However, I'd highlight the playmakers as his main weapons, as they're excellent and can turn the tide of a match. Among them, the most important is Ibson, who can put someone in front of goal at any moment, as he has excellent passing," explained Túlio.
Despite the fear he instills among Botafogo fans, Ibson hasn't been showing the same level of performance that made him famous for his role in the red-and-black jersey. Since the start of the season, the midfielder has had subdued performances, but that doesn't diminish the care Cuca will have with him.
Penalty shootout
Botafogo's last two classics were decided by penalty kicks. Against both Vasco and Fluminense, Lúcio Flavio's composure on penalty kicks led his team to victory. In the semifinal between Flamengo and Vasco, Ibson was involved in a curious incident: he was responsible for distracting Edmundo, who missed a decisive penalty. As for repeating that in the final, Ibson is evasive.
“I have confidence in Bruno if we receive a penalty,” he guarantees.
Whether Ibson will repeat the provocation or not is anyone's guess. However, it's certain that he'll have a much harder time destabilizing Lúcio Flávio than the flammable animal.
The atmosphere heats up on the eve of the decision
In the week leading up to the Guanabara Cup final against Botafogo, tensions between the red-and-black players are running high. Yesterday, before tactical training, a simple game of fools sparked an argument. Striker Souza refused to accept a misplaced pass by right-back Leonardo Moura—which resulted in him being caught in the middle of the game—and argued with his teammate. After the disagreement, the two were reprimanded by coach Joel Santana, and by the end of training, they were joking normally, as if nothing had happened.
Full-back hopes to keep his luck going against Botafogo
One of the key players on Flamengo's current team, full-back Leonardo Moura holds Botafogo, his opponent in the Guanabara Cup final, in high regard. This is because it was there that he first emerged. Despite having played for the now-rival Flamengo for a short time, the Flamengo number 2 doesn't hide his satisfaction at facing them in a final.
"Of course I'm happy to see Botafogo doing well again, but now I'm defending Flamengo's colors, that's what matters," warned Léo Moura, who also admitted he's lucky when he plays against his former club: "I always score important goals against them. Last year I took the penalty that ended up giving Flamengo the title. Usually there's a little ball left for me to score, I hope this time it won't be any different," he hoped.
Despite his "freguesia," Léo Moura still gets nervous when he faces the club from General Severiano. He, in fact, has a terrible memory of the opponent. As a child, Léo was taken by his father to Maracanã to watch the 89 Carioca final as a Flamengo fan. Striker Maurício's goal must still give him nightmares, but the respect remains.
"I have a lot of affection for Botafogo. I always have a movie playing in my head before matches against them, because that's where it all started. I only stayed with the professional team for a short time, because a good opportunity arose at the time," recalled the full-back, referring to his move to Vasco in 2002.
Jaílton gives a scare, but it is guaranteed
Coach Joel Santana had a bit of a scare during yesterday's training session. Suffering from abdominal pain, midfielder Jaílton—a key player in the coach's strategy, often playing as a third defender on the right flank—was forced off the field midway through the session. However, club doctor José Luiz Runco ruled out any possibility of the player missing next Sunday's match.
"It was just a pain in the hip. Nothing that could compromise his participation in the Guanabara Cup final," explained Runco.
Renato augusto
The doctor took the opportunity to comment on Renato Augusto's condition. According to him, the athlete, who underwent surgery after suffering a sunken cheekbone, should return to action within a month.
"A CT scan was performed yesterday (Tuesday) and the image was satisfactory. He (Renato) is now intensifying his physical training, separate from the group and in two weeks he should be cleared by the medical department to train with the rest of the squad. After that, it should take another two weeks for him to be fit to play. Anyway, that was our previous prediction, that he would be out for a total of eight weeks," he stated.
Renato's face is still very swollen, but he's slowly getting back to working with the ball. Yesterday, he even practiced heading shots.
Marcinho is happy with the vacancy
While unsure, coach Joel Santana is likely to drop recently signed Diego Tardelli and replace him with midfielder Marcinho. The player, who came from Atlético-MG, has been playing well and is likely to be the coach's choice to fill the role previously held by Renato Augusto.
Marcinho also did not want to confirm his selection, but promised that if he comes in, he will do everything to live up to expectations.
"If I really get an opportunity, I'll be very happy. I played a good game against Vasco and I think I pleased everyone. Joel didn't want to give anything away, but regardless of who comes in, I'm sure they'll do everything they can to help Flamengo," said the midfielder, who doesn't mind playing as a second striker.
"Everyone wants to play, and it's no different for me. I can play any position; what I want most is to be on the field. Joel has been giving me these opportunities, which makes me happy. I want to continue showing my qualities, and I can't wait to step onto the field and hear the fans chanting my name," the player said.
Regarding Sunday's grand final, Marcinho didn't want to go into details about Botafogo, but he warned that on the day of the game, Flamengo will be flying.
"Flamengo is going through a good phase and I'm sure that Sunday will be our big day," he added.
Happy New Year, Joel!
In the GB Cup final, the coach should opt for the same scheme that worked in 2007
Diego Marrul, Nathan de Lima and Thiago Bokel
Photos by Nina Lima
Tardelli and Jônatas smile awkwardly when they learn they've lost their starting spot.
To beat Botafogo and win the Taça Guanabara next Sunday, coach Joel Santana appears determined to replicate the winning formula he used in last year's Brazilian Championship. In yesterday's training session at Gávea, the manager fielded a starting midfield with three players who participated in the team's run in the Brasileirão: Cristian, Íbson, and Toró—the latter of whom has recovered from right thigh pain.
To complete the situation, Marcinho is expected to come in, filling the role Renato Augusto played last year. With this formation, Kléberson is expected to be replaced by Toró. Besides him, Jônatas and Diego Tardelli, who haven't been performing as expected, are likely to be left out of the derby, even though they started in the second half of the tactical training session.
Despite the clues, the red-black coach did not want to 'open the game' and, guaranteeing that he did not have the lineup defined, promised to release the list only on the day of the match.
"We had a very interesting training session, where we were able to test different ways of attacking and defending. We'll have a lot of work to do this week, and nothing is set in stone. Nobody gives up their team mid-week for a derby. I don't want to give Cuca any weapons. When choosing the starting lineup, I'll take into account the players' physical, tactical, and psychological aspects," said Joel after the training session, also analyzing the possibility of starting Jônatas or Cristian at the start of the game.
"Jônatas has been playing for a month, and Cristian has played in this role for six months. While one has a better passing ability, the other is stronger in marking. I don't know yet, but the important thing is that everyone is healthy and at my disposal," he assessed.
During the activity, the coach led the team's marking and ball release, and then trained the attack, always stopping the play to talk to the players.
Favoritism
Not wanting to take all the responsibility for the victory upon himself and maintaining the friendly tone he's been using throughout the week, Joel denied any favoritism for the red-and-black team, even though the opposing coach pointed it out.
"I appreciate Cuca's words, but there are no favorites in a derby. The team that believes that can relax, and I don't want that," the coach declared.
Hey, Fan!
Pedro Chiaverini
Photos by Wallace Teixeira
Thiago and Taíssa are optimistic. But he has no illusions: the decision will be difficult.
JORNAL DOS SPORTS took to the streets of Rio to hear the opinions of those who know the most about soccer: the fans. The topic at hand was the Guanabara Cup final between Botafogo and Flamengo, which takes place next Sunday at Maracanã. Both Botafogo and Flamengo fans discussed their expectations for the classic and even offered guesses about who will dance the créu, the latest craze among Rio fans. Children, couples, elderly people, and even a Flamengo fan and former soccer player known as "Zico do Suruí" spoke to our reporters.
"Flamengo will be dancing on Sunday. It will be 2-0 with goals from Ibson and Souza. This time, we'll give our defenders a rest," said 47-year-old "Zico do Suruí."
Meanwhile, the black and white fan and film student, Bernardo Nascimento, 26, guaranteed that the GB Cup is won by his favorite team and went even further.
"Jorge Henrique will be dancing the créu on Sunday. We'll win 2-1, a comeback that's even better. We'll make fun of the vultures," Bernardo assured.
The red-and-black vendors Paulo Roberto, 22, and Rafael Arias, 20, were more daring. They danced the créu (the "créu") right on Catete Street. But they couldn't hide their excitement for Sunday.
"I'm really excited, all week I've been thinking about this game. Mengão will win 2-1 with goals from Obina and Souza," said Paulo Roberto.
His friend Rafael bet on a more comfortable result.
“It will be 2-0 for Flamengo. Goals by Souza and Léo Moura.”
Fellow salesman Édson de Oliveira, 60, predicted a victory for his Botafogo team. Friendly and optimistic, he guarantees that Glorioso won't give the team from Gávea a chance.
"A victory for Fogão, for sure. You can write it down, 2-0: Túlio and Lucio Flavio. Flamengo will find true glory," Édson declared.
On Copacabana beach, we met three young surfers from Flamengo. Matheus, 11, Pedro Henrique, 10, and Antônio Gabriel, 11, were full of optimism for Sunday, but shyness prevented them from taking a chance.
Further ahead, we found a red-and-black couple. Thiago, 21, and Tassiana, 19, said they expected a game as evenly matched as last year's Campeonato Carioca final.
"I believe in victory, but it will be a very difficult game. It will be a close match, like the last final between the two clubs. But in finals, the Flamengo jersey matters. Souza will do his thing with his head and will dance for the Botafogo fans," said Thiago, who had just bought his ticket at Gávea.
At Botafogo's headquarters in General Severiano, 15-year-old Botafogo fan Marília had been in line to buy tickets for over 2 hours and made an unusual request.
“I hope Fogão wins by many goals to zero and that Renato Silva scores his,” said Marília.
Still in line, businessman Édson Pereira, 49, was brief and optimistic about his favorite team, Botafogo.
“On Sunday, Flamengo will watch Fogão dance the créu at Maraca,” commented Édson.
Store manager Marcos André, 50, confessed that playing against Flamengo has a special flavor, especially when the opponent is the favorite.
"I love it when they're the favorites. I prefer to play on the outside and leave the pressure on Flamengo. I prefer to face them as underdogs," said the Botafogo fan.
And then, in the line at General Severiano, where 99% of the people were Botafogo fans, we encountered a Flamengo fan. Student Renato Senna, 19, commented that he always buys tickets for Flamengo games at the rival's headquarters and takes the opportunity to peacefully provoke his opponents.
"I always shop here because I live near their headquarters. It's good because I still have the chance to provoke them a little. Expectations are high for Sunday, and of course, I believe in a Flamengo victory, especially since Botafogo is short-handed," commented the Flamengo fan, unafraid of retaliation on the opposing side.
THE DAY
Cristian and Marcinho train among the starters
Rio - In Wednesday's tactical training session at Gãvea, coach Joel Santana confirmed expectations and named the starting team with Cristian in place of Jônatas and Marcinho in place of Diego Tardelli.
Midfielder Jaílton left the field midway through the session with hip pain. Jônatas replaced him, but the medical department assured that Jaílton is not a concern for the derby.
A hot foot in the final
Janir Junior
Rio - Marcinho could be the Flamengo's lucky charm on Sunday in the GB Cup title race. The player, who will likely partner Souza in attack, revealed that he has participated in eight finals while playing for Cruzeiro and Atlético-MG. He won seven and lost only one. "I've won more than I've lost. I don't even remember which one was a defeat. I hope this positive record continues at Flamengo," said Marcinho.
The player said that, although he prefers to play as a fourth midfielder, he sees no problem playing up front alongside Souza. "Further forward or a little deeper, it doesn't matter. The key is to perform well," he emphasized.
Despite having a chance of winning the spot, Marcinho reveals the conversation Joel Santana had with the group. "He made it clear that there's no absolute starter, that everyone in the group is fighting for the spots," he added.
Fla goes to FIFA to avoid games at altitude
Rio - President Márcio Braga's European schedule was announced Wednesday night. The director will travel to the continent on Thursday to prevent Flamengo from participating in games at altitudes above 2.750 meters. Fluminense, São Paulo, Santos, and Cruzeiro are supporting the red-and-blacks.
Check out the president's agenda below:
February 23rd – Paris
18:00 - Meeting with the President of Paris Saint Germain, Mr. Alain Cayzac
20:00 – PSG X Monaco - Parc des Princes
February 25th - Lausanne
10:00 - Meeting with the Secretary General of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Mr. Matthieu Reeb
15:00 PM – IOC – Olympic Museum
February 26th – Geneva
11:00 – UN - Palais de Nations - Meeting with the Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on Sports for Development and Peace
14:00 PM – UN – Palais des Nations – Meeting with UNESCO, UNICEF and UNDP
February 27th – Nyon
11:00 – UEFA – Meeting with Michel Platini, UEFA President
February 28th and 29th - Zurich
President Marcio Braga will fulfill an agenda scheduled by CBF President Ricardo Teixeira, which includes meetings with Joseph Blatter and Jerome Valcke, President and Secretary General of FIFA, respectively.
SPORTS GAZETTE
Flamengo president adopts cautious speech before decision\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - While Flamengo president Márcio Braga had previously adopted an optimistic tone and preemptively predicted victories for the red-and-black team, his demeanor changed for Sunday's Taça Guanabara final against Botafogo. Márcio avoided labeling his club as the favorite to win the first round of the Campeonato Carioca. "The game will be played on the day. There's no way to say today that anyone will win. It's a tough game. These are the two best teams in the first round of the Campeonato Carioca, and they're very well prepared. We're going to have an excellent game. It's a shame I won't be here to see it," commented the Flamengo president in an interview with Rádio Brasil.
This Thursday, the director leaves for Switzerland, where he intends to file a lawsuit with the Sports Court, demanding an end to high-altitude games in matches played by clubs in competitions organized by Conmebol.
"We are fighting for the lives and health of our athletes. We will distribute this action on behalf of Flamengo, but with the support of Fluminense, Santos, São Paulo, and Cruzeiro, the five Brazilian clubs competing in the Copa Libertadores. We want an injunction preventing us from playing at altitudes above 2750 meters," he commented.
Before considering the FIFA lawsuit, Márcio Braga made it clear that he does not see Botafogo as Flamengo's biggest rival, even though the two teams also decided last year's Campeonato Carioca.
"I'm from a generation where Flamengo went seven years without beating Vasco, between 45 and 52. Vasco has always been Flamengo's biggest rival, and that started back in rowing. And with last Sunday's victory, I was able to get even. Flamengo hasn't lost a decisive match to Vasco since 2000," he recalled, forgetting that Flamengo was eliminated by Vasco in the 2003 Rio Cup.
With 29 state titles, Flamengo is close to equaling Fluminense, the record holder with 30. But Márcio Braga prefers to look at the competition from a different angle. "I think Flamengo has more titles than Fluminense. They won four titles before we started competing in the Carioca. But if the numbers are like these, we'll tie this year and advance next year," the Flamengo president remarked, laughing.
On a more serious note, Márcio Braga confirmed that the sponsorship renewal with Petrobras has already been finalized, although the new contract has not yet been signed by the parties. "The deal is closed. All that's left is formalization. There are no more doubts."
Cristian promises to work hard to earn a place in the final\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Flamengo coach Joel Santana intends to keep the mystery surrounding his starting lineup for Sunday's Taça Guanabara final against Botafogo until the very last minute. One of the contenders for a starting spot is midfielder Cristian, a starter for much of last year's Brazilian Championship. "Of course, our focus is always on playing, and I was sad when I left the team. But I always try to respect the coach's decision and will work to get an opportunity," said Cristian, who is competing for a starting spot with Jônatas, who hasn't been performing well.
While Joel prepares the team for the final of the first round of the Campeonato Carioca, midfielder Vinícius Pacheco was reinstated to the squad after terminating his loan contract with Ipatinga-MG. The trend, however, is for Flamengo to loan Vinícius to another club, as Joel Santana has many attacking options.
Joel tests changes for the final, taking out Jônatas and Tardelli\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Although Flamengo's lineup for the Guanabara Cup final has not yet been confirmed, coach Joel Santana has indicated that he will make changes to the team for the match against Botafogo on Sunday.\ In the tactical training session he led on Wednesday afternoon in Gávea, the Flamengo coach took off midfielder Jônatas and forward Diego Tardelli and brought on Cristian and Marcinho.\
In addition to the tactical changes, Joel Santana also welcomed the return of midfielder Toró, who recovered from a muscle injury and was named in the starting lineup, with Kléberson returning to the bench. Midfielder Jaílton, who left the game after complaining of muscle pain, shouldn't be a problem for the final against Botafogo.
If the manager decides to take this formation to the field on Sunday, Rubro-Negro will start the GB Cup final with the following lineup: Bruno; Leonardo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Jaílton, Cristian, Ibson and Toró; Marcinho and Souza.
PELENET
Joel Santana bars Jônatas and Diego Tardelli
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Joel Santana made two changes to Flamengo's squad during Wednesday's tactical training session at Gávea. The coach withdrew midfielder Jônatas and forward Diego Tardelli and brought on Cristian and Marcinho, respectively.
This afternoon's activity consisted of attack versus defense, with ten players on each side. Both defender Fábio Luciano and midfielder Toró were present and have a good chance of reinforcing the Red-Blacks in Sunday's classic against Botafogo, at 16 pm (Brasília time) at the Maracanã, in the final of the Guanabara Cup, the first round of the State Championship.
Midfielder Jaílton, however, felt discomfort in his right thigh and was replaced by Jônatas. He came on in the second half of the session, when the starting forwards faced the reserve defense. However, he shouldn't be a problem in the final.
Therefore, Flamengo can face Alvinegro with the following team: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Jaílton, Cristian (Jônatas), Toró and Ibson; Marcinho (Diego Tardelli) and Souza.
Joel Santana will only announce Flamengo on the day of the final
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Coach Joel Santana does not want to give weapons to the opponent and will only reveal Flamengo's lineup moments before the Guanabara Cup final against Botafogo, on Sunday, at 16 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã
This Wednesday, the coach led a tactical training session in Gávea and made two changes to the team, putting Cristian and Marcinho in place of Jônatas and Diego Tardelli, respectively.
Jônatas ended up returning to the team, replacing Jaílton, who left after feeling discomfort in his right thigh. The player, however, is not a concern.
"It was an interesting training session, where we saw some changes in the team. Nothing is set in stone, and we'll work the rest of the week to put together the best lineup. The opponent won't announce their lineup until Sunday. Cuca is a very smart coach, and I can't give him that leeway. In a derby, anything goes, and I'll only announce the lineup moments before the game," he commented.
Cuca stated that Flamengo has a better team and that Botafogo's injured players put it at a disadvantage in the final. Joel disagrees.
"I remember what happened last year. Botafogo was considered the favorite, and Flamengo won. We learned lessons from football. Favorites are when the ball rolls. Today our fans were at Gávea, looking for tickets. I thank Cuca for that, but we don't accept that we are favorites," he continued.
According to the newspaper, Romário has already signed with Flamengo
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Romário has already made a decision regarding his future. According to the newspaper Extra, the striker accepted Flamengo's offer, which offered him an attractive marketing project. However, the striker has not yet communicated his decision to Vasco's president, Eurico Miranda.
The striker, who has a contract with Cruzmaltino until March 30, went to São Januário this Wednesday and discussed a series of issues with the director.
In an interview with Rádio Tupi, Eurico Miranda said he hopes to see Romário wearing Vasco's immortal number 11 shirt in a farewell match once his contract expires.
According to Extra, the project between Romário and Flamengo consists of holding a farewell match with the red-black shirt and using Baixinho as a kind of public relations for the club, with participation in FlaTV programming.
Romário was Vasco's player-coach until the 6th, when he had a disagreement with Eurico, who forced him to field Alan Kardec instead of Abuda in the match against Friburguense (2-0) for the Guanabara Cup. Last Thursday, the four-time world champion was acquitted of the charge of playing under the influence and was free to return to the field.
Joel Santana will only announce Flamengo on the day of the final
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Coach Joel Santana does not want to give weapons to the opponent and will only reveal Flamengo's lineup moments before the Guanabara Cup final against Botafogo, on Sunday, at 16 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã.
This Wednesday, the coach led a tactical training session in Gávea and made two changes to the team, putting Cristian and Marcinho in place of Jônatas and Diego Tardelli, respectively.
Jônatas ended up returning to the team, replacing Jaílton, who left after feeling discomfort in his right thigh. The player, however, is not a concern.
"It was an interesting training session, where we saw some changes in the team. Nothing is set in stone, and we'll work the rest of the week to put together the best lineup. The opponent won't announce their lineup until Sunday. Cuca is a very smart coach, and I can't give him that leeway. In a derby, anything goes, and I'll only announce the lineup moments before the game," he commented.
Cuca stated that Flamengo has a better team and that Botafogo's injured players put it at a disadvantage in the final. Joel disagrees.
"I remember what happened last year. Botafogo was considered the favorite, and Flamengo won. We learned lessons from football. Favorites are when the ball rolls. Today our fans were at Gávea, looking for tickets. I thank Cuca for that, but we don't accept that we are favorites," he continued.
Joel Santana bars Jônatas and Diego Tardelli
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Joel Santana made two changes to Flamengo's squad during Wednesday's tactical training session at Gávea. The coach withdrew midfielder Jônatas and forward Diego Tardelli and brought on Cristian and Marcinho, respectively.
This afternoon's activity consisted of attack versus defense, with ten players on each side. Both defender Fábio Luciano and midfielder Toró were present and have a good chance of reinforcing the Red-Blacks in Sunday's classic against Botafogo, at 16 pm (Brasília time) at the Maracanã, in the final of the Guanabara Cup, the first round of the State Championship.
Midfielder Jaílton, however, felt discomfort in his right thigh and was replaced by Jônatas. He came on in the second half of the session, when the starting forwards faced the reserve defense. However, he shouldn't be a problem in the final.
Therefore, Flamengo can face Alvinegro with the following team: Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Jaílton, Cristian (Jônatas), Toró and Ibson; Marcinho (Diego Tardelli) and Souza.
GLOBOESPORTE
Jaílton is injured, but it's not a concern
Flamengo's midfielder lineup against Botafogo is confirmed by doctor José Luiz Runco
Eduardo Peixoto
In the middle of Flamengo's tactical training session this Wednesday, in Gávea, Jaílton left the pitch accompanied by physiotherapist Leonardo and went to doctor José Luiz Runco complaining of pain in the right side of his hip.
Jônatas replaced the defensive midfielder in the starting lineup. After being examined in the locker room, the diagnosis was encouraging. He's not a concern for Sunday's Guanabara Cup final against Botafogo.
"He felt some pain in his hip. Nothing serious and it's not a concern for the match," says Flamengo doctor José Luiz Runco.
Signed from Ipatinga in 2007, Jaílton established himself on the team at the end of the season, when Rômulo tore a ligament in his right knee. This year, everyone predicted he would be the first to leave the team to make room for reinforcements. But for now, he remains untouchable and highly regarded by coach Joel Santana.
Marcinho: the title bogeyman\ In eight finals, the Flamengo midfielder says he only lost one. He just doesn't remember when\
Marcio Iannacca and Eduardo Peixoto
Marcinho trained in Tardelli's place this Wednesday, in Gávea
Midfielder Marcinho joined Flamengo at the start of the season and is living up to his years in Minas Gerais. Although not from Minas Gerais by birth, this São Paulo native, from Irapuã, in the interior of São Paulo, appears to be winning over coach Joel Santana for next Sunday's Taça Guanabara final against Botafogo at Maracanã. In Wednesday's tactical training session at Gávea, the player took over from Diego Tardelli.
In a post-game chat with the press, Marcinho revealed that he has played in eight finals in his career. These titles were with Cruzeiro and Atlético-MG. In total, he has won seven titles and only one loss, in the 2005 Campeonato Mineiro, when Raposa was defeated by Ipatinga. The midfielder, however, doesn't remember the setback.
"I know I've won more than I've lost. I don't remember when I lost. It's better this way, right? I hope the good record continues here at Flamengo," says Marcinho.
Excited about the chance to win his first title in Rio de Janeiro, Marcinho made a curious revelation this Wednesday, in Gávea.
"First, I'm happy to show my quality. I'm looking forward to Sunday. I want to see the fans chanting the club's name," says the player.
Fla x Bota: the stands are sold out
After the second day, sales reached almost 53 thousand tickets, with the lower seats remaining.
Fans faced long queues for tickets to the GB Cup final
Wednesday saw long lines for tickets to the final of the Guanabara Cup, the first round of the Campeonato Carioca, between Flamengo and Botafogo. On the second day of sales, 52.893 tickets were sold. According to the Flamengo press office, the grandstand and special seats are already sold out. Only the lower seats remain.
This Thursday, ticket sales for the match resume at 11 a.m. and close at 17 p.m. Tickets are expected to sell out by next Thursday.
Leo Moura proposes a bet with Alvinegro
Renato Silva's friend, Flamengo defender, wants dinner if he wins the GB Cup title
Leo Moura is a friend of Renato Silva
In the world of soccer, players often end up playing for more than one club throughout their careers. That's how Leo Moura and Renato Silva met and forged a friendship. They spent time at Flamengo in 2005 and 2006. Now, in 2008, each will play for their own livelihood, one for the Gávea club and the other for Botafogo.
Leo Moura spoke about his friendship with the black and white defender and the contact he has with the player.
"I have a lot of affection for Renato. Today, he plays for Botafogo and I play for Flamengo. We became friends when we played together for Flamengo, and now we see each other from time to time," says Leo Moura, in an interview with Rádio Transamérica.
Aware that any mistake in the placement of a word can cause discomfort, Leo Moura stated that he believes in a Flamengo victory and even accepted a healthy proposal with the rival.
"I'll bet on Flamengo, but I always make money betting on my team. He'll defend his side. But I believe my team will make fewer mistakes and will be champions. If he wants to bet on a dinner, something that won't create any rivalry, we'll be game because we care about each other."
Joel: 'Even Manequinho is dangerous'
Coach says the entire Botafogo team needs to be careful when making the decision
Marcio Iannacca and Eduardo Peixoto
Joel Santana doesn't want to know about favoritism in the Guanabara Cup final
With over 20 years of experience in the field, coach Joel Santana knows that any misplaced word on the eve of a final can be interpreted negatively by his rival. Four days before the final of the Taça Guanabara, the first round of the Campeonato Carioca, the coach chose to praise the entire Botafogo team and keep Flamengo's lineup for the weekend's big game.
During his interview this Wednesday in Gávea, he spoke about the dangers of being the favorite to win the tournament, the respect he has for Cuca and that he still gets nervous on the eve of a championship final.
Botafogo star
"All of Botafogo's players are dangerous. Even the little man is dangerous. Botafogo's coach has known his team for over a year. He knows how we like to play, and I need to be on my guard."
Escalation
"We had an interesting training session. We started with a formation (the same as in 2007, with Marcinho up front) and then we changed the team. We're going to work hard and with balance. I put our best players on the field. If you ask me if the starting lineup will be the same as the one we started with, I'd say I don't know. I put Obina in, and he did well. Jônatas trained well again. Kleberson did well on both sides. Everyone trained, including Toró and Fábio Luciano. This is good because we did the work we love."
Prerequisites for announcing the team
"We'll see what the best chemistry is, the player's best form, and their best physical preparation. I'll talk to the coaching staff and the physical trainers. We'll see who's doing better. We'll talk to everyone and then decide on the lineup."
Favoritism
"Cuca is a professional I respect. I respect his word that Flamengo is the favorite, but I don't accept it. Football has many lessons, and we can't forget them. Last year, one team was the favorite, and the other won. When the game comes, everything changes. The word favorite doesn't exist for us. I'm going into another decision in my life, in my history. And the word favorite doesn't exist. Botafogo and Flamengo showed strength, and on Sunday, the champion will be crowned. It's a game with no way back."
Little talk and a lot of work
"In a decision like this, talking too much gives the opponent weapons. Our job is to put the team in good shape. This group is victorious."
Nervousness
"Of course, it's nerve-wracking to get to the final. Every title you win has a different flavor, a different story, and a different strategy. I had a tough week. We fielded a mixed team against Fluminense and ended up losing. This setback turned into a storm in a teacup. We went into the Libertadores game and drew, dominating the match and playing a controlled game. We had everything we needed to win, but we didn't. On Sunday, we secured our spot in the final by beating Vasco. It was a tough game. Now, if we win the Taça Guanabara, we'll have the chance to manipulate the Libertadores and the second round of the Campeonato Carioca."
Flamengo and Botafogo face off in the Guanabara Cup final on Sunday at Maracanã Stadium. The match begins at 16 p.m. and will be broadcast live on GLOBOESPORTE.COM. TV Globo will also broadcast.
Indecision about Romário continues
News about a possible deal between the striker and Flamengo is denied by Fla and Vasco
Romário was at São Januário this Wednesday. But he didn't change into his training gear. He didn't even go up to speak with the rest of the squad. "Baixinho" went to talk to president Eurico Miranda about the future. According to journalist Gilmar Ferreira's blog, "Futebol, coisa e tal" (Futebol, coisa e tal), published in the newspaper "Extra," "Baixinho" hasn't ruled out playing a farewell match for Vasco, but has reportedly already agreed to do so for Flamengo.
The agreement with Vasco was denied by both Eurico and the press office of the club's president. The striker left Vasco this Wednesday without commenting on the meeting. And the Vasco president declined to provide many details about the conversation. In an interview with Rádio Tupi, Eurico simply repeated that Baixinho's contract with Vasco expires on March 30th.
"He said he received offers from several clubs, but he hasn't made any commitments to anyone. We have an agreement, and he's a Vasco player until March 30th," the president said, without guaranteeing that Romário will stick to it.
Acquitted of doping charges by the Superior Court of Justice (STJD) last week, Romário is cleared to play. But only for Vasco, as he has a valid contract. Flamengo's board approached him, saying he could only play an official match after March 30th or play holiday games before that. This has been a major obstacle in negotiations, as Flamengo does not intend to enter into a legal dispute with Vasco. Eurico Miranda did not confirm that the striker requested clearance to make his farewell appearance for the Gávea rival. "He didn't say anything like that, so I can't comment."
Romário left Vasco before the final round of the Guanabara Cup after a disagreement with president Eurico Miranda. The short man refused to accept the director's interference in the team's lineup.
In training, Joel returns to the 2007 base
Coach replaces Jônatas with Cristian. Toró, now fully recovered, also trains.
A starter in 2007, Cristian is expected to return to Flamengo's midfield on Sunday. February 2008 is drawing to a close, but Flamengo seems to be looking back. Not that that's a flaw. In a tactical training session on Wednesday afternoon in Gávea, coach Joel Santana returned to the 2007 training base at the start of the session, aiming for the match against Botafogo on Sunday at Maracanã.
In midfield, Cristian started in place of Jônatas. Toró, recovering from a knock to his right thigh, also participated in the training session, replacing Kleberson. Another change was made in attack. Marcinho came in for Diego Tardelli.
Thus, Souza plays alone up front with the help of Marcinho - in 2007, the role was performed by Renato Augusto, who is still recovering from facial surgery.\ Flamengo trained with: Bruno; Leo Moura, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Jaílton, Cristian, Ibson and Toró; Marcinho and Souza.\
The Red-Black team faces Botafogo in the Guanabara Cup final on Sunday at Maracanã. The match starts at 16 p.m. and will be broadcast live on GLOBOESPORTE.COM. TV Globo will also broadcast.
THROW
Romário decides to accept Flamengo's offer
Striker would talk to Eurico to ask for release from Vasco
Romário has a contract with Vasco until March 30 (Credit: EFE)
LANCEPRESS!
Journalist Gilmar Ferreira's blog from the newspaper "Extra" reported on Wednesday that striker Romário had decided to accept Flamengo's offer to end his career. "Baixinho" reportedly made this decision recently, but he still needs to speak with Vasco's interim president, Eurico Miranda, to request his release from the São Januário club before his contract expires on March 30th.
Romário's relationship with Flamengo began after Baixinho resigned as Vasco's coach during the match against Friburguense on February 7. The player was upset that interim president Eurico Miranda had interfered in the team's lineup for that game.
With this episode, Romário's relationship with Vasco cooled, and Flamengo vice-president Kléber Leite stated that it would be an honor to bid farewell to Romário. The striker revealed that he spoke with the club's directors, who presented him with a very attractive offer to end his career.
Eurico, in turn, assured Romário that he would return to Vasco and retire with the club. But proof that the relationship between the two was strained was when the São Januário club's legal department failed to defend the striker in the doping case.
On the day of the trial that acquitted the athlete last week, both Eurico and Vasco's vice president of football, José Luiz Moreira, and the club's superintendent, Paulo Angioni, appeared before the Superior Court of Sports Justice. However, after the ruling, Romário did not confirm his return to Vasco and stated that he would decide his future soon.
Joel drops a pearl of wisdom: 'Even Manequinho is worried'
This was the answer to which black and white player worries him the most.
Joel protects himself from the "dangers" of Manéquinho (Credit: Montage by Luiz Claudio Dionysio)
LANCEPRESS!
When asked which black and white player worries him the most, the red and black coach Joel Santana, in good humor, responded with another of his pearls of wisdom, showing "caution" even in relation to one of Botafogo's mascots.
- At Botafogo, everyone is dangerous, even Manéquinho - he joked.
To reinforce his response regarding his concern for the black and whites, the experienced Joel also guarantees that he will have a change in behavior as another final approaches in his career.
"This game is another decision, which is what makes my resume. It gives me butterflies, because I'm putting my professional life on the line. Each game is a different story," he assured.
Finalist Joel speaks out against criticism
The red-black coach remembers the bad week he had after two failures
LANCEPRESS!\ Coach Joel Santana's life isn't all roses. On a high note at Flamengo since qualifying for the Libertadores in last year's Brazilian Championship, the legendary coach revealed this Wednesday that he feels a certain resentment regarding the criticism he heard last week, when the Rubro-Negro was thrashed by Fluminense and only drew with Coronel Bolognesi.\
radio l! - In the decisions, we put our professional lives on the line. I had a very difficult week. I thought it was right to field a mixed team to rest the players, and they turned this defeat we suffered into a tidal wave. Then, we played a solid, solid match in the Libertadores, but we couldn't win. Likewise, we played against Vasco, when we had a lot of difficulties, but we knew how to win at the right time - he listed. (Click and listen)
Regarding the team that will take the field against Botafogo next Sunday, Joel preferred to remain tight-lipped. According to him, any detail is valid at this point, and he certainly won't give the opponent any weapons.
radio l! - In a decision like that, you end up giving weapons to the enemy. And that's not our job here, but rather to work to prepare Flamengo to win - he said. (Click and listen)
Nacional, from Uruguay, does not impress Joel
Coach says Uruguayans didn't play well in victory against Bolognesi
Joel should promote Cristian's return to the starting lineup (Credit: Cléber Mendes)
LANCEPRESS!
The match between Nacional (URU) and Coronel Bolgnesi (PER), valid for Group 4 - Flamengo's - of the Libertadores and won 1-0 by the Uruguayans, this Tuesday, was the focus of coach Joel Santana's attention. The Montevideo team's performance didn't impress the Man with the Clipboard.
"Yesterday (Wednesday), I watched the game (Nacional vs. Coronel Bolognesi) and Nacional did nothing to win. The Peruvians even missed a goal and a penalty," he explained.
Concerned about dedicating himself entirely to the Libertadores, Joel conditions this tranquility to a victory in the Guanabara Cup final, against Botafogo, on Sunday.
"It's an important game. I don't know if I'll win, but it's important to win because we'll secure a spot in the final and have more peace of mind to work towards the Libertadores," he concluded.
Marcio Braga goes to Europe to deliver official document
President travels this Thursday to deliver action against high altitude games
LANCEPRESS!
Flamengo president Marcio Braga travels this Thursday to hand over the lawsuit filed by Rubro-Negro together with Fluminense, São Paulo, Santos and Cruzeiro, with the aim of preventing games from being held at altitudes above 2750 meters in the Copa Libertadores.
The Flamengo leader's tour includes four Swiss cities and the French capital. On the final day of his European tour, Braga will meet with FIFA president Joseph Blatter in Zurich, Switzerland's most populous city.
Joel Santana approves of what he saw in tactical training
The additions of Kleberson and Obina to the main team pleased the coach
Joel should promote Cristian's return to the starting lineup (Credit: Cléber Mendes)
LANCEPRESS!
After leading a tactical training session in which he tested various formations, Joel Santana was quite pleased with what he saw, praising Obina and Kleberson's inclusion in the first team. It's worth noting that both started the training session as substitutes and were eventually promoted.
- Today's training session (Wednesday) was very interesting. We started with one team and then diversified. Obina came on well, Kleberson was tested in another position (playing up front) and also did well. The important thing is that no one was injured.
When asked if Wednesday's training session helped him decide who would start against Botafogo, Joel said:
radio l! - Lineups only on game day. Football is a whole, and it's important to see who's in good physical, technical, and psychological shape. (Click and listen)
Marcelinho: an example of dedication to Fla
After being discharged, the shooting guard traveled alone from Salvador to join the team in Brasília
Marcelinho paid for the ticket out of his own pocket to travel (Credit: Archive)
Marcelo Pires RIO DE JANEIRO
Club hopping in sports has become so commonplace these days that talking about love for one's jersey is almost utopian. Last Sunday, however, point guard Marcelinho proved that every rule has its exception. After experiencing severe intestinal pain on Saturday afternoon, the player underwent a series of tests and, just hours before Flamengo's departure for Brasília—where the club was scheduled to play the following day—he was admitted to a hospital in Salvador with a kidney stone.
"I started feeling pain around lunchtime and thought it was just an upset stomach. But the pain got worse, and we decided to see a doctor. After several tests, we discovered it was a kidney stone," explained Marcelinho, who had never suffered from the problem.
With the problem diagnosed, the plan was for the player to rest and then return to Rio de Janeiro. However, after spending about two hours sedated, Marcelinho woke up pain-free and surprised everyone when he asked the doctor if he was cleared to play.
"When I arrived at the hospital, I told André (the fitness coach) that I wasn't worried about the game anymore, but about my health. But as soon as I woke up, I went to the bathroom to urinate, and I think the stone passed at that moment, because I stopped feeling pain. I immediately told the doctor I wanted to play," said the Brazilian captain.
With the doctor's approval, Marcelinho rushed to the airport, paid for the ticket out of his own pocket, since the team had boarded a few hours earlier, and joined the delegation in Brasília at 20:30 pm.
"This just proves Marcelinho's professionalism. But you can be sure he'll be reimbursed," assured Arnaldo Szpiro, the club's basketball director.
But this wasn't the first time Marcelinho had played with a vengeance. He recalls taking to the court with the flu and even a broken nose.