ursus arctos wrote:
[quote]Pitaco,

An excellent highlights show called "FootBrazil" and "as live" matches once or twice a week (recently from the Paulistao, and now from the Brasilero). Unfortunately, we get them overdubbed into Italian.


glad you like the Brasileiro preview! i did put some time into it so it's nice when someone appreciate what you've done.

also glad you like Footbrazil because i work on the show! haha but you're probably fortunate that you get the dubbed version! haha same thing with the 'live' games haha

sidjames wrote:
[quote]Welcome pdg and thanks for an excellent blog.

Any contributions would also be very welcome on the Copa Libertadores thread. quote]

i found the Libertadores thread yesterday but i can't find it today. can you send me the URL? thanks

http://www.wsc.co.uk/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,35/func,view/id,803/catid,27/

The Libertadores thread does tend to disappear from the front page when fewer than two from myself, Sid, Ursus, Inca and Rojinegro aren't online, annoyingly. For 'some reason' the Champions League gets far more discussion...

Ursus and Jon will be pleased to know that I sacrificed my Saturday night out to check on Corinthians Serie B progress against Gama. (OK, I didn't have anything else to do).

Despite numerous missed chances, they won 3-1 with a header from the prolific Herrera and fine strikes from Douglas and the much-maligned Acosta. The goals are here. I suspect they're going to walk this division but they have a tougher test on Tuesday with a cup semi-final against Botafogo.

I was delighted to learn that Gama's ground is called Boca do Jacaré - Alligator's Mouth. This might have been quite intimidating if it wasn't for the fact the vast majority of the crowd were Corinthians fans.

Douglas' is particularly fine.

Gama deserve to go down solely for the huge "Man" (back) and "Mash" adverts on their shorts.

If the Juventus experience is any guide, there will be times during the season when Corinthians lose their focus.

sidjames wrote:
[quote]Ursus and Jon will be pleased to know that I sacrificed my Saturday night out to check on Corinthians Serie B progress against Gama. (OK, I didn't have anything else to do).

no, not really. i'm starting to worry about you! haha

how did you watch the game? did you see it on the net or just see the best moments that Globo put out during the match?

Douglas is an excellent player but like Acosta, he took the money instead of going to play for a team in the Libertadores.

corinthians will probably get promoted (4 teams go up so it's hard to see them blowing it) but they also started well last year (in the top 3 for five out of the first six rounds) before they nose-dived.

btw, did you get my email?

Thanks, just found it - the old site used to alert you when a PM reached your inbox. Reply on its way soon.

I saw the whole thing courtesy of Sopcast but I do like those instant update highlights on Globo. Tonight Sopcast have got the Atlético PR/SP game you're covering but I think I'll plump for Grêmio/ Flamengo instead. A São Paulo away performance could put me in too much of a stupor for work tomorrow.

With so many reserve teams being put out, the league action is really only in its phoney war stage. (Fluminense have dropped 5 points already due to prioritising the CL). So I think a diversion to the Copa Brasil is in order with the first legs of two interesting semis coming up this week.

Botafogo v Corinthians - a big test for the Timão. Can they continue their recent good form against Serie A opposition? They've got a decent chance against a Botafogo team that has not yet recaptured last year's early season form.

Sport v Vasco - Sport have already eliminated highly-rated Palmeiras and International but will face an Edmundo-inspired Vasco. At the age of 37, he's restricting himself to one game a week but has already scored 5 cup goals and, in what may be his last season will be looking for one last trophy.

Two compelling storylines.

Whereas the Brasileirao has had a definite Carling Cup vibe to it so far.

I still hate Edmundo for stealing the Viola's money (interestingly enough, I don't feel that way at all about Socrates, who did arguably the same thing).

Great to see more debates here on Brazilian football. Due to my wife being Brazilian and me visiting there, I also have a relatively close relationship, with Corinthians my no 1 team and Cruzeiro and Santos second and third.

Her whole family, btw, is Palmeirense.

Kurt, I don't know what kind of coverage of Brasilian football there is on German TV these days, but the shows noted above that our new poster Gringo works on are available on SportItalia's live stream here (with Italian voiceovers, of course).

Just click on the videoscreen; "Progammazione" will give you the schedule. They also carry Libertadores matches (and NBA, but I assume you have other sources for that).

Thanks for the tip Ursus. FootBrazil is on this afternoon. It was on UK Sky last season but they seem to have dispensed with it this year.

It won't be a thrilling show this week as the Brasileirão is still cursed by weakened teams. Two good-looking matches - Botafogo v Vasco and Sport v Flu - were virtually reserve games and Adriano-less, CL-eliminated São Paulo attracted just 5000 to their miserable draw with Coritiba. Meanwhile, Cruzeiro maintained their 100% record with a 4-0 thrashing of Santos with Flamengo two points behind after a comeback win against Internacional. Palmeiras won't be happy with two points dropped against Portuguesa.

Never mind all this - the one we're really waiting for is Boca v Flu on Wednesday and the cup semis should be pretty good too.

Right, some quick questions for sid, gringo or anyone else who can help:

What day/time is the Corinthians Botafogo semi on this week?

Any chance of seeing it online?

Any idea why neither leg of the semi is being played at the home club's ground?

That Sportitalia link is great, ursus. Just seen the top 5 goals of last weekend - the top two were both Corinthians ones - 2. Douglas and 1. Acosta. Should have their positions reversed though.

Jon wrote:

QUOTE:

What day/time is the Corinthians Botafogo semi on this week?

Any chance of seeing it online?

Any idea why neither leg of the semi is being played at the home club's ground?

it's on wednesday 21:50 Brasilia (4 hours behind the UK)

Corinthians (Brazil's "second biggest club") don't actually have a home! haha so, they use the Pacaembu, or the Morumbi if they think they'll be a good turn out (which there will be on wednesday).

vasco are playing at home in the são januario for the second leg vs Sport.

try this link: http://www.performgroup.com/page/LatestNews/0,,12605~1222624,00.html

Jon - Douglas scored an even better one on Saturday. Here it is.

Unfortunately, he's cup-tied and four others are suspended for Wednesday. They've still got a chance though, particularly if they have a more competent referee than in the first leg.

Vasco, I think, have left themselves a bit too much to do to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Sport but you never know what Edmundo might come up with.

What a Wednesday night - all this and Boca v Fluminense as well.