Really, only in Brazil this sort of shit happens. And it kills me.

Adriano, who has the right to practice whenever his royal ass feels like, hasn’t showed up in Flamengo for the past 9 days. He got two free days before joining Brazil to play Ireland on March 2nd, got back to Brazil on Thursday, March 11th, and hasn’t been seen since. The worst of all (as I do not give a damn if he plays for Flamengo or nor that he gets the second highest sallary in Brazilian football) is that the punk is a starter for the Brazilian national team. And that is plain and simple f*ed up.

Dunga is really one stupid person. He keeps on calling Adriano and puts him as a starter, while there are some hard working players out there who could really contribute more to the national team. But no, dumb Dunga keeps lazy fat ass Adriano, who since World Cup 2006 has done absolutely nothing for Seleção.

And I bet Dunga will bring him to South Africa. Which is wrong in all possible levels. Lazy ass MTF – this guy should have retired for good.

The campaign’s creator, Ivo Lapa, initiated the effort via a Facebook page. He gathered some people and they bought tickets right behind the goal on the friendly match between Portugal and China so that they could get TV attention and some press. The effort paid off and the page has around 2k fans. I just hope it could actually reach the players…

Imagine how cool: Carlos Queiroz and his entire squad sporting moustaches? Especially C. Ronaldo…

The new shirt material is made out of 8 recyclable plastic bottles and the it is also 100% recyclable. Another interesting fact is that the yellow jersey became 15% lighter then the one used in World Cup 2006. Goof stuff.

Brazil will use the new uniform next Tuesday when they face Ireland in a friendly in London.

Yesterday Dunga (and his loyal soldier Jorginho) called the squad to take on Ireland on March 2nd, the last friendly match before Dunga calls the final players who will play the World Cup in South Africa. No surprises, really. Ronaldinho is probably staying out even though he’s been doing well in AC Milan. Punk Robinho is likely to stay in even though he does absolutely nothing for the national team except for a goal every 2 years.

Here are the lucky lads:

GOALIES
Julio César (Inter Milan)
Doni (Roma)

OUTSIDE MIDFIELDERS
Maicon (Inter Milan)
Daniel Alves (Barcelona)
Gilberto (Cruzeiro) — really???
Michel Bastos (Lyon)

MIDFIELDERS
Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos)
Josué (Wolfsburg)
Felipe Melo (Juventus)
Kaká (Real Madrid)
Ramires (Benfica)
Elano (Galatasaray)
Julio Baptista (Roma)
Kleberson (Flamengo) — really? manager’s money

DEFENDERS (awesome choice!)
Juan (Roma)
Lúcio (Inter de Milão)
Luisão (Benfica)
Thiago Silva (Milan)

FORWARDS
Robinho (Santos) – no comments
Adriano (Flamengo)
Nilmar (Villarreal)
Luis Fabiano (Sevilla)

I am starting to plan the trip to South Africa. Fun fun fun!

Brazil will play first two games in Johannesburg (Korea DPR and Ivory Coast) and then off to Durban (to play Portugal). All that is very exciting… until you actually start bumping into prices. I already have the tickets to follow Brazil… but that is not even the beginning of my headaches.

A plane ticket from JFK (I am in New York) to Johannesbourg goes for about 2k… not a joke. I heard some people saying $1300 so if you are one of the blessed ones who have found it at that price please share the goods. Hotels are not even an option unless I become part of the Hilton faimily (or the Marriot family? Or Bill Gates family?), or something… So looking at home rentals will be another 3k at least.

Car? 800 dollars. If they don’t up the price just because it is World Cup time.

Just… awesome…

Yep… I better start making some serious money!

It was an inevitable train of thought followed by the English journalists the day after Michael Owen’s hat-trick gave United a Champions League win over Wolfsburg.

“Owen to the World Cup???” was the resulting tagline. With all the hype in the aftermath of an encouraging World Cup draw for England, many three lions fans are drooling in anticipation at what could be a successful campaign in South Africa next summer.

But when talking about England, the Michael Owen conundrum is never far away. So often a first choice, his fall from grace and injury woes while at Newcastle have seen him portrayed as a shadow of his former self.

With that in mind a free transfer to Manchester United in the close season was the perfect move for him. He won’t play all the time, yes, but given his fitness worries he can’t anyway. But when he is on the field he is playing at the highest level with some of the best players in the world. So if he does the business, it must put him in contention.

Seven goals in eight starts is a healthy manipulation of the stats (sub appearances dilute the scoring record somewhat). However, despite the odd minor niggle, Owen has not found himself under the surgeon’s knife this season, something that was all too familiar at St James’ Park.

I wonder if last Friday’s draw, with all the showbiz and hype, re-focused Owen on his task in hand: the Premier League with United and the World Cup with England.

If he continues the way he has so far this season (he is on course to score 18+ goals) I think there should be no question about his inclusion in Fabio Capello’s squad. Not perhaps as a starter, but with so much reliance on Wayne Rooney and not a lot else in the England striking department, an in-form Michael Owen is a pretty formidable trick to have up your sleeve when you need to change a game.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Owen will upset the World Cup 2010 odds and return to the national squad in time for next summer. I just feel that, if fit, he has too much talent to ignore. It would also be a dream come true for Owen himself, as that is all it was when he departed relegated Newcastle last May.