We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
They're not the 1970 team or even the 1982 team, but when the Selecao takes the pitch, even casual fans have to take notice. Today we have the chance to see Brazil take on Venezuela in what will almost certainly have to be a goal-fest. Or will it be? The hosts Argentina underperformed against Bolivia the other night. Join me for all the fun on Univision this afternoon from 3pm EST onward.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 2:25 PM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
89 Comments:
The preview show has started on Univision and Hugo Sanchez has been coaxed out of his Cancun lair to join the usual mustachioed Univision host in the studio.
'86?... I know you really meant '82
There certainly is quite a bit more T&A on Univision. We were just treated to a group of buxom Venezuela fans decked out in kits a couple of sizes too small. And I have to say that I approve and I'm almost sure that Warren Barton would too if FSC adopted this policy.
Welcome, UWS!
Sorry, mate - you're absolutely right. I'll fix it in a jiffy. But of course you're going to grumble that "jogo bonito" is a myth, right?
The objection to the "Jogo Bonito" mythology that has already been referenced on Univision this afternoon is that ever since that disastrous pass across the backfour that let Paolo Rossi in for one of his three goals in that quarter-final match-up in 1982, Brazil haven't played to entertain but to win. That's true but I can always have my dreams that Brazil might at some point hire the Brazilian equivalent of Ossie Ardiles and go for some balls-out footie.
Here's the team news out of La Plata today:
Brazil: Julio Cesar, Dany Alves, Lucio, Thiago Silva, Andre Santos, Lucas Leiva, Ramires, Ganso, Robinho, Neymar, Pato.
Venezuela: Vega, Rosales, Perozo, Vizcarrondo, Chicero, Rincon, Lucena, Gonzalez, Arango, Miku, Rondon.
A really curious selection for Mario Menezes there. Plenty of firepower up front with Robinho, Neymar and Pato but I suspect that he's got three defensive middies in Andre Santos, Lucas and Ramires there. Dany Alves is for all intents and purposes a right winger, so it's probably three at the back. It reminds me of the way that Chelski started last season when Lamps was injured and Ancelotti played three speed merchants up front and three defensive middies and no attacking midfield at all.
That said, I don't know this Ganso bloke at all so perhaps he's a playmaker but I suspect that they miss the guile of a player like Elano.
Teams are out on the pitch now and waiting for the anthems. Nice festive atmosphere in the stadium.
I've got English commentary via ESPN on this site:
http://nwxyz.blogspot.com/
According to the ESPN commentator, Ganso is winning his second cap but is already touted as "the future of Brazilian football." How often have we heard that?
The match is on Latin American time then - eight minutes late starting.
The telly is just ahead of the link so I'm watching the telly and listening to the commentary on the laptop.
Robinho with the first shot in anger.
The Venezuelans seem to be playing really high up the pitch, which will make the likes of Pato drool with anticipation.
He was just half a yard off there streaking through. This could be good!
Oh - that was brilliant by Pato bringing the ball out of the air beautifully and laying it off. Neymar should have hit it first time but he allowed the defenders to recover.
I'm quite liking the look of this Ganso bloke already. He is a traditional playmaker spraying some balls around and looking for killer through balls to Robinho and Pato.
It's almost as if Brazil have too many bodies in the way as they stream forward with five or six.
Apparently the Venezuelan striker Salomon was one of the top scorers in La Liga for Malaga last season, so he's worth looking at.
Andre Santos floats a ball in looking for Pato - the keeper gets there.
Oh - Pato had a half-chance with the header there from Neymar's cross. Keeper collected.
Half way through this first half it's been one way traffic for sure but Venezuela haven't given Brazil many real chances.
Oh - Pato onto the crossbar!
Great hit from Pato there after the cross from Dany Alves. Smacked the crossbar and came back out to safety.
Oh - nice take down by Pato and hit first time. Keeper did well.
Ramires picks up his requisite yellow card for hauling back Rincon.
My apologies to Ramires - that card was given to Thiago Silva. But he's got one coming.
Oh - Robinho tried to side foot home and is claiming that the defender saved it with an arm. It's a good shout for a penalty for sure.
It all started reasonably well for Brazil this afternoon but they've been well and truly smothered by Venezuela. They certainly don't need three defensive midfielders to counter the threat of the Vino Tinto. I'd have Lucas off in favor of a more attacking option off the bench.
Ganso has really dropped out of the match. Everything should be going through them and instead the full backs are launching long balls at Neymar and Pato.
I don't see the point of Robinho and his Elvis do anymore, either. Surely there are some tasty teenage Brazilian strikers who could shove him aside.
Oh - nice ball through from Ganso to Neymar. He tried a curler that just didn't come off. The Venezuelans are irate that the ref didn't call a foul and they switched off for a moment.
Oh - Lucio had a chance. No - he's called for a push.
And that's the first half. 0-0. Not happy with that at all.
We're away in the second half then.
Unfortunately there haven't been any changes at half time. I was hoping that at least Lucas would be in for an early bath.
Ganso is reminding me more and more of a young Zinedine Zidane from the Euro 96 days. A bit slow at the moment, even plodding at times but one to definitely look out for. If he blossoms like Zizou did, watch out!
Decent spell here for Venezuela.
I am back and have your link going
Sorry for leaving you high and dry!
This is ESPN UK?
Welcome back, mate. Yeah - I think it is. Much better than listening to the Spanish yackety yak.
Brazil very casual in their approach now.
Brazil haven't won this very many times
Argentina and Uruguay have won the most times
Pato might have done better with that ball in from Ganso.
It sounds as if they didn't take it seriously until recently. Apparently Pele only played it in once!
I wish the press, especially the US, would stop going gaga over this lot.
They haven't been good except for two WCs( I guess they were good in 58 and 62 with a young Pele)
England are ranked above Brazil
England are up to #4... who knows how
That was a horrendous dive from Rondon and he rightly gets a booking for that. Ridiculous.
Dive in the box earns a yellow
I'm really happy to see England's ranking because it's useful for seeding purposes but it's completely undeserved. England will do well to finish top of the Euro group ahead of bloody Montenegro!
Is this the Euros of South America?
Every 4 years?
Disagree with you about Brazil. They should have won it in 1950 at home, won it in 1958 and 62, got kicked out of 1966, won it again in '70, should have won it in 1982, won a disappointing tournament in 1984 and were deserved winners in 2002. What more do you want?
I guess they should have won it in 50 but who knows
I guess they were good in 58 and 62
In my life time, they have not been that impressive. Sure winning is the goal but they get the credit for playing beautiful football...they don't always do that
It is the South American equivalent of the Euros but it seems to be more haphazardly organized. The last one was in 2007 but before that it was in 2004 and before than in 2001, 1999, 1997, 1995 and so on every two years going back.
But if you think about it, Italy have won four times, twice in our lifetime - were you impressed by them in 82 or 06?
How about Germany - won it three times. I don't have any complaints about 74 (although the Dutch should have won it) but they were rubbish in 90 and have the habit of showing up in the finals even when they are rubbish.
I agree with you
BUT... Brazil get too much credit for playing Samba Football... they don't play any differently than anyone else
The 70 and 82 team did but that was it
Sure, they were deserved Champs but.... nothing special... they happened to win... of course that never happens for England!
When will managers learn that playing three defensive middies (especially against inferior opposition) only blunts your attack?
I will never understand it!!
All the talk in 06 was who was going to be playing the defensive midfielder.... England were playing TRINIDAD!!!
That is true. It used to be the case that there were wildly different styles of football around the world, which was really what made the group stage of the WC so much fun. Now there are so many players playing at the big clubs in Europe that there are only slight variations.
Useless shot
Ridiculous, isn't it. England have Wales at home coming up. That's a match where I would play a flat back four but skip the defensive midfielder in favor of two wide men to provide plenty of service for the front men. And I'd have the wide men playing on the right bloody side!!
So far, Argentina have drawn and Colombia have won, correct?
First changes for Menezes and there are some whistles and boos from the crowd. It's Elano on for Ramires. I like that a lot.
Couldn't agree with you more BUT Gareth Barry or Scotty Parker will be in the team to pass the ball three yards to another midfielder
Right - the Argies just pulled out a draw with a superb volleyed goal from Sergio Aguerro in the 75th minute. They were close to losing!
Colombia won 1-0. Not a lot of goals so far. I also don't know why they aren't playing more games over the weekend - one Friday night, one yesterday, two today. Do people not have to go to work in Argentina?!
Maldonado on for Miku.
What about River Plate being relegated?
Strange way they decide relegation. It is an average or total points over a three or four year period!
That is weird. I've never really understood the way that they organize footer in Argentina or Brazil. It's really complicated with all sorts of different stages of the season.
Yeah, they have an opening half to a season and then a closing half of the season... two champions per year
Did you see, I think Sunderland, want Becchio
Be back in a tick... taking food to FiL
The commentators are mentioning the likes of Kaka and Ronaldinho. I think they're yesterday's men, along with Luis Fabiano who will all be the wrong side of 30 by the time that 2014 rolls around. I assume that Neymar and Pato are the front pairing going forward with Robinho possibly playing a role. This Ganso bloke is intriguing but I'm not convinced yet.
Yeah - they can keep their bloody hands off Luciano. I hear that Newcastle want Snoddy as well. It could be a selling summer for us.
We're into the last ten minutes here and this has been fairly dreadful from Brazil. It's back to the drawing board for Menezes.
I hadn't even noticed that Fred had come on. He's made no impression at all.
Venezuela have made their last change, undoubtedly trying to shore up the draw here. It would be a hell of a result for them.
A late corner earned by Venezuela here. If this went in, the cats would be amongst the pigeons. No - they don't commit anyone forward.
I'm back... I missed nowt
Into stoppage time now.
Too true...
"They'll be going crackers on the streets of Caracas." Nice line!
How has Neymar? Has he done anything?
A couple of tame efforts at goal. Pato was more dangerous in the first half - he hit the bar.
Are United in for Neymar?
I heard something interesting on the History Channel last night
The USA have only THREE power grids for the entire country
One for the East
One for the West
One for TEXAS only!!
Why are you guys so greedy MUR???
Lucio picks up a late yellow card and that's the final whistle. A really poor opening draw for Brazil and lots of boos ringing the ground now. The Brazilian press will be sharpening their knives.
That's a good question!
It's over
Well done Venezuela!
3 games in... 3 goals and 16 cards!
I'm off to do so 4th of July shopping. I should be around for the Uruguay match tomorrow. Cheerio!
TTFN
ANOTHER Nil Niller in the second match of the day between Paraguay and Ecuador
The scores so far
1-1
1-0
0-0
0-0
Riveting stuff by the South Americans
The only win was against a guest
I was not aware that the tournament had started. It sounds like an uninspiring start. I was mowing and edging the lawn in the heat, just beating an afternoon thunderstorm.
Sorry to have missed the chatter with you lot. I was in the country with my friend Wilker and his friends.
I just finished watching the DVRed match and Brazil were shocking. I think it's a bad sign that the serial waster Robinho is still a factor. And I'm not impressed with the the cocatoo-coifed Neymar either. I was really interested to see Ganso, but he was completely missing from start to finish. Ring the changes for the next Brazil match Menenzes!
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