Alves Denies Knowledge Of Brazil Squad Party

Sevilla stopper Daniel Alves knows nothing of the alleged party attended by the likes of Robinho in the aftermath of Brazil's win over Ecuador midweek...

Sevilla defender Daniel Alves refused to be drawn on the issue of the Brazilian party that saw Robinho arrive back in Madrid late for club duty with Real.

"I don't know anything about it," he growled to the press.

The want-away defender, however, went on to add that he had scant knowledge of a World Cup qualifying after-party.

"I have only just heard about the fiesta, but I had nothing to celebrate since I didn't play," he shrugged.

Indeed, Daniel sat on the bench for the duration of that 5-0 win over Ecuador, just as he did a few days prior as Brazil limped to a 0-0 draw in Bogota against Colombia.

With his international break proving anything but strenuous, then, Alves feels fit and ready to visit Levante with the Andalucians on Saturday night.

"I'm expecting to reach the level necessary to play against the levantinistas," he said.

Alves, 24, was expected to join Chelsea or Real Madrid this summer, but the Seville side opted instead to hold on to their star asset, who has yet to really find form this season.

Barcelona coach Rijkaard axes late Ronaldinho

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has not named Ronaldinho in his squad for tonight's clash with Villarreal.

The Brazilian was absent from training on Friday and has been excluded from the party for Saturday's match, but Rijkaard revealed that his illustrious number 10 may yet join up with the squad for the trip to face Manuel Pellegrini's side.

"He has yet to arrive. Above all, I would like to speak to him and evaluate his physical condition after so much travelling. If he feels good, we may travel with 19 players," Rijkaard said on Friday.

Mexico forward Giovani Dos Santos played against Guatemala on Wednesday, but was back in time for training on Friday and may replace Ronaldinho against Villarreal.

"He is here and had a light training session to recover (from the journey)," Rijkaard said.

The Dutch coach refused to reveal whether the Mexican, or Spanish starlet Bojan Krkic, will start if Ronaldinho is rested.

"Any player training with the first team can start at any time. They are all prepared, but it depends on the circumstances," he said.

Arsenal boss: Denilson great player

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is delighted with the progress being made by Brazilian midfielder Denilson.

"I am pleased, very pleased," he told arsenal.com after Denilson penned a new deal. "Denilson is a great player. For me, he is underrated. He does not get all the praise his performances suggest but that will come very quickly.

"He is the youngest player of our squad along with Armand Traore. He has played big games but he has shown he can cope with the pressure and produce quality performances. I expect him to make a big impact."

Roma chasing Bayern Munich defender Lucio

Roma are chasing Bayern Munich defender Lucio.

The Brazil international has emerged as an alternative for Roma in the event they cannot reach an agreement with Matteo Ferrari over a new deal.

Roma have been tracking Lucio since his days at Bayer Leverkusen and Giallorossi chiefs are aware he wants to leave the Bundesliga. The defender is contracted to Bayern until 2009 and Roma are convinced they can land him with a £4 million bid.

Roma, meanwhile, will also send fullback Vitorio Antunes away on-loan in January.

Robinho: I'm happier with Brazil than Real Madrid

Robinho admits he enjoys playing for Brazil more than Real Madrid.

The winger celebrated Brazil's 5-0 thumping of Ecuador this week by hosting a party at a local nightclub, reported the Brazilian press.

Meanwhile, Robinho told Record after the victory: "I feel happier with the Selecao than with Real Madrid."

Kaka: This is a dream

Brazil star Kaka has described playing in the famous Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro as "like a dream".

The midfielder was speaking after he scored two goals as Brazil cruised to a 5-0 win over Ecuador.

Kaka also praised the Brazilian fans for their support after the team had stuttered to a 0-0 draw with Colombia in their previous match.

The AC Milan superstar said: "This is my first experience with the national team at the Maracana and this is a dream. It has been a fantastic night.

"The stadium was totally full and the fans gave us their support all the time, even in the first half when we weren't playing very well.

"All the apologies that we gave to the supporters after the 0-0 draw against Colombia have been confirmed with this victory over Ecuador.

"In normal conditions Brazil can play against any team. This is a dream because it is what we were all waiting for."

Match Highlights : Brazil Vs Ecuador (17 Oct, 2007)

Brazilian coach Dunga: 'We will suffer a lot, still'

Rio de Janeiro - Following Brazil's 5-0 win over Ecuador Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian coach Carlos Dunga stressed that the road to the South Africa 2010 World Cup will not be easy. "The logic of qualifiers is complex. We have very difficult games. We will suffer a lot, still. The most important thing is the will and the pleasure that players get from being with the Brazilian national team," he said.

Brazilian fans and media were irritated by the team's goalless draw Sunday in Colombia, and the crowd at the legendary Maracana stadium even booed at some stages in the game against Ecuador.

Dunga further praised the day's rival.

"I did not see Ecuador as a fragile team. On the contrary, it is a very good team that made the match very difficult for Brazil," Dunga said after the game. "The goals happened because of Brazil's ability and aptitude, never because of deficiencies by the rival."

Kaka, however, did not quite agree. He was confused by the second goal in his personal count, Brazil's fifth, a poor, long-distance effort that Ecuadorian keeper Daniel Viteri failed to contain.

"I don't really know what happened with that goal. After the shot I turned my back on the goal because I knew I had not hit the ball well. And then I heard the fans shout and saw Ronaldinho and Robinho coming to hug me," Kaka said.

The talented midfielder admitted that it was possible that bumps on the pitch might have contributed to misleading Viteri.

Dunga added that his team's high score was due to the fact that Ecuador was forced to seek the rival goal after Brazil put the score 1-0.

"Ecuador tried something else, exposed itself, and then the goals came," Dunga said.

WCQ Match Report : Brazil 5 - 0 Ecuador

RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Brazil needed to produce some party tricks to win the approval of the astonishingly fickle Maracana crowd on their return to the famous stadium after a seven-year absence and they delivered.

Dunga's team left the pitch at the famous arena to delirious applause after four goals in a 12-minute spell late in the game gave them a flattering 5-0 win over Ecuador in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier.

The third goal, which came when Kaka curled a 30-metre shot into the top right-hand corner, and the fourth, set up by Robinho with his trademark stepovers followed by a disconcerting dribble, had the 70,000 crowd in raptures.

Yet only minutes early, the supporters had been jeering their own team because they were only 1-0 ahead against a side who reached the last 16 at the 2006 World Cup.

Amid the jubilation which followed the result, it was quickly forgotten why Brazil had spent so long away from the hallowed arena in the first place.

During the qualifying competition for the 2002 World Cup, Brazil had planned to share their home games between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

But the team were given such as hostile reception that the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) asked for, and was given, permission to switch venues and play their remaining games in other parts of the country.

LOVE BOOED

This, combined with the neglected state of the Maracana, prevented Brazil from returning until Wednesday.

Although the stadium has been refurbished since Brazil's last visit, the crowd remained as fickle as ever and were booing their side even before kick off.

When the teams were announced, the crowd jeered the name of Brazil striker Vagner Love, who has inherited the number nine shirt from Ronaldo but has failed to reach the heights scaled by his predecessor.

There were more whistles as early as the 15th minute with Brazil patiently playing the ball around in midfield looking for an opening.

Vagner Love's 19th minute goal quietened the booing but Brazil's failure to add a quick second, or produce any stepovers, bicycle kicks or other trickery, had the crowd restless again.

Incredibly, Vagner Love was jeered off the field when he was substituted in the second half and the whistling and cat-calling grew louder as Ecuador pressed for an equaliser.

But the discontent suddenly turned to ecstasy with Brazil's late surge which began with Ronaldinho diverting Kaka's shot into the net in the 73rd minute.

Kaka then added two, the first his 30-metre special and the second courtesy of an astonishing blunder by Ecuador goalkeeper Daniel Viteri, while Elano was on hand to turn Robinho's dribble into a goal.

Brazil coach Dunga glossed over the attitude of the fans.

"The crowd turned up and behaved well," he said.

Typically, he also refused to get carried out with the events of the final 20 minutes.

"We played in a solid, compact manner, we didn't gave space to Ecuador and, as a natural result of this, the spaces began opening up," he added.

WCQ Result : Brazil 5 - 0 Ecuador

Brazil got their first three points of their world cup qualifiers as they put 5 past Ecuador. Kaka scored twice, also on the score sheet were Vagner Love, Ronaldinho & Elano.

It was a good performance by Brazil but the result slightly flattered Brazil who were not at their fluent best but made up for it with a late barrage of goals.

Full match report to follow...

Full Time Score : Brazil 5-0 Ecuador

Goal : 85' Ronaldinho squares it across for Kaka who again shoots from 25 yards out and scores even though his effort was mis-cued as the Ecuador keeper makes a horrible blunder and misses the ball

Goal : 83' Robinho tricks and teases De la Cruz in the left corner of the Ecuador box and once past him he pings in a cross which is deflected into Elano who smashes it in on the bounce

Goal : 77' Kaka unleashes a wonderful curling shot in to the top left corner from 25 yards out

Goal : 73' Kaka shoots from 30 yards which is deflected in by a Ronaldinho left boot as it trickles and wrong-foots the keeper

Goal : 20' Maicon sprints down the right and beats two defenders from a through ball then squares it for Vagner Love to score

Teams

Brazil : Júlio César, Maicon, Lúcio, Juan, Gilberto, Gilberto Silva, Mineiro, Kaká, Ronaldinho, Robinho, Vagner Love

Ecuador : Viteri, De la Cruz, Giovanny Espinoza, Ivan Hurtado, Oscar Baqui, Castillo, Patricio Urrutia, David Quiroz, Ayovi, Cristian Benitez

Dunga Recieves Brazil Honour

Brazil coach Dunga has been immortalised in the Maracana stadium Walk of Fame.

The 43-year-old, who won 91 international caps between 1982 and 1998 and scored 6 goals, was honoured by Eduardo Paes, the national secretary of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment.

The plaque containing his footprints has been placed alongside those of Dunga's Brazil assistant Jorginho and Palmeiras striker Edmundo.

"I'm in good company, alongside great players who brought joy to millions of fans. I'm proud to be honoured in this way," said Dunga.

"I thank Mr Paes for the chance to be remembered."

Dunga is the 93rd player to be added to the Walk of Fame at the Maracana.

He was also captain of the team that won the 1994 World Cup under Carlos Alberto Parreira.

South America WCQ Preview: Brazil - Ecuador

Brazil return to Rio de Janeiro’s footballing temple of Maracanã seven years after their last showing there. Time has flown with only Ronaldinho knowing what its like to don a Brazil shirt in the Carioca stadium; then playing as a newbie with the spotlight firmly focused on a Romário who netted a hat-trick in a 5-0 drubbing of Bolivia.

The 2007 seleção are back with an extra star above the CBF badge, but also feeling a bit on edge for two main reasons. Firstly Maracanã is an infamously unforgiving barometer for Brazilian public opinion of the national team – and the team has just trundled out the sort of performance that is sure to elicit a sonic boom of booing.

Secondly, Dunga is feeling under attack from the press given the weak cuppa brewed up in Colombia and has been snarling and snapping at the Brazilian press in the lead-up to the match. This seems to suggest that the testy tactician is nervous ahead of what will be ‘his’ Brazil’s first official match on home soil: a real acid test.

Fortunately for Brazil’s hopes of winning, visitors Ecuador arrive after falling at home to Venezuela. It may have been a rather fluky free kick from close to the centre circle, but the goal put an end to six years of home invincibility and mean that Ecuador arrive feeling doubly vulnerable – yet with very little to lose.

The last time both nations met across a football pitch dates back almost exactly a year. On the 9th of October 2006 a Friendly match in Sweden’s Råsunda Stadium saw Brazil beat Ecuador 2-1. ‘La Tri’ opened the scoring via Felix Borja (22 min), but Brazil turned it around through Fred (44 min) and Kaká (73 min). Team News

BRAZIL

Dunga and his men are back in Brazil, but aren’t exactly feeling wafted with sweet feelings of ‘home, sweet home’ as the press has hardly been kind to a national team that strained patience and eyelids with a poor showing in Bogotá. There’s a feeling of snappiness at having to field worries about the seleção style.

Dunga had little time for journalists’ questions about the team’s shortcomings in Colombia, interrupting many to shoot back rebuttals, ironic asides, sarcastic snippets and ill-concealed bad tempered responses. It’s hardly the behaviour of a man who feels that he’s in total control or answerable to the nation he represents.

The Brazilian highlight in Bogotá saw the limelight circle Júlio César with most of Dunga’s seleção getting low grades in a review of the Brazilian press ratings of how the national side performed in the first WCQ against Colombia. The average hovered between five and six out of ten in a series of broadsheets, tabloids and websites.

On the sporting side he seems unlikely to make any changes to his first eleven against Colombia; sticking to his guns with stubborn dedication. The Coach doesn’t have any injury problems accumulated from the Colombia match and therefore, should he choose, he can field exactly the same team and substitutes that he used in Bogotá.

He is also taking the visitors with deadly seriousness. “Ecuador were always difficult rivals for Brazil. They're very strong and have good technique and the result [versus Venezuela] was surprising. They will need a win to forget the bad start and we must be ready and not give them any chance to manage the game”, Dunga explained.

ECUADOR

Coach Luis Fernando Suarez has promised not to do what most are expecting and to field an attacking side at Maracanã on Wednesday. “The main characteristic of Ecuador’s game is the offensive attitude and I’m not going to play with five or six defenders just because we are playing Brazil in Brazil”, he explained.

The home defeat to Venezuela was a low blow after six years of home invincibility (the last time ‘La Tri’ fell at home was against Argentina back in 2001) and the tactician was aware of the collateral effects. “Our players are aware that they have a duty to recover lost ground away from home. If not against Brazil we’ll get the points back elsewhere.”

The main absence from the Maracanã match will be midfielder Antonio Valencia. The Wigan Athletic man ended the Venezuela match with an injured knee and didn’t even form part of the delegation that flew to Rio de Janeiro. His place was taken by Felix Borja who is in the front line for a first team place on Wednesday.

The absence will be felt by the guests, but striker Cristian Benitez echoed the main reason for confidence that’s been mentioned by a number of Ecuadorians in contrast to the Venezuela defeat. “Against Brazil it will be different because we'll have spaces in the rival defence, totally different from what happened against Venezuela”, he argued.

Match Highlights : Colombia Vs Brazil (14 Oct, 07)

Josué Hopes For Less Critical Cariocas

After the lukewarm point brought back in the Brazilian baggage from the weekend trip to Colombia there are rumours of a potentially hot homecoming in Rio de Janeiro with this Wednesday’s Maracanã match against Ecuador…

Rio de Janeiro is awaiting the first seleção match to be played at the Carioca stadium since the 3rd of September 2000. On that occasion a Romário hat-trick was the jewel in the crown of a sparkling 5-0 win over Bolivia.

This time around there’s a certain apprehensiveness amongst some of the Brazil squad at being judged too harshly by Cariocas who may feel that the Canarinha isn’t managing to play up to the standards of attractiveness or charisma demanded by the locals.

“I hope that the fans will be there to cheer us on and support rather than be too picky over the game and starting to hassle us after five or ten minutes of play. People let to need us work and this is really vital when you’re looking for a first win”, he added.

Josué came on in the second half but may be given a starting chance against Ecuador on Wednesday at the remodelled, refurbished Maracanã. Ronaldinho Gaúcho is the only surviving veteran of the last Brazil game a little over seven years ago.

'Boring Brazil' worries fans & media

Rio de Janeiro (dpa) - Brazilian media on Monday unanimously described as "boring" and "bureaucratic" their national team's debut in the South American qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Brazil was held to a goal-less draw in its visit to Colombia on Sunday and awaits Ecuador on Wednesday in the legendary Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Many analysts are once again questioning the quality of the team coached by Carlos Dunga, which as always is under the obligation to add to Brazil's five World Cup titles. Dunga - a former Brazil captain - took over the

Brazilian squad after a disappointing performance in Germany 2006. The team - without major stars Kaka and Ronaldinho - did not play well in this year's Copa America in Venezuela but still carried the trophy after beating arch-rival Argentina in the final. On Sunday, it failed to win in Bogota. But fans are less worried about the result than about the lacklustre play shown by world-class footballers like Kaka, Ronaldinho and Robinho.

All commentators agreed that goalkeeper Julio Cesar was the best player in the Brazilian side, stressing the team's poor performance in attack. Commentator Roberto Assaf said Brazil played "with a football with no creativity whatsoever, with passes to the sides and so satisfied with the result that it only made two dangerous shots on goal ... very little for a national team with stars of proven quality, capable of generating such expectations."

"Brazil depended on the individual shine of its stars, who were virtually absent," Assaf added, in a column published Monday in the sports daily Lance. "Kaka and Ronaldinho, absent in the conquest of the Copa America, and Robinho, the great star in the tournament won in Venezuela, were far below what was expected of them," the daily O Estado de Sao Paulo agreed.

"The poor performance further reached veterans Juan, Lucio and Gilberto Silva," Folha de Sao Paulo valued the away draw in Brazil's qualifiers debut, but it also criticized the team's "laziness" in Bogota.

"Now, we have to try not to repeat that unambitious play at home, to avoid the team getting into a clash with the fans after only two games" into the World Cup qualifiers, the daily warned. The newspaper O Globo said the match against Colombia was "provoked sleep," and noted Brazil deserved to lose and only got away with a point because the referee ignored that Gilberto clearly brought down Wason Rentaria in the box.

Brazilian players arrived back in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. They were met by few fans and declined to talk to the press, claiming they were tired after a six-hour journey. After the game on Sunday, the stars admitted that Brazil was far from its best level, but they considered the criticism excessive.

"We are not satisfied with the draw, but it is not the end of the world either," said Kaka. "We faced several problems - the rain, the altitude," said Ronaldinho. "Few teams will get to play here and carry a point. We would have liked to do better, but we are happy with that point."

Dunga and his players now have 48 hours to prepare a good show for Maracana. The coach said he spotted faults against Colombia and that they would all be fixed ahead of the game against Ecuador. "We have to keep the ball more, to work better with it. And it is natural for the team to improve in its second game," Dunga said.

Juan Pleased With Draw

Juan who was one of the few Brazilian players to shine in their lacklustre 0-0 against Columbia was pleased with the point after the game.

"We knew it would be difficult for us because we would have a lot of things against us, but we deserved the point."

Julio Cesar who also put in a glowing performance in keeping a clean sheet was also happy to escapse with a draw. "Considering how the game progressed, it was a good result for us,".

"Colombia marked us very tightly and we were not able to find space to hurt them."

Brazil entertain Ecuador at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro next, while Colombia travel to Bolivia.

Ronaldo Set For Milan Comeback

Ronaldo could be set to be named in the AC Milan squad for the first time this season after recovering from an injury that has seen him miss the start of the new campaign.

The Brazilian has been sidelined after having a muscle injury wrongly diagnosed during the summer, but is now on the verge of making his long-awaited comeback.

Ronaldo's return will be very welcome for coach Carlo Ancelotti and he could be ready to name him on the bench for the game against Empoli next weekend.

Tests on Tuesday will reveal how the striker's injury has progressed and if that looks good then doctors will give him the green light to start playing again.

Despite scoring 13 goals this term, Milan are in eighth place in Serie A with just two wins from their opening seven matches.

WCQ Match Report : Columbia 0-0 Brazil

Brazil struggled to an uninspiring goalless draw away to Colombia in their opening match of the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign on Sunday.

The only team to have played at all 18 World Cups, Brazil are likely to be happier with the point, achieved at 2,600 metres above sea level on a slippery pitch, than their lacklustre performance.

Despite making wholesale changes from their Copa America squad and fielding an inexperienced team, Colombia had most of the pressure and Brazil became less adventurous as the game went on.

"Considering that we were playing away from home, at high altitude, on a heavy pitch, it was a reasonable start to the qualifiers," Brazil coach Dunga said.

"The first-half was evenly balanced and we had a few chances. In the second-half, we lacked speed and strength and the players felt tired."

"If Colombia play like they did today against Brazil, they will qualify," Dunga added.
Brazil forward Ronaldinho was also satisfied.

"With the pitch and the altitude, it was a good point because I don't think many other teams will come here and get a point," he said.

The match kicked off 45 minutes late after a torrential downpour left puddles on the pitch but the water drained away quickly.

Backed by a passionate crowd at the El Campin stadium, Colombia took the game to Brazil and Radamel Falcao Garcia was close after a well-worked move from a free-kick in the third minute.

Colombia striker Wason Renteria twice forced Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar to make difficult saves from headers and the visitors were so uncomfortable that Julio Cesar was booked for time-wasting in the 44th minute.

Brazil's best first-half effort came when Ronaldinho had a shot from a narrow angle turned around the post by Agustin Julio.

Colombia continued to press forward after half-time and Julio Cesar was forced to parry a long-range shot from substitute Freddy Grisales.

Aldo Leao Ramirez also tested the goalkeeper with a low shot but Colombia were unable to find their way past a packed Brazil defence.

Midfielder Mineiro had Brazil's only second-half scoring chance when his 25-metre drive was turned away by Julio.

Colombia - Agustín Julio, Walter Moreno, Aquivaldo Mosquera, Juan Estiven Vélez, José Amaya, Jaime Alberto Castrillón (F Grisales 56), David Arturo Ferreira (A Ramírez 56), Carlos Sánchez, Camilo Zúñiga, Radamel Falcao García (E Perea 83), Renteria

Brazil - Julio Cesar, Lúcio, Gilberto, Maicon, Juan, Gilberto Silva, Minerio, Kaká (A Alves 85), Ronaldinho, Robinho (J Baptista 62), Vagner Love (Josué 70)

WCQ Result : Columbia 0-0 Brazil

Brazil drew their opening match of the world cup qualifying stages 0-0 away to Columbia. Columbia were the better side as Brazil's stars failed to find any creativity or goal mouth action, Julio Cesar was arguably Brazil's best player.

Full match report to follow...