Archive for June, 2009

The Copa Libertadores is down to the final four teams. Sao Paulo stunk the joint out losing to hated foe Cruzeiro 2-0. I guess the American style of futebol is rubbing off on Sao Paulo these days. Eduardo Costa second yellow card just before halftime may have  cost Sao Paulo the match. Sao Paulo was down to ten men. Cruzeiro scored on a long-range bomb by Henrique in the 66^th minute made it 1-0.

Sao Paulo needed to score two goals to advance so they pressed the attack. Sao Paulo pushed everyone into the attacking zone. This means they became vulnerable on defense because they were pressing everyone forward and on top of  that; Sao Paulo was only playing with ten men.

A handball by Andre Dias in the box gave Cruzeiro a freebie penalty shot. Kelber booted the final nail in the coffin in the 81^st minute to make 2-0. That’s was all she wrote for Sao Paulo.

The final score Cruzeiro two and Sao Paulo- Zippo-nada. You can still hear the cries all the way here in Los Angeles. It is a very sad day in Sao Paulo. Even my buddies at Bola de Neve Radio in Sao Paulo are crying.

Cruzeiro advances on aggregate 4-1.

Cruzeiro will play rival Brasilian club Gremio on June 24^th.

www.uol.com.br wrote this: Mais uma vez eu tive a felicidade de vencer um jogo contra o São Paulo. A gente sabe que é muito difícil, a equipe deles é muito boa, mas a gente jogou muito bem”, afirmou Kléber, que chegou a dedicar o triunfo não apenas ao torcedor cruzeirense, mas também ao palmeirense.

www.uol.com.br further added: O Gladiador finalizou quatro vezes, fazendo o gol em cobrança de pênalti, aos 36 minutos do segundo tempo, no triunfo por 2 a 0. Nas suas outras três conclusões, Kléber obrigou em duas delas o goleiro Dênis a fazer boas defesas e na terceira chutou forte, mas para fora.

This is a loose translation of what Kleber said. Cruzeiro was very happy they beat Sao Paulo in Morumbi. This is a very difficult team to play. We played very well.

Estudiantes defeated Uruguayan side Defensor 1-0 in La Plata, Argentina.  Estudiantes won on aggregate 2-0. Leandro Benitez stuck the deathblow in 13^th minute to give Estudiantes the 1-0 lead. That goal stood up as the Uruguayan side for some strange reason fielded an inferior team. Why? I don’t know.    

Estudiantes will take on Nacional in the other semifinal.

Have a great Saturday. Check out these sites.

www.palau.org

http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

The fun has started between the USA and Brasil. Brasil scored first blood off a brilliant set piece. The laser free kick by Maicon into the box created a golden scoring opportunity for Brasil. Melo used his melon to knock home the winner past defenseless keeper Tim Howard to make 1-0 Brasil after six minutes.

Add another goal for Brasil. USA had a corner kick. Donovan played a short ball to teammate Oguchi Onyewu. He misplayed the ball and Brasil was off to the races. Ramires raced down the pitch. He found his buddy Robinho at the top of box. Robinho tapped in easy winner past keeper Howard who never had a prayer to stop the shot.  It’s 2-0 Brasil after nineteen minutes. Turn out the lights the party’s over.

The USA committed another dumb foul that resulted in stupid red card. Sacha Kljestan late tackle on Brasilian Melo resulted in Sacha getting the heave hoe. Was his tackle a red card?  No, not really however it was dumb. The refs are calling these games really tight. That means dumbo coach Bob Bradley should have taken his players aside and said, “Look guys. They are calling these games tight so stop with the hard tackles.” But, NO! Bradley didn’t say did-a-lee-doo to his players. That’s America for ya. Another dumb futebol coach not planning well for the match.   

Brasil applied relentless pressure and this resulted in a beautiful difficult angled shot by Maicon in the 61^st minute to make 3-0. Howard was in position to stop the shot but Maicon chipped above Howard’s head top shelf right. 

Mercifully, it is over. Brasil wins in a calk walk 3-0.

The USA had two great scoring chances however they went “ Ding” off the cross bar and so goes the USA fortunes in big time world futebol.

Brasil played well for the most part. Brasil had several defensive lapses that almost cost them two goals.

The next big question is how will Brasil perform against Italy. We will get a definite answer on Sunday.

www.uol.com.br :   Felipe Melo, Robinho e Maicon fizeram os gols brasileiros e a festa dos torcedores sul-africanos, “armados” com suas insistentes e barulhentas vuvuzelas (cornetas locais). Apesar de não estar lotado, o estádio ficou colorido de amarelo, em outro claro apoio dos anfitriões ao time pentacampeão.
“Estou feliz com o meu gol, mas o que importa é a boa atuação do time. O Ramires e os outros que entraram foram excelentes, isso prova que a qualidade de todo mundo aqui é a mesma”, exaltou Robinho, elogiando o desempenho da equipe mista.

No primeiro gol, a bola parada voltou a ser bem utilizada. Maicon levantou e Felipe Melo cabeceou para a rede. Superior, a seleção não teve dificuldades para ampliar. Aos 19min, Ramires recebeu de Kaká, puxou contra-ataque e rolou para Robinho. O atacante teve só o trabalho de empurrar para o fundo do gol.

Big upset in the Confederations Cup. Egypt defeated Italy 1-0. This still gives the USA a chance to advance.

The Italy-Brasil match is now very important as well as the USA-Egypt match. Italy has to win and hope for an Egyptian loss. Italy and Egypt both win Egypt will advance to the semifinals.

For the USA to advance, a miracle must happen. USA must win by three or more goals and Italy must loss to Brasil by four or more goals. Not in this lifetime.

Check out these sites. They are great.

www.palau.org

http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

Palmeiras had their chances to get the elusive all-important away goal however Zippo, nada as Palmeiras and Nacional tied zero-zero in Montevideo. With the tie, Nacional advances to the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores.

Palmeiras applied the offensive pressure throughout the match but they couldn’t connect and find the back of the net.

Nacional had their chances as well but they couldn’t find the dagger to put into the heart of the Brasilian side.

When it was all said and done, Nacional advances.

That pesky all-important away goal came into play again. Gremio and Caracas tied in Porto Alegre zero-zero however Gremio advances to the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores on away goal difference. Gremio and Caracas tied in Venezuela one all.

Corinthians defeated Internacional 2-0 to win the Copa do Brasil. Fading star Ronaldo scored a goal in Corinthians win.  Ronaldo showed that he still has some of the flair and magic that made him one of the best scorers in futebol history. He dribbled past the helpless defender and then did a little dip to pull the keeper in. He fired a shot past the helpless Internacional keeper.

www.uol.com.br had this to say about Ronaldo’s goal:  Ronaldo pouco tocou na bola, mas voltou a marcar após um jejum de cinco jogos e ajudou o Corinthians a dar um importante passo rumo ao título da Copa do Brasil. Com uma vitória por 2 a 0 na noite desta quarta-feira sobre o Internacional, no Pacaembu, a equipe de Mano Menezes leva para o Rio Grande do Sul a vantagem de poder até perder por 1 a 0 que, mesmo assim, ficará com a taça e a cobiçada vaga na Libertadores da América.

The article further states: No segundo tempo, porém, Ronaldo desencantou. Aos 8min, o camisa 9 recebeu na direita, cortou a marcação e bateu forte. Lauro não conseguiu fazer a defesa e a bola foi morrer no fundo do gol, levando à loucura a torcida que encheu o Pacaembu. Das arquibancadas, o público já gritava “o time que vai ser o campeão”.

Does Ronaldo still the scoring ability that made him a great player? Yes. Is he ready to perform on the world stage? No. There are times when Ronaldo looks great. Tonight is a perfect example however many times he plays like a slow fat old man. Dunga did right by not taking him to the World Cup Qualifying and Confederations Cup.

Ronaldo’s best playing days are behind him. He will show the flair that made him great but not on a day in and day out consistent basis.

We’ll talk USA-Brasil later today.

Check out these sites.

www.palau.org

 http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

Here we go again. My head and my heart clash. Yes, I do have a Brasilian heart and American head. That means I am certifiable crazy. True. Brasil and The USA clash on Thursday in the Confederations Cup. My wife and I will watch the match. My wife is Brasilian.

I met my wife in Brasilia, Brasil in 2003. We were walking to meet one of her friends when I noticed a TV on. We got closer low and behold it was match between the USA and Brasil. We stopped to watch the match in of all places Dominos Pizza. Yes, folks Dominos Pizza delivers in Brasil.

Do you want to talk about irony? That’s it. American in Brasil watching of all things a futebol match between USA and Brasil in a Dominos Pizza. Strange but true.

Brasil kicked the Americans butts.

But what else is new.

We have been traveling back and forth between Brasil and the USA for six years now. My wife is one step away from becoming a citizen. Praise be to God.

Brasil has a habit of taking it easy. The USA has a habit of stinking the joint out. So, will this be a lazy way to stink the joint out?

Brasil should win hands down but which Brasil team will show up? Will Kaka, Robinho, Luis Fabiano, and Juan play supercharged futebol or will they ease off the gas pedal and play stupid defensive futebol. If Brasil does, this could be disastrous for the guys. America does have some cats that can score like Donovan, Michael Bradley, and Jozy Altidore.
Brasil players told the news folks the let down they had against Egypt was due to being tired from World Cup qualifying the previous week. Good excuse guys, but I don’t buy it. Maybe Paraguay super star Cabanas was right when he said that Brasil’s central defense is suspect. We will see.

www.uol.com.br has this to say about the match on Thursday:      A seleção brasileira elegeu seu principal obstáculo na série de jogos que começou com a rodada dupla nas eliminatórias e agora parte para a segunda partida da Copa das Confederações. O aspecto físico virou vilão de um grupo assumidamente esgotado depois da temporada europeia e deve se sobrepor a conceitos técnicos e táticos na escalação para a partida contra os EUA nesta quinta-feira (11h, de Brasília), em Pretoria.

The article further states: “Dos atletas que nós estamos em contacto, Juan e Maicon, que vieram de lesões, pode precisar de uma parada, por questão de manutenção de ritmo de jogo. Mas, se acharem que existe um certo limite, com esses e em outros casos, podemos decidir isso”, afirmou Runco.

Dunga is blamed the lapse on some of his players were playing injured. He also blamed the lapse on his using the wrong tactics in the match. That his tactics were not so good. Dunga will have better tactics against the USA.

Dunga also said the reserve squad played a controlled scrimmage against a club team from South Africa and won 2-0.  Nesta terça, os reservas da seleção realizaram um treino contra uma equipe sub-19 da África do Sul. Na quarta, Dunga comandará o único treino antes do compromisso diante dos norte-americanos, no local da partida, o estádio Loftus Versfeld. Essa prática, combinada com a conversa particular com os atletas, deve nortear a escalação para quinta.

Check out these sites

www.palau.org

http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

The Confederations Cup is underway. The competition actually started on Sunday but for me Monday’s the day. Brasil and the USA made their debuts. Both were good and bad all rolled into one. Bear with me for a few moments as I explain my crazy self to you.

I am American with a Brasilian heart. I can hear the shouts at me now: “This dudes nuts!” Yes, I am. I love Brasil. Why? My wife is from Brasil. Besides that, I fell in love with Brasilian futebol when I was a teenager. I had my ear glued to the short wave to listen to all the World Cup games.

Now back to the match. Brasil jumped all over Egypt early. Brasileiros jumped out a huge 3-1 lead before taking the foot off the gas pedal. The Egyptians responded by scoring two goals in two minutes to tie the match three all. Then Kaka saved Brasil’s hide with a penalty kick. The final score 4-3 Brasil.

Before you go bananas this is Brasil’s style. Brasilians kick butt. Ease off. Then kick it back into gear and win nine times out of ten. Does this drive Dunga batty? Yep, it sure does but that’s the nature of futebol beast in Brasil.

Kaka got Brasil on the books first. Daniel Alves dribbled into the box and fired a perfect pass to Kaka who blasted home the winner in the fourth minute to give Brasil a 1-0 lead over Egypt.

Egypt found the equalizer in the eight minute. Zidan found the back of the net when out fought Daniel Alves and flicked the header home to tie this baby up at one all.

Three minutes later Brasil took the lead when Luis Fabiano perfect header touched the twines to make 2-1.

Juan’s header off a corner kick found the back of the net to give Brasil a 3-1 after thirty-seven minutes.

Brasil defense took a siesta. Egypt scored back-to-back goals in the 53^rd and 54^th minutes to this baby up at three all.

Brasil woke up and began to apply the pressure. In the 87^th minute Lucio, one timed a volley right at the goal. Egyptian defender Al Muhamadi swatted the ball out of the way with his fore arm. Bingo. A big no-no. It’s a penalty. Muhamadi knew he made a big boo-boo so he flopped on the ground to make it look like he was hit in the head. The ref didn’t buy the act so Big Al was awarded a red card. Kaka was true with his shot. Brasil 4 and Egypt 3.

www.uol.com.br  had this to say about the match with Egypt: Em uma estreia marcada por panes defensivas em série, o Brasil começou a campanha na Copa das Confederações com uma suada vitória por 4 a 3 sobre o Egito, nesta segunda-feira, no estádio Free State, em Bloemfontein. O time de Dunga fechou o primeiro tempo com dois gols de vantagem, depois permitiu a inesperada reação dos atuais campeões africanos, mas se salvou com um pênalti polêmico nos minutos finais.

The Brasil press added this: Defensivamente, a vitória sobre os egípcios deixa no ar a preocupação em relação ao trabalho para conter jogadas adversárias pela linha de fundo e também na contenção de contra-ataques. Foi com esses tipos de jogadas que os atuais campeões da África conseguiram suas melhores chances e seus gols. O sistema de proteção aos laterais do time de Dunga foi surpreendentemente vulnerável no duelo desta segunda.

The USA hung in there as long as they could before losing to Italy 3-1. The USA squad was a man down thirty-two minutes into the match. Ricardo Clark got the heave hoe after a late tackle. It was the right call.

The USA recorded first blood. Jozy  Altidore was mugged when drove into the box by Italian Giorgio Chiellini. Landon Donovan converted the gift to make 1-0 USA after thirty-nine minutes. 

Italy turned on the jets and outscored The USA three zero and won going away 3-1.

Giuseppe Rossi was the main man for the Italians. Both of his goals were long rain bombs that make keeper Tim Howard look silly.

What can I say. The USA was outclassed and outplayed by the Italians. Maybe it’s time for a change. Get rid of the whole team and rebuild from the ground. This isn’t working. Right now The USA couldn’t beat The Little Sisters of The Poor.

Brasil up next for The USA.

Check out these sites.

www.palau.org

 http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

Here we go again. Flamengo stunk the joint out losing to Coritiba 5-0 yesterday in Parana.  Flamengo looked good in the beginning of match. They attacked and attacked but Flamengo couldn’t find the back of the net. Then it was stupid time. Instead of clearing, a well-placed attacking cross Flamengo’s Wellinton booted the ball into his own net to make 1-0 Coritiba at the eight-minute mark.

In the 41^st minute, Marcos Aurelio chipped a scramble ball right in front of the box past the dumbfounded keeper Flamengo Bruno to make 2-0 Coritiba.

After the break, Flamengo decided to pack it in and play dumb stupid futebol. Flamenguistas gave up three goals and lost going away 5-0. Bruno Batata started off the hit paraded in the 46^th minute when he ripped a winner to make it 3-0 Coritiba. Flamengo’s defenses fell asleep and gave Batata a clear shot on goal. Bruno was helpless to stop the shot by Batata. Wellinton was the cause of the defensive lapse for Flamengo.

In the 62^nd minute Batata fired home the rebounded off of Flamengo keeper Bruno to make 4-0 Coritiba.

Renatinho initial attacked caused all the problems for Flamengo. His strike on the goal bounced right off of Bruno’s chest and into the waiting feet of Batata.

Leozinho added the final nail in Flamengo’s coffin to make 5-0. This was another one of those rebound balls off of Bruno into the eager feet of Coritiba Leozinho. He took the gift wrapped the present all the way to the goal. 

www.uol.com.br  described it this way: O Coritiba chegou à sua primeira vitória no Brasileiro em grande estilo. Mesmo desfalcado de quatro de seus principais titulares, o Alviverde massacrou o Flamengo por 5 a 0, neste domingo, no Couto Pereira e deixou a lanterna da competição. Também desfalcado, Rubro-negro carioca sofreu sua segunda goleada seguida fora de casa. No domingo passado foi derrotado por 4 a 2 pelo Sport. Assim, o técnico Cuca já começa a correr o risco de perder o emprego na Gávea.

This was a total massacre. It was a goal fest for Coritiba. Coritiba brought their “A” game.

In other matches in Campeonato do Brasil: Atletico-MG shut out Nautico-PE 3-0. Fluminense and Gremio kissed their sister zero-zero. Goias and Corinthians nada e nada.

Internacional and Vitoria did the tie thing zero-zero. Barueri defeated Avai 3-1. Palmeiras took it to Cruzeiro 3-1.

Sunday was tie day as well as blow out city day. Just ask Flamengo, Cruzeiro, and Avai.

The standings look like this: Atletico and Internacional both have 14 points but Atletico is ahead on goal difference. Palmeiras is in third place with 11 points. Vitoria is fourth with ten points. Flamengo is eleventh spot with 7 points.

There is a logjam at the bottom of the table. Avai, Atletico-PR, Coritiba, and Sport all have four points.

Check out these sites. They are great.

www.palau.org

http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

Let’s get back to the fun. Campeonato Brasileiro. In what was a close match between Santos and Botafogo turned into a cakewalk for Botafogo. Two late goals gave Botafogo a 2-0 win over Santos.

Batista fired a perfect strike from inside the box in the 82^nd minute to give Botafogo a 1-0 lead. Five minutes a dumb defensive mistake by Santos cost them dearly. Laio’s walk in goal in the 87^th minute salted the match away for Botafogo.

Sao Paulo fell behind early 1-0 before rallying to get the equalizer in the 84^th minute to escape with a one all tie with Santo Andre.

Marcelinho Carioca ripped the twines in the 27^th minute to give Santo Andre a 1-0 lead.

Santo Andre defenders surrounded Borges yet he was able to get the shot off. The blast ripped the twines in the 84^th minute to save Sao Paulo’s bacon. The match ended in a one all draw. Santo Andre deserved to win but didn’t. 

For whatever reason Sao Paulo is struggling big time this year. Sao Paulo lost keeper Rogerio Ceni and that changed the focus and direction of the club. Now its downhill.

 www.uol.com.br has this to say:  Compacto e veloz, o Santo André tomou conta do jogo graças às boas atuações de Pablo Escobar, pela esquerda, e Marcelinho, pela direita. O time do ABC poderia, inclusive, ter descido para o vestiário com um placar elástico. Antônio Flávio perdeu ótima chance em defesa milagrosa de Denis e Marcelinho Carioca acertou a trave em cobrança de falta. Mas a pintura de gol do camisa 7, emendando de primeira, da meia-lua, aos 27min, compensou as oportunidades desperdiçadas.

Santo Andre had lots of grace in their attack. The attack was good especially Pablo Escobar.  Flavio lost a good chance and this resulted in the tying goal.

Sport-Recife lost to Atletico-PR 1-0. Rafael Santos scored on a header in the 79^th minute to lift Atletico-PR to the victory. Sport’s defense fell asleep. No one was within ten feet of Rafael Santos when he scored the match winner. It was a beautifully placed ball off a corner kick. The ball was perfectly placed right at the top of the keepers box. That was all she wrote. Bingo. Great goal. It was horrible defense. That’s how it goes in big time Futebol Brasileiro.

Check out these great sites.

www.palau.org

http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

Is the guy worth it? Part of me says yes and another part of me says no.

Ronaldo let Manchester United to a three-peat in The EPL, Champions League Title, and FIFA World Club Title.

Good, but what about on the real world stage The World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo bombs out.
The pundits scream he’s this, he’s that, but he can’t even carry Pele or Maradona’s jock strap.

When the pressures on or as I like to say nut- cutting time he disappears. He can’t make the key shot. He cries and complains when he gets bumped. Just look at this year’s Champions League Finals. He had three good chances to score for Man U. Nada, Zippo, Nada, De nada serviram as chances de Cristiano Ronaldo.

I am hard on him. You can bet my sweet bippie I am. The cat’s gonna make 131 million bucks.

When it’s nut-cutting time, I will take Pele, Maradona, or Ronaldo any day of the week. The best pure scorer in futebol history is Ronaldo. In his prime Ronaldo was a creative scoring genius. He could score any place and anywhere on the pitch.

Pele set the futebol world on its ear in 1958. All he did was score three goals in the semi-finals. He followed that two more goals in the finals to lead Brasil to the World Cup title.

Maradona what can you say two World Cup Titles. The famous 1986 Hand of God goal. For an encore, he followed it up with the greatest goal in World Cup history. Maradona dribbled through the entire English team. He made them look silly. Bam! The back of the net. Great? Yes? The best ever. This depends on whom you talk to. Argentinos, yes. Brasileiros, no.

Ronaldo won the FIFA player of the year three times, 1996,1997, and 2002. He won two World Cup’s in 1994, 2002. In the 2002 World Cup, he scored eight goals to lead Brasil to the title.

In his prime, Ronaldo is pure magic.

Where does Cristiano Ronaldo rank in comparison to Pele, Maradona, or Ronaldo? You tell me?

Tomorrow we’ll talk about the concept of team.

Check out these sights. You will love them.

http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

www.palau.org

Has the panic set in yet for all you Man U fans like me? No. This is good for Man U. Ronaldo wants out so get him outta here. One thing I have learned in all my years either playing, coaching, writing or broadcasting sports is this, if a player wants out don’t keep him around. He will become a cancer on the team and it will spread and begin to affect the others around him. Once that process happens it is all down hill from there.

I think that’s what happened to Manchester United in the Champions League Final.

Let us look at the facts. Cristiano Ronaldo scored fifty goals two seasons ago. Last year he scored only 18 goals. What gives here? Sure, the cat was hurt but instinct tells me something else was up.  He wanted out.

Good-bye. Good luck and may Gods speed be with you.

What is that old saying the grass is always greener on the other side until you get there. Ronaldo may have just stepped into a hellhole. Time will tell.

 Brasil is off to defend the Confederation Cup. The Brasil National team arrived in South Africa today.

Even after kicking major butt in world cup qualifying this past week, Dunga is still in lots of hot water. The Brasilian Press and the fans want him fired. Brasileiros never accepted Dunga as their head man when he was hired in 2006. He has done a very good job.

He has taken a team of fading stars and fat stars who thought just by showing up they were going win and got rid of them.  He turned the team into a bunch lean younger players who want to win.

Gone are Ronaldo, Ronaldinho Gaucho, and Adriano and he replaced them Robinho, Kaka, Daniel Alves, The Duck Pato, and the minister of defense keeper Julio Cesar who have a burning desire to prove to the world they are the best team on the planet.

Brasil’s first match is against Egypt on Monday June 15^th.

The USA opens with Italy on the same day.

Argentina is now in a state of mourning after the 2-0 whitewash at the hands of Ecuador on Wednesday night. www.uol.com.br puts it this way:    Com Maradona como comandante, a seleção argentina não está tendo vida fácil para conquistar sua classificação para a Copa do Mundo de 2010, na África do Sul. Nesta quarta-feira, enquanto o líder Brasil virou contra o Paraguai, por 2 a 1, os vizinhos sofreram mais uma derrota. A Argentina caiu diante do Equador por 2 a 0 e é apenas quarta colocada na classificação.

The article further states: Segundo o Olé, os problemas da Argentina não se encerraram com a saída de campo. Maradona e seus comandados tiveram dificuldades em pegar o voo de volta ao país. O avião que seria utilizado para levar o time teve problemas de potência em uma de suas turbinas e teve de passar por uma longa revisão até a liberação para decolar.

Maradona has a lot of problems with his selection of the team. Argentina is up in arms against Maradona. He is not living up to the teams potential.  He needs to lighten up and make some changes.

Yet. Maradona isn’t worried. He seems to very upbeat after this 2-0 loss to Ecuador on Wednesday.

The Argentina Press has this to say about the 2-0 loss to Ecuador: La delegación argentina ya está viajando hacia Buenos Aires. El arribo está previsto para poco después de la medianoche. La Selección regresa tras perder el miércoles 2-0 ante Ecuador y sufrir problemas con el avión que en principio debía trasladarla al país.

 La delegación argentina que concurrió para el partido por la Eliminatoria Sudamericana ante Ecuador, finalmente partió desde el aeropuerto de Quito pasadas las 18.30 de nuestro país en un vuelo charter. El arribo a Ezeiza está previsto para poco después de la medianoche.

The Argentina Press is treating Maradona with kid gloves. He is a national hero. Is he a good coach? NO? And this is a resounding no.

I like Maradona. There is something likable about him. He is a man after my own heart.

Buenos Aires paper has this to say;  L a resaca del encuentro deja un Ecuador heroico y señala a Maradona y Messi como los principales culpables. En Ecuador el ambiente es de euforia. El Comercio titulaba ‘La Tri enciende la alegría’, El Expreso ‘El Tri entra en la pelea’, La Hora ‘Golazos de esperanza’ y El Universo señala, en su crónica titulada ‘Tricolor 2, Maradona 0′, “ni Messi, considerado mejor futbolista del planeta, ni la prepotencia del astro Maradona en el banquillo, fueron obstáculo para que el fútbol ecuatoriano viva ayer otra tarde gloriosa”.En Argentina las primeras son pesimistas, como la de Clarín que habla de ‘Una derrota y cada vez más dudas’. La Nación es más incisiva en su análisis: “Maradona demoró los cambios. Cuando ingresaron Bergessio y Verón el equipo estaba en franca declinación y los refrescos se contagiaron de la imprecisión y el abatimiento general”. Y Olé advierte: “Diego avisó que hasta él se tirará para empujar la pelota. En la intimidad, se percibe, hay más preocupación que demagogia. El pase al Mundial está difícil y ahora viene la serie de Brasil y Paraguay”. Por último, Torneos y Competencias, cadena televisiva que tiene los derechos de la albiceleste, acusa a Messi “de falta de liderazgo” y revela que en el lanzamiento del penalti La Pulga pidió a Tévez lanzarlo, pero El Apache se negó y Messi acató la decisión sin rechistar.

Let the chips fall where they may. This little voice inside of me says that Maradona  will right the ship.

Check out these sites

www.palau.org

http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp

Argentina’s woes continued at high altitude. Argentina stunk the joint out in a 2-0 loss to Ecuador. Tevez missed a gimmie penalty shot in the first half. Messi miss fired on some early scoring opportunities and that always will come back and haunt you.

It did. Ecuador scored twice in the second half to win going away.

The first goal by Walter Ayovi was a great strike that ripped the back of the nets in the 71^st minute.

Pablo Palacios added an insurance goal in the 83^rd minute to make 2-0.

This makes the second straight loss for Argentina at high altitude. It’s tough playing in the rarefied air. I know I have played at 7,000 as well as 10,000 feet. It is tough.

This begs the question should Maradona be fired? I like the guy. He is good for the game. He is one of the all time great players but does that translate into being a good coach. So far, no. Give him a chance and see what happens in the Confederations Cup. If his team bombs out give him the heave hoe.

All is not as bleak as the Argentina Press paints this loss.  Despite losing, Argentina still remains in the fourth spot with 22 points.

Ecuador is in fifth spot with 20 points.

Brasil gave up an early goal but came roaring back to defeat Paraguay 2-1. Brasil started out playing like crap. The first goal woke up the sleeping giant. Paraguay scored first blood. In the 26^th minute Cabanas scored on a beautiful counter attack to make 1-0.

The crowd in Recife was going nuts. Brasil turned up the heat and Robinho scored on a beautiful goal in the 41^st minute to tie this baby up at one all. Kaka, Robinho, and Daniel Alves had a great build up that led to the lethal strike by Robinho.

Nilmar added the second goal for Brasil in the 49^th minute to make 2-1. Big kudos for Nilmar. He plays for my team Flamengo. He’s a Flamenguista.

This was a big win for Brasil. It was badly needed as Brasil now heads to the Confederations Cup later this month on a huge upswing.

www.uol.com.br states: Nenhum adversário leva vantagem nos confrontos com o Brasil durante a era Dunga. Na noite desta quarta-feira, a seleção contou com o apoio da torcida pernambucana no estádio do Arruda e superou o algoz que restava. Venceu de virada o Paraguai por 2 a 1, com gols de Robinho e Nilmar, e se isolou na liderança das eliminatórias sul-americanas.

This is very funny. Before these two convincing wins, Dunga was portrayed as an idiot now he is a genius. Go figure. The press hated his selection of the team now the clowns in the media sing his praises. What a bunch of two-faced liars the press in Brasil and the rest world is.  

Brasil is now in the drivers seat with 27 points.

Uruguay and Venezuela tied at two all.

Chile massacred Bolivia 4-0.

Colombia defeated lowly Peru 1-0.

The standings look like this:

Brasil sits atop with 27 points. Chile is second with 26 points. Paraguay is third with 24 and Argentina is fourth with 22. Fifth spot is held by Ecuador with 20 points. Uruguay is in sixth place with 18 points. The top four earn a berth in the World Cup while fifth place team has to play off match with a CONCACAF fourth place team.

That’s it for today.

Check out these sites you will love them:

www.palau.org

 http://www2.hillsong.com/tv/home.asp