The Noise from Brazil

The talent, the gossip, the inside track

Humility and teamwork help Ronaldinho's Atletico Mineiro lead the way in Brazil

They haven't won a national trophy this century, but Atletico Mineiro top the league – led by a rejuvenated yet more mature Ronaldinho, says Rupert Fryer He positioned his body between ball and defender...
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Could Neymar rival the as yet unrivalled Messi?

It has never taken very much for Pelé and Diego Maradona to fall out. Locked in an apparently perpetual dispute over their respective claims to be the world’s greatest ever footballer, this is a match...
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Why Brazil are worried about facing Scotland

On the eve of Brazil’s friendly versus Scotland, TV Globo’s English language football commentator Jon Cotterill says coach Mano Menezes has to keep his nerve – and faith in the country’s youth Brazil may...
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Could Chelsea target Neymar be Brazil's answer to Man Utd legend George Best?

Neymar da Silva is taking the South American Youth Championships in Peru by storm. Here, TV Globo’s football commentator Jon Cotterill explains why the Brazilian reminds him of the Manchester United icon...
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Are Flamengo the wrong club in the right place for Ronaldinho?

The former FIFA world footballer of the year is back home. Here, TV Globo’s football commentator Jon Cotterill looks at how cash-strapped Brazilian clubs are bringing back the stars Ronaldinho Gaúcho’s...
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Has Wenger's latest gem lost his sparkle before even arriving at Arsenal?

Tipped as the latest teenage sensation, life has taken a downturn for Wellington Silva in Brazil. Here, TV Globo’s football commentator Jon Cotterill asks whether Arsenal’s latest promising young signing...
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How to go from champs to chumps in the space of a year

Flamengo, Brazil’s biggest club and current league champions, are facing the humiliation of becoming the first side to win the Brasileiro and go down the following season. Brazilian TV commentator Jon...
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Brazil's new manager threatened by Argentina – and London

New Brazil coach Mano Menezes has started a revolution, with a young squad designed to be future-proof. Here, Brazilian TV commentator Jon Cotterill explains the dangers lurking ahead... With three easy...
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Corinthians look to Ronaldo to keep Libertadores dream alive

Ladies and gentleman, the Copa Libertadores, South America’s own Champions League, has entered its playoff phase this week and, as it is standard procedure in such life-defining events, we take the dusty...
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Brazil displays the good, the bad and the ugly

Dear readers, what a week. In a seven-day span, Brazilians were shown the beautiful game' version of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – with the ugly being really ugly, not spaghetti-western ugly but...
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Sizzling Santos steam towards successive-win record

Wow. They’ve made it 10. With the 3-2 away win over Paulista in Jundiai – courtesy of another beautiful Robinho winner – Santos got their 10th consecutive win, including São Paulo State Championship and...
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The Brazilian side who won the Champions League

A wise proverb says that the year in Brazil only starts after Carnival. So anything in January or early February isn’t so important that it can’t wait after Ash Wednesday – or better still, the following...
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The YouTube Kid kicks off Brazil's season

Dear friends, 2010 has arrived... Finally! Of course, since we’re entering a World Cup year, I can’t wish you plenty of luck. But except for that June/July bit in South Africa, please accept The Noise...
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Four-horse race goes down to the wire

After eight months of breathtaking competition, the Brazilian champion will finally be crowned this Sunday. And, for the first time in the decade, four teams arrive in the last round fighting for the title...
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Brazil's Peter Parker sinks fangs into England

With a huge chunk of regulars missing for both sides, it was kind of predictable that we weren’t going to witness a high-flying team performance from neither England nor Brazil in their friendly match...
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Could Christian Vieri come to Brazil?

With the National Championship getting hotter and hotter in its last rounds, Brazilian football fans will only have had their attention diverted from the country’s ultimate prize by the wildest, craziest...
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Palmeiras on course to throw title away

After the much-celebrated successful World Cup qualifying campaign and the ecstasy following the choice of Rio de Janeiro as the 2016 Olympic host city, Brazil turns its attention once again to the good...
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Sucking & swallowing take centre stage

So after Wednesday’s games the South American World Cup qualifiers are over, and I’m sure you don’t want to hear about Brazil vs Venezuela – a soporific 0-0 draw, from what I heard. NEWS: Lacklustre Brazil...
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Kleber's bigamy takes Cruzeiro for a ride

Since returning to the samba country in a move that saw him loaned to Palmeiras by Dinamo Kyiv early last year, forward Kléber has been one of Brazil’s most offensive menaces, on and off the pitch. With...
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Why we'll never tire of beating Argentina

You know when you like a movie so much, but after watching it two or three times, it strikes you as kind of boring? Or when you discover a new and delicious dessert, but after having it three or four times...
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How to beat Argentina...

I NVASION ALERT! Ahead of the crucial Clasico qualifier between Argentina and Brazil, Joel Richards – writer of FourFourTwo.com blog Argie Bargy – gives his view from the other side. Including how Dunga's...
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Brazil rolls red carpet for Romario yet again

Have you heard the news about the master coming out of retirement to help his beloved team? No, I’m not talking about the German car racer with the bad neck. Brazil will roll the red carpet once again...
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Will Queen Marta rule among men in Santos?

In their 95-year history, the monarchy-loving Santos have had a king (Pelé), a prince (Robinho) and many, many jesters (there’s plenty to choose from in this year’s sloppy roster alone). All they lacked...
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'Barack' Obina: Better than Eto’o and Ronaldo

Sunday’s Corinthians and Palmeiras derby was supposed to be the clash of the Pentacampeões . For the first time, forward Ronaldo and goalkeeper Marcos, key players in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup triumph, would...
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Same old Ronaldo, always scoring...

We could start by talking about Cruzeiro's 5-0 humiliation of Atlético in the Minas Gerais State Championship final first leg last weekend. Or discuss the electrifying 2-2 draw between Botafogo and...
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Shock! Pele nails prediction in State Championships

Wow! The last time we spoke , I was telling you how the foreplay of the Brazilian season was over. But no one imagined the climax would arrive so fast… and be so good. We’re still three weeks away from...
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State Championship showdowns for Brazil's big boys

So futebol fans, after two months of foreplay the State Championships contenders have finally been narrowed down. And, unlike last year, all the powerhouses are alive and kicking in the main tournaments...
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A topsy-turvy week on the road to South Africa

During this past World Cup Qualifiers week, Brazil and Argentina switched roles as fast as you can say “hand me an oxygen mask!” Last Sunday, most of the South American press – including members of the...
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Pele, Robinho, Neymar: Lightning strikes thrice

Word in Santos is that lightning doesn’t strike twice. However, the locals are pretty sure that Vila Belmiro has now been hit a third time by the atmospheric electricity discharged by the gods of the beautiful...
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Ronaldo returns... and he still knows where the net is

Several Palmeiras fans attempted to disguise their disappointment with the heart-breaking injury-time equaliser in the derby against Corinthians with a light-hearted joke at the expense of their own executioner...
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Tracking down English football's first ever Brazilian

Ever since I started writing for FourFourTwo back in 2003, I'd always been keen to track down and report on the whereabouts of Mirandinha, the first Brazilian ever to play in England; the forefather...
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The top five Argentinians ever to set foot in Brazil

First, let’s get one thing straight. Despite the huge, intense, fierce rivalry between Brazil and Argentina, I personally don’t hold any grudge against the Argentinians. After all, our hermanos – the brothers...
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Who’s hot and who’s not in Brazil so far

Fellow Brazilian football fans, the Carnival's now over, which means the season can really start to get going. We’ve merely been warming up since January, since the beginning of the State Championships...
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Beautiful Brazil won't succeed under dull Dunga

There is more than 11 reasons for us Brazilians to get excited again with the national team, who beat Italy as easy as pizza pie on Tuesday night at the Emirates Stadium. Robinho flying high, Ronaldinho...
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Brazil's stars stay home & Ronaldo's spare pair of knees

Dearest Brazilian football fans, we’re back! And by “we” I mean not only this blog, but also the excitement, drama and nonsense of the beautiful game in the beautiful land. And, boy, this year is a promising...
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The Phenomenon fights back: Ronaldo returns home

Every year, at the end of each season, it's the norm to see blanket media coverage of the national champions from early December, when the tournament ends, until Christmas at least. And if there’s...
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São Paulo all set to seal trio of titles

Ladies and gentleman, this Sunday we're all set to have a new champion in Brazil. Well, not exactly a new one since São Paulo FC, who are bound to clinch the title over the weekend, also won the tournament...
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Peeved Palmeiras fans dish out very personal punishment

I’ve mentioned before in this blog about the self-depreciating joke regarding the divine justice in Brazil . But when I adapted it to the football world, I forgot to note that, besides putting boneheaded...
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Loopy Luis sees red for booking ref

Only once in a blue moon does an incident like this come along... a player flashing a card at the referee. And it’s usually just a bit of fun. Paul Gascoigne once did it, after the man in black had dropped...
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Lewis Hamilton, São Paulo and the last laps in Brazil

When Sebastian Vettel’s Toro Rosso overtook Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren with two laps left of the Brazilian GP, I heard an unprecedented roar of celebration come through the window here in São Paulo – and...
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Futsal's coming home...

There’s two legends surrounding the origins of futsal, whose FIFA World Cup started this week in Brazil. The first dictates the sport was created in the 1930’s in Uruguay by Montevideo YCMA’s professor...
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Gre-nal... the most Argentinian clash in Brazil

Down there in the South, there’s a small part of Brazil whose football was forged in the traditional Argentinian mould – a hard, physical game with strength over skills. It’s the Rio Grande do Sul state...
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15 years since Romário’s second coming

September 19, 1993. 15 years ago. Brazil vs Uruguay at Maracanã, the last game of the 1994 World Cup qualifiers. Bolivia and Uruguay led the group with 10 points. Brazil had 9. A draw would kiss the then...
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Brazilian championship hotting up... finally

Lord almighty, I feel my temperature rising! Alopecic midfielder and old-timer Elvis fan Paulo Baier set the Brazilian championship alight last Saturday by leading Goiás to a 2-1 away victory at leaders...
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The Robinho story... part two

As I was saying last week , young Robinho was a true gem. Expectations were sky high in Brazil, the result of the two National Championships he delivered to Santos in 2002 and 2004. He was unanimously...
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Seleção, Madonna and the boo magnet

See, it wasn’t so hard was it? The 3-0 away win against Chile brought some much-needed lull days for Brazil, after weeks of turmoil following the Olympic fiasco. The Seleção played like they should, and...
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Dunga’s Seleção near record books... for wrong reasons

Dunga’s Seleção can make history this Sunday in their World Cup qualifier match against Chile. Too bad it'll be for all the wrong reasons. If Brazil don’t score against Chile, it will only be the second...
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The Robinho story... part one

Is it just me or do you all think that Robinho isn’t getting enough media coverage lately? I’ll take the opportunity to fill this unbelievable blank by throwing some personal opinions on the career of...
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The (un)popularity of South America’s UEFA Cup

Here in South America we have our own version of the UEFA Cup. It’s called the Copa Sul-americana – or Sudamericana, in Spanish, Conmebol’s official language – and this year its seventh annual competition...
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Goodbye and good riddance Dunga

Before Tuesday’s game against Argentina, I insisted that the Olympic semi-final was a win-win situation for us Brazilians. If we beat our arch-rivals from the south, fantastic. The unbeaten run against...
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Brazil ready for revenge mission at Olympics

The Brazilian Championship reached its midway point in the season this week, with Grêmio clinching the symbolic 'winter' title. But, as most of the coaches have said, the 'real' championship...
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Flamengo fans find new way to fire up players

That’s life (that’s life), that’s what all the people say You’re ridin’ high in April, shot down in May. Fast-forward two months to July in the lyrics of the 1966 classic “That’s Life”, immortalized by...
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Meet Palmeiras’ newest Animal

After the clash against Palmeiras, São Paulo defender André Dias hit out against opponent Kléber, back in Brazil after three years playing for Dinamo Kiev. “The guy is in the wrong sport. I guess he should...
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Brazilian managers' and fans' worst nightmare

“I wish this month ends soon.” To the unaware listener, Flamengo coach Caio Junior sounds like his squad is having a black July. But it’s nothing like that at all, actually the team from Rio de Janeiro...
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Tip for Abramovich... let Scolari do it his way

It’s been a week since Luiz Felipe Scolari gave his first press conference as Chelsea’s head coach. By now, the Brazilian gaffer should have already deciphered all of the Stamford Bridge club’s mysteries...
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Flu vs LDU: kill or be killed at the Maracanã

If you listen to what the Fluminense folks have been saying for the past few days, a Brazilian win in Wednesday's Copa Libertadores final second leg at the Maracanã against LDU is as certain as death...
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Life’s a beach for Ronaldo transvestite

As Ronaldo knows only too well, life is full of surprises. For instance, we thought nothing could be worse than a Ronnie look-a-like starring in a porn movie . Well surprise, surprise... Andréia Albertini...
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EXCLUSIVE: Copa Libertadores champions revealed

WARNING: THIS BLOG MAY CONTAIN A SPOILER! Ladies and gentleman, señoras y señores, after 136 games it’s finally time to find out who becomes the rulers of South America. Fluminense and Liga Deportiva Universitaria...
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Introducing Charlie Bullet, God’s Brazilian buddy

Italians all around the world are surely praying to God for a win against the French today. In this particular case, I wouldn’t trust such an important request to the Pope – the man is German and he’ll...
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Boring, boring Brazil just a disguise... hopefully

There’s no need to explain to you British people how boring Brazil friendlies usually are. You’ve seen enough of them lately with London becoming the official capital of the samba boys' (drowsy) exhibition...
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Unfancied sides prevail in Brazilian FA Cup too

Brazil’s version of the FA Cup - the Copa do Brasil - will come to an end this Wednesday when Corinthians and Sport do battle in Recife in the second leg of the final. Unlike its English equivalent, the...
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Prediction-free preview of Copa Libertadores clash

After another dismal performance previewing the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals – with three misses out of four – I humbly excused myself from trying to forecast the tournament's semi-finals. I’m...
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Lame penalties, lice and Edmundo’s flash retirement

After weeks of placid quietude, Edmundo has had another outburst. After missing a crucial penalty kick in the Copa do Brasil semi-final, our very own Animal shaved his head and announced his retirement...
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No Kaka, no cry as Pato takes on the Olympics

Early this week, coach Dunga announced Kaká was fundamental to his plans for the upcoming Olympic tournament in Beijing. But Milan’s answer came as rapidly and predictably as a 3am picture of Amy Winehouse...
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Balls on the block for Copa Lib

After flunking big-time in the previews for the round of 16 – calling an impressive five matches out of eight wrong – here I am again to fearlessly entertain you with my so-called predictions of the Copa...
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America’s success not done the Mexican way

Mexican football usually catches the fans’ eyes with a beautiful, exciting, offensive game. But historically it has led them to nothing but disappointment. With no major international crowns – except in...
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The greatest signing for Brazilian porn ever

Back in the day when Ronaldo knew how to distinguish women from tranvestites, many ladies made their lives by capitalising on their flings. The careers of models Daniella Cicarelli and Raica Oliveira took...
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All hail the state champions we've never heard of

Ladies and gentlemen, the first part of Brazilian football season is over. Most of the major State tournaments ended on Sunday – which means we already have 14 newly-crowned champions around the country...
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Hand of the Emperor officials back with a flash

Do you remember the refereeing tandem Paulo César de Oliveira and Maria Eliza Barbosa, who let Adriano’s 'Hand of the Emperor' goal stand? Well, Palmeiras’ intervention prevented them to be considered...
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Fried rooster: a dish best served cold

Last year at the Minas Gerais State Championship final, Cruzeiro were pounded by their cross-town archrivals Atlético 4-0. It was supposed to be close game to call, so no one saw the ugly massacre coming...
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Copa Lib knock-out stage: runners 'n' riders

Football lovers around the world, the group phase of Copa Libertadores – South America’s Champions League – is over, and the knockout phases begin in earnest tomorrow (Tuesday) at Lanus. So let’s preview...
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She-Monkey and Spider-Man prepare to pound Palmeiras

They have a female monkey (with lipstick and, sometimes, high heels!) as a mascot and a spider under the goalposts. Welcome to the animal kingdom of Associaçao Atletica Ponte Preta, the oldest professional...
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Farewell to a genius... and to a brand new Ferrari

Fourteen years after first talking about ending his career – following Brazil’s 1994 World Cup title – Romário finally announced he’s done with football at the launch of his 1,000 goals DVD project in...
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Divine justice and the Hand of the Emperor

A popular self-depreciating joke about Brazilians has God talking to a bewildered angel at the time of creation. Amazed by the natural wonders of Brazil, he approaches his boss to ask about a supposed...
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Who’s the greatest: Pelé, Maradona... or Biro-Biro?

For more than 1000 reasons, we Brazilians don’t take the who-was-the-best quarrel between Pelé and Maradona that seriously. Few ideas in this century were dumber than FIFA's 2002 plan of granting the...
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The goalkeeper who wasn’t there

It’s injury time and your team desperately need a goal, either to even the score or to win it when only victory will suffice. Corner to your side. The goalkeeper meanders forward and joins the melee inside...
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Thugs fool futsal in biggest brawl of year

April 1st, 2008. On the All Fool’s Day, Santos bamboozled Bolivia’s San Jose at Vila Belmiro in the Copa Libertadores, drawing chuckles from a tickled crowd. The beautiful 7-0 trick came up just short...
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Giants finally awake in São Paulo

Fans of Brazilian football may have wondered why I haven’t written a single line on the fierce battle for the São Paulo State championship since this blog kicked off, late January. Sure, there was plenty...
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Pato's the real deal: and not just Englishmen can see it

In Brazil, when something is done just to keep up appearances, we use the expression para inglês ver – “so the Englishman can see it”. So, for example, you might say: “Did you see Michael Jackson is dating...
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Big Brother fever melts football’s justice

“Pathetically easy. Next case.” That’s (US television series star) Dr Gregory House politely declining to look over the maladies of Brazilian football’s authorities. The symptoms and side effects of incompetence...
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Football’s one and only somersault princess

What do you get when you cross a Brazilian female football player with an American cheerleader? Meet São Paulo born, Chicago raised 17-year-old Leah Fortune, who plays left-back for the Brazil’s U20 football...
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The world’s greatest ball boy

Bernardo Gandulla was an Argentinian midfielder who landed in Rio de Janeiro in 1939, to play for Vasco da Gama. Despite being a much hyped player South of the border, he didn’t live up to his name in...
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Joy and drama of Brazil’s three tenors

Early this year, Fluminense managed to sign three fantastic strikers for their return to the Copa Libertadores. Two of them, to the fans delight, were snapped up at the peak of their form from under the...
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Leao and the unfit Colombian’s wondershot

It’s no secret in Brazil that Santos coach Emerson Leao has a serious beef against foreigners – especially Argentinians. He’s the one who, in 2006, scared away Carlitos Tevez and Javier Mascherano from...
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The madness of Emperor Adriano

It’s not only a player’s skills that amaze me. I’m also especially impressed by the enlightenment of some footballers who, when faced with trouble, look to their forefathers for counselling and guidance...
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No country for old fans?

Last week, Atlético Paranaense broke a 59-year-old club record in the Paraná State championship by winning 12 matches in a row. Flamengo seized the Taça Guanabara in an electrifying final against Botafogo...
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Champions League, Latin America style

While the European powerhouses resume the battle for the Champions League this week, the prize they’re all after is taking a break in Brazil. The big-eared cup was exhibited in São Paulo last weekend,...
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The end of Ronaldo? Don't bet on it

In the aftermath of Ronaldo’s (latest) heart-breaking injury, newspapers in Brazil and around the world fill their pages with images of our buck-toothed ace lying on the San Siro ground, right hand on...
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Top dogs rock in Rio

Over the past decade, the consistent inconstancy of Rio de Janeiro’s big four – Flamengo, Vasco, Fluminense and Botafogo – has allowed some of the minnows to enter the spotlight in the race for the charming...
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The end of Romario’s Carnival

The ace resigns from his job at Vasco. Things won’t be the same without the mighty Shorty around... Romario’s career has been a feast of talent, wit, excitement and goals – so it’s a fitting coincidence...
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Cute, armed and still dangerous

The Brazilian football season is just underway with the State Tournaments – the main attraction, the Brazilian Championship, starts only on May 10. And since the top teams are more concerned with the big...
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Welcome to Brazil!

Olá amigos, Just a quick but warm hello to welcome you to the all new FourFourTwo blog about Brazilian football. Straight from our headquarters in Sao Paulo, The Noise from Brazil plans to trumpet the...
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Spotlight

He's here, he's there, he's...

75% of all TV is Bale

The cost of Premier League away travel

On the road to ruin