It seems that (Fat) Ronaldo isn’t the only Brazilian footballer to go under the knife for cosmetic reasons.
Marca - the font of all La Liga nonsense and scurrilous gossip - today claim that Barcelona’s Dani Alves has had his ears pinned back. The right back apparently underwent the procedure on a rest day following the summer Confederations Cup tournament.
Judging by the pictures above, Alves will almost certainly receive less Gary Lineker comparisons this season.
A further helping of transfer gossip, rumours and damned lies
Carlos Tevez to Manchester City Goal claim to have heard from an unnamed source that Tevez has chosen Man City over Chelsea and that the deal will be finalised next Monday, which is when Cristiano Ronaldo is scheduled to be officially unveiled at Real Madrid.
The Spoiler truth-o-meter: Confirming the capture of Tevez on the same day that Ronaldo is presented at the Bernabeu would be City’s way of firing out a warning to their neighbours that the tide is turning.
Luis Fabiano to AC Milan
Emmanuel Adebayor is no longer even a secondary target for AC Milan, who have chosen to chase Confederations Cup top-scorer Luis Fabiano after being
The constant droning foghorn din that was audible during every single Confederations Cup match was the result of an instrument known as a vuvuzela. The noisy plastic trumpets are very popular in South Africa, and are often blown by home fans in a frantic attempt to “kill off” the opposition.
Not only are they irritating, but they could also be used as a weapon, and perhaps a cynical instrument of marketing by opportunist companies who plaster their logos all over them.
After crashing out to the USA amidst a deafening chorus, Xabi Alonso made his views on the vuvuzela clear:
“I think they should be banned. We’re used to when people shout but not to this trumpet noise which doesn’t allow you to concentrate and is unbearable.”
Alonso’s Spanish team-mates obviously didn’t share his opinions, as these pictures from Madrid Airport show. Fernando Torres must have been a particular fan of the insufferable noise, as he was proudly carrying two of them on his trolley.
Many have asked for vuvuzelas to be banned during World Cup 2010, but in-touch-with-the-people FIFA President Sepp Blatter opposes the idea, saying we should not try and “Europeanise” the World Cup.
*We apologise for the thoroughly crappy modifications made to the top pic. Blame ONTD for that.
Samba Boys overcome the tournament’s most surprising team
USA 2/ Brazil 3
Few could believe the turn of events that led the USA to the Confederations Cup final last night, and after 45 minutes, it looked as if our friends from across the Atlantic were about to pull off another incredible shock. Brazil, however, fought back and ensured there will be no humble gratification like this in the American press.
For most, the best moment of the match was Fabiano’s sublime goal, but Landon Donovan’s goal celebration made our night. Is there any greater testament to teamwork than pointing at your own chest while screaming “ME! MEEEE!”?
The reaction of the American media to their national side ending Spain’s 35-game unbeaten streak may have been unbearable but it would have been just as bad - if not worse - over here if England had done it. The USA have made this pretty meaningless tournament worth watching and they will fancy their chances of winning it after seeing Brazil stumble past South Africa last night in the other semi-final. The bookies don’t though and some of the trends identified by our friends at chickendinner make it easy to see why:
1. Brazil have won 14 of their 15 matches against USA (one after extra-time). The USA’s one win over the holders came in the 1998 Gold Cup Final, with former Everton winger Predrag “Preki” Radosavljevic scoring the winner.
2. USA haven’t scored against Brazil in three previous Confederations Cup meetings, with Dunga’s side beating them 1-0 in 1999 and 2003 and winning 3-0 against them last Thursday.
The San Francisco Chronicle’s Alan Black talks down the potential of Team USA…
“What we saw today was a foreshadowing. At some point in the future, the USA will be the best soccer team in the world, and win the World Cup. That will be the day when an extra star could be added to the flag, the star of the ‘international’ state.”
[Video highlights of the surprise 2-0 win over Spain here]
Spain 0/ USA 2
It’s lucky for Spain that no one really cares about the Confederations Cup, otherwise last night’s defeat to the USA would rank as one of the biggest international upsets in recent memory.
Last night, the Americans ended La Furia Roja’s 35-game unbeaten run and 15-game winning streak with a solid performance, helped by some woeful defending. If Sergio Ramos can pull himself away from the mirror long enough, he should watch that second goal a few times. Even a schoolboy wouldn’t take a touch inside the six yard box in that situation.
Congrats all the same to the USA, who will now face either Brazil or South Africa at Johannesburg’s Coca-Cola Park on Sunday.
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