Fifa decided today to give Brazil the opportunity to host the World Cup 64 years later we had our biggest tragedy ever, when Brazil lost the final in Maracana against Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil.

The challenge is hard. Of course Brazil need to work hard to host an event like that. Our stadiums are old and needs to be rebuilt. The infra structure for transportation, tourism, security will have to be much better than today.

Corruption, political interests and managment problems, of course, are also around. And everybody needs to be alert for those issues. Not a exclusive problem of Brazilians (remember Italy 1990), but, anyway, a serious problem in this and others Latin American countries.

But Brazil have things to celebrate. The first one is the passion for the sport. Nobody played football like we did in the last 100 years. The love for the sport may build a popular World Cup party in the streets. Something unforgetable like Germany 2006 for example.

We also have a very kind and friendly people, ready to host the tourists and delegations.

Brazil is a huge country, with both winter and summer during June/JUly. A mix of  climates, gegraphy (rainforest, megalopolis, beaches, montains, etc) and cultures ready to party and celebrate.

Economically, the country is one of the largest in the world and by far the richest in South America. The Fifa World Cup is a good moment to invest in infra structure, like energy, highways, new airports, and touristic project. It can hlp the country to grow, specially in security and tourism.

A lot is going to be said, discovered, and discussed from today until 2014. But I think we can wait for a good moment of football.

I could never realise how strong a women team could be. I was amazed with the 'guts' and the determination the german players used to beat Brazil and their latent players in the Womens World Cup in China.

I congratulate the winners, specially the goalkeeper Angerer, unbelievable during all the tournament, but amazing in the final.

The other girls were in every ball and had a lot of patience to hold the pressure of Brazil in the first half. The fisrt chance for Germany was only in the second half, when Prinz (Ronaldo in skirts) scored her 14th goal in WC.

Cruel, but still fair. Congratulations Germany.

It was supposed to be a friendly, but seemed more like a practice. Brazil played less then 30% of what they could perform, but enough to beat US Soccer Sunday at Soldiers Field in Chicago.

 Unfortunately, Chicago couldn't see Ronaldinho-Kaka in a day of Jordan-Pippen. The brazilian duo, specially the Milan player who will probably be choosen the best of the year, was not really inspired. Ronaldinho, at least, scored one goal and gave two assists for both Lucio and Kaka (before american's own goal).

Now Brazil have a more difficult game against Mexico in Boston. Mexicans are used to beat Brazil and should be motivated about it.

Robinho changed his level as a player after Copa America. He was the only star in the Brazilian National Team but overcame the pressure and got the title, the MVP, top scorer and leadership of the team.

At least for the next matches, nobody could doubt he is going to be a starter for Dunga. He is definately not a choker anymore.

But from now on, Ronaldinho and Kaka are back. They were called for the friendly against Argelia and probably will be in the squad also for the North American tour against US and Mexico.

After those three matches, Brazil will start the World Cup 2010 Qualifer. It will be about time for Dunga to decide his perfect eleven.

The fact is that after Copa America success, Dunga will probably insists forever with his midfield with three defensive players (volantes). It is really hard to believe that Gilberto Silva, Mineiro and Elano (or Josue) won't play as starters.

Assuming that, we would have three places left. One is for the striker (Vagner Love or Fred or even Ronaldo). The other two would be disputed by Robinho, Kaka and Ronaldinho.

My guess is that Kaka will play with Robinho the first two matches. Ronaldinho will be on the bench.

But let's see what happens. Robinho had one month to practice with the team and was the only star. Once the european leagues start, Kaka and Ronaldinho will play every match and will be in shape soon.

Robinho and his Real Madrid nightmare can go back to the bench at anytime and loose his good rithym. That would take Ronaldinho back to the number 10 jersey right away.

Assuming that I am right, what do you think? If you have two places for Ronaldinho, Kaka and Robinho, who would you put in your team?

OleOle was in the Brazil National Team practice today in Puerto La Cruz. The first change coach Dunga made in the team was Anderson for Diego after the game against Mexico, when Brazil lost 2-0.

The boy, that recently moved from Porto to Mancheser United, came into the first game in the second half against Mexico and Brazil were a way better.

Brazil had several chances to score in the second half, but the mexican keeper Uchoa was in a great evening.

Anderson should be a starter next Sunday against Chile, a key match to Brazil in the tournament. Always saving words in interviews, the wonder boy said to OleOle before the practice: "If we are talking about last game's mistakes, we wil be here forever. Let's focus on the next one", he said, before even know he would be a starter.

The game against Chile will be next Sunday. Tomorrow, Brazil will have another trainning section and Anderson may be confirmed as a starter in the team.

While the other National Teams are just in light training sections, USA is playing a tournament, the Gold Cup, and will get in great shape to face their group with Argentina in the next Copa America Venezuela, starting in 15 days.

The team made three excelent games so far, wining all of them, scoring 7 goals  and their defense remains without suffering any goals.

Meanwhile, Brazil keeps having trouble with players. After Kaka, Ronaldinho and Ze Roberto refused to play and Lucio and Julio Cesar are injuried, now it is time to CBF and Real Madrid fight for Robinho.

Madrid's number 10 should be in Brazil for training last Tuesday, but his Team decided not to allow as Madrid have an important game next Sunday.

Bad news for coach Dunga. After Kaka and Ronaldinho, Ze Roberto announced he is leaving Santos to go back to Europe and, he declined the call to play for Brazil in Venezuela for Copa America.

Ze Roberto played last Wednesday for Santos against Gremio in the semi final of Copa Libertadores. Gremio beat Santos and will face Boca Juniors in the great final.

Brazilian coach Dunga announced the 22 players for the next Copa America, in Venezuela. He called only four players “from Brazil” and the other 18 plays for European teams. 

Besides the technical issue, the decision is also based in the fact that Brasileirão is only in the fourth round and picking other players from the country could be polemic since the clubs would miss them for at least 6 games.

The team will meet next Tuesday in Teresopolis for a training practice of ten days before the trip to Venezuela.

Here is the list

Goalkeepers
Helton (Porto-POR)
Doni (Roma-ITA)

Wings
Maicon (Internazionale-ITA)
Daniel Alves (Sevilla-ESP)
Gilberto (Hertha Berlim-ALE)
Kleber (Santos)

Defense
Juan (Bayer Leverkusen-ALE)
Naldo (Werder Bremen-ALE)
Alex (PSV Eindhoven-HOL)
Alex Silva (São Paulo)

Midfielders
Gilberto Silva (Arsenal-ING)
Mineiro (Hertha Berlim-ALE)
Josué (São Paulo)
Fernando (Bordeaux-FRA)
Elano (Shakhtar Donetsk-UCR)
Diego (Werder Bremen-ALE)
Zé Roberto (Santos)
Anderson (Manchester United-ING)

Fowards
Fred (Lyon-FRA)
Robinho (Real Madrid-ESP)
Vágner Love (CSKA Moscou-RUS)
Afonso (Heerenveen-HOL)

We have an expression in Brazil that a penalty kick is so important that the president of the club should shoot it.

Well, when the National Team is together, maybe the 'president' of the club is actually the president of the country.

So, if Ronaldinho is not in a good day (not very hard lately), president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will be in Wembley watching the friendly match England vs Brazil, official sources said this Tuesday.

Lula, a Corinthians fan, will be going to India, for an official visit, but first will do a quick stop to watch the game, the first one for England after new Wembleu were rebuilt.

The game will be next Friday, in London.

Check for tickets to Brazil vs England here. 

Or click here for some old stories about this match

This Saturday the National Brazilian League, Brasileirão, kicks off.

Of course our best players are in Europe.

Certainly our managers suck.

Definitely our fans are not really well treated.

But nowhere else in the world a championship is so difficult to win.

2007 Brasileirão, like every year, starts with, at least, 12 teams with real chances to win it.

I am not talking surprising results. I am talking about major and favorite teams.

It is not by accident that in 37 years in the so called Brasileirão, 17 teams were already Champions.

The greatest winner, Flamengo, have only 5 titles, the same number Real Madrid can have in a single decade in the Spanish League.

In 2007, including the polemic title of Sport Recife in 1987, 14 of the 20 clubs in first division already won a title.

Brasileirão is always unpredictable. There are no Liverpool/Manuted/Arsenal/Chelsea. There are no Real Madrid/Barcelona. There are no Milan/Inter/Juve. No Boca/River domination! 

By the way, the Brasileirão will be played by the following teams:

América-RN
Atlético-MG - 1 title
Atlético-PR - 1 title
Botafogo - 1 title
Corinthians - 4 titles
Cruzeiro - 1 title
Figueirense 
Flamengo - 5 titles
Fluminense - 1 title
Grêmio - 2 titles
Internacional - 3 titles
Juventude
Náutico
Palmeiras - 4 titles
Paraná
Santos - 2 titles
São Paulo - 4 titles (defending champion)
Sport - 1 title (recognized by CBF, but polemic)
Vasco - 4 titles

Four last places are relegated to Serie B, top four plays 2008 Libertadores.  

Teams play all against each other both home and away.