Brazil versus Italy 21 March 2013 Prediction

Today's match will end 1-0 for Brazil after a stunning long-range goal from Neymar.

Feel free to add your prediction in the comment section below.

And be sure to check out more Brazil versus Italy 21 March 2013 news at this link.

Luiz Felipe Scolari names Brazil roster for Italy football friendly

Per a report by Brian Homewood at Reuters via The Star Online, Brazil national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari listed his squad for the country's upcoming friendly with Italy on 21 March.

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers), Diego Cavalieri (Fluminense)

Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich), Thiago Silva (Paris St Germain), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Dede (Vasco da Gama)

Midfielders: Ramires (Chelsea), Paulinho (Corinthians), Luiz Gustavo (Bayern Munich), Fernando (Gremio), Jean (Fluminense), Oscar (Chelsea), Lucas (Paris St Germain), Kaka (Real Madrid), Hernanes (Lazio)

Forwards: Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg), Neymar (Santos), Fred (Fluminense)

21 African referees tabbed for Brazil 2014

It's 2014 World Cup news regarding the referees per a report by Sainabou Kujabi-Njie at Gambia's media outlet The Point via allAfrica.com.

From the African continent, 21 were tabbed to take part in training in Casablanca on 27 March through 1 April.

Alioum Neant (Cameroon)
Menkouande Evarist (Cameroon)
Edibe Peter (Nigeria)
Bennett Daniel F. (South Africa)
Range Marwa (Kenya)
Siwela Zakhele Thusi (South Africa)
Badara Diatta (Senegal)
Djibril Camara (Senegal)
Felicien Kabanda (Rwanda)
Noumandiez Desire Doué (Côte d'Ivoire)
Songuifolo Yeo (Côte d'Ivoire)
Jean-Claude Birumushahu (Burundi)
Papa Bakary Gassama (Gambia)
Jason Joseph Damoo (Seychelles)
Angesom Ogbamariam (Eritrea)
Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria)
Abdelhak Etchiali (Algeria)
Redouane Achik (Morocco)
Slim Jedidi (Tunisia)
Bechir Hassani (Tunisia)
Sherif Hassan (Egypt)

AS Roma defender shakes off Manchester City transfer rumours

Per a report at La Gazzetta dello Sport via TribalFootball.com, Brazilian centre-back Marquinhos owes AS Roma for offering him the opportunity to play in Serie A.

Manchester City transfer rumours surrounding the defender began earlier in the month.

Read more Manchester City transfer rumours 2013-14.

Italy finds training ground for Confederations Cup 2013

Per a report at Football Italia, the Azzurri decided on the Barradao (Estadio Manoel Barradas) as its training camp center in Brazil for Confederations Cup 2013.

Italy landed in Group A of the tournament along with Japan, Mexico and host Brazil, who the national team will have already faced back on 21 March.

International Football Friendly Italy versus San Marino 1 June 2013

The Italian Football Federation announced earlier in the month the inclusion of a match against San Marino adding to the Azzurri's 2013 football friendlies calendar. A venue is yet to be selected but the match will kick off on 1 June.

The contest will be the final warm-up for Italy before a crucial stretch.

On 7 June, the Azzurri face the Czech Republic in World Cup qualifier action before flying to Brazil to participate in the Confederations Cup 2013; where the national team will meet Brazil for the second time this year.

Italy and San Marino, although sharing a border, have played only once before, a 4-0 Italian victory in 1992.

Find out about more 2013 football friendlies.

Brazil doing well selling Conferations Cup 2013 tickets

Per a recent report at FIFA.com, the newest ticket selling phase of Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 is off to a massively successful start.

Fans of international football are snapping up tickets with the most popular matches proving to be Mexico versus Italy, Italy versus Japan and Spain versus the island nation of Tahiti.

Don't forget before the Confederations Cup, Italy and Brazil will add to their 2013 list of football friendlies by squaring off in Switzerland on 21 March.

International Football Friendly Brazil versus Chile 24 April 2013

Last December we offered up some discussion on Brazil's coach Luiz Felipe Scolari wanting to add stronger competitors to the national team's football friendly lineup.

Friendly matches remain against a host of quality sides including Italy (March 21), Russia (March 25), England (June 2), France (June 9) and Sweden (August 14) coupled with the Confederations Cup to be staged by the 2014 World Cup hosts in June.

Brazil will also play Chile in yet another warm-up to the Confederations Cup per a report at Yahoo! Europsport.com. The football friendly will take place on April 24 at the renovated Mineirao in Belo Horizonte.

Looks like Scolari ended up with his "competitive" football friendlies as the coach hopes to guide Brazil's national team to yet another World Cup title; this time on home soil.

Eastlands club want to bring in Roma duo as Manchester City transfer rumour picks up traction

Per a report from the Daily Mail via TribalFootball.com, City boss Roberto Mancini and various organizational scouts are keeping transfer-target tabs on two AS Roma footballers: 20-year-old Argentine winger Erik Lamela and 18-year-old Brazilian centre back Marquinhos.

Lamela, a member of the Argentina national football team who has seen action in a football friendly with Paraguay, would continue City's run of bringing top-level Argentine footballers to the Etihad.

Brazilians, on the other hand, have not fared as well with the Eastlands side.

What you think? Does this rumour have legs?

+ Read all the Manchester City tranfer rumours here at Football Friendlies

Even if Neymar transfers to Manchester City as the speculative rumour reports; Futebol. Isso ainda vai ser grande no Brasil.

Yesterday's report from Punto Pelota via TribalFootball.com speculatively noted that Samba star and Santos play maker Neymar could move to Manchester City this summer and snub Barcelona.

But, even if that transfer rumour becomes reality, as we noted above:

"Futebol. Isso ainda vai ser grande no Brasil." / Football. It will still be massive in Brazil.

Video via Official England national football team YouTube Channel.

+ Read all the Manchester City tranfer rumours here at Football Friendlies

Nigeria international football team now focused on Brazil 2014

Per a report at allAfrica.com, Nigeria football captain Joseph Yobo says the focus is now on the 2014 World Cup, which will be held in Brazil.

"We still have the Confederation's Cup and then the World Cup is coming," Yobo said adding, "Hopefully, I will make it to the next World Cup and that is it."

Video via MattMzansi YouTube Channel.

Copa Libertadores 2013 Millonarios video celebration and Seattle Sounders Fredy Montero goal

The Colombian outfit is in Group 5 of Copa Libertadores 2013 with Corinthians (Brazil), San José (Bolivia) and Tijuana (Mexico).

Here's a video celebration of El Azul's league title last year, its first since 1988.

Millonarios Campeón 2012 II (Crónica antes, durante y después) via Juan Nicolás Torres Muñoz YouTube Channel.



Fredy Montero's class goal for Seattle Sounders, who is currently on loan with Millonarios from the M.L.S. club, via Official Major League Soccer YouTube Channel.

International Friendly 21 March 2013: Brazil versus Italy

The Italian Football Federation, confirmed in December 2012 that the football match will be played in Switzerland in March.

Italy and Brazil will square off at the 2013 Confederations Cup this June as Italy gained a spot in the tournament because Spain captured both the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Euro 2012 titles.

The Azzurri, travel to Malta five days after the friendly with Brazil for a World Cup qualifier against the island nation.

Check back as Football Friendlies updates this post with Brazil vs. Italy news-worthy links.

+ Football Friendlies - Brazil versus Italy 21 March 2013 Prediction

+ Prandelli names Italy squad to face Seleção via Sambafoot (18 March 2013)

+ Brazil names squad (5 March 2013)

+ Italy ready for Confederations Cup 2013 with friendly against San Marino (24 February)

+ Neymar not ready to shoulder Brazil burden says Pele via The Star Online (24 February)

+ FIFA invites Kevin Boateng for Italy-Brazil friendly via Ghana Sports Online (31 January)

+ Brazil to face Chile on 24 April 2013

Ashley Cole 100th England international cap video tribute

Fantastic bit of work below:

Video via The Official Vauxhall YouTube Channel.

Ashley Cole to earn his 100th international cap versus Brazil in friendly action on 6 February 2013

Per a report at BBC Sport, England manager Roy Hodgson stated during today's press conference that left back Ashley Cole will earn his 100th international cap against Brazil tomorrow. The footballer will start at Wembley.

"Ashley will definitely start the game," said Hodgson per the report.

Brazil and Sweden to meet on 14 August 2013

Skål! It's another Brazil vs. Sweden friendly.

The Brazilians, who traveled to Stockholm in August 2012 for a 3-0 friendly victory over Sweden will once again match up with the European side on 14 August 2013 per the CBF, Brazil's football confederation. The venue for the competition was announced recently as St. Jakob Park in Basel, Switzerland.

Brazil competes in the FIFA Confederations Cup from June 15 to June 30; several other friendlies are lined up this year including the 6 February 2013 match with England.

Chelsea January 2013 Loan Deals

Chelsea loaned out 19-year-old forward Patrick Bamford (MK Dons), 19-year-old forward Lucas Piazon (Malaga), 20-year-old midfielder Billy Clifford (Colchester United), 21-year-old goalkeeper Sam Walker (Colchester United), 18-year-old Brazilian right back Wallace (Fluminense) and 19-year-old right back Todd Kane (Blackburn Rovers).

+ Source: TribalFootball.com PREMIER LEAGUE LOANS: All the January deals

+ Search, compare and save on - Chelsea FC kits, shirts and other apparel.

Manchester United's South American Pipeline

Since 2008, Manchester United and Desportivo Brasil have enjoyed a mutual exchange where players, coaches and football knowledge have traveled between the two sides.

Desportivo Brasil was founded in 2005 by the Traffic Group, a vast sporting company in Brazil, with the sole purpose of utilizing the club to send players abroad to greener -- in terms of pitch and pound -- pastures. Desportivo's multi-million pound training centre is one of the finest in all of South America. In this new age of football, the first-rate facilities are not utilized for trophy acquisition but for financial gains.

Desportivo's location in Porto Feliz, only 90 minutes ride to Sao Paulo, is critical to the club's vision of moving players to Europe for financial gain. Sao Paulo is the largest city in South America, in terms of population. The mega-city boasts a modern airport with frequent incoming flights completed by American Airlines, Air Canada, Delta, Iberia, Lufthansa, British Airways and Air France.

The proximity lends to cheaper costs when players are sent out on trial to clubs on the European continent or to North America.

Manchester United gained a foothold early at Desportivo and the relationships remains strong today.

In March of 2012, the Old Trafford machine added 17-year-old midfielder Lucas Evangelista. The teenager, capable of playing in an attacking or defensive role, impressed the United scouting machine with his work-rate and dribbling skills. In 2013, he will sign a professional contract after his 18th birthday joining Anderson, Rafael and Fabio da Silva as Brazilian Reds.

In yet another savvy move United is utilizing FC Twente to essentially host the Brazilian wunderkinds until the Samba stars-in-training can gain valuable first-team experience and more importantly the credentials needed for EU status.

In the past, Traffic's president of international business Jochen Losch noted the relationship between United and Twente.

Losch stated to Sportsmail:

"Twente are a partner, helping United to resolve the problem of their EU passports. For two reasons it's good that a player goes first to Holland. First, after two or three years he's considered to be European. And of course it's easier to play in the Dutch league than the Premier League."

If the player succeeds in Europe, Desportivo and its owner Traffic succeed as well. For example, United pays a fee to Traffic for players such as Evangelista. The Brazilian company then retains a fifty-percent share of any future profits from the sale of the player.

In addition to Evangelista, striker Aguilar and midfielder Agnaldo are two more Desportivo prodigies who could prove critical to future United title teams. And now comes word this December that United will add yet another Desportivo youngster when Bruno Gomes joins United in 2014.

So in a full-circle kind of way, Desportivo is about trophy acquisition after all.

Source notes

Links via TribalFootball.com and FiestaFootball.com

Information sources: Manchester Evening News and Man Utd's Brazil Project

Photo via Hanumann at Flickr's Creative Commons

Manchester City talent searching in South America

Manchester City's Txiki Begiristain, keenly aware of the club's South American stars, traveled to the continent to seek out the next wave of prospects.

A recent report in the Sunday Mirror noted the Premier League champions wasting no time in undertaking a scouting mission to South America now that Begiristain is in charge.

The club is determined to recruit players and develop them into first-team stalwarts versus the current model that finds Manchester City seeking in-form twenty-somethings who command top dollar.

With the likes of Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Pablo Zableta on the squad, the groundwork now exists to utilize these big names to attract the continent's top young talent thus ensuring financial savings in the tens of millions.

City's current Academy and Elite Development Squad contains few South Americans, but City insiders believe an influx of Argentine and Brazilian prospects at the Academy is paramount to future success. The Academy, slated to become on of the world's finest, opens its doors in 2014.

The transfer rumour mill has followed City's director of football to South America proclaiming a host of likely targets ready to make the move to the Etihad Stadium.

In addition to the teenage-prospect chatter, City is believed to be targeting several in-form South American twenty-somethings including 20-year-old Argentine Ezequiel Cirigliano via tribalfootball.com and 24-year-old Brazilian Paulinho also via tribalfootball.com.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari wants more competitive friendlies

New Brazil national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari noted recently that the CBF, Brazil's football confederation, needs to take a critical look at future friendly matches. Tougher, mentally challenging contests against the world's best are needed as the South American squad preps to host the 2014 World Cup.

"I am going to request that, where possible, we play against the toughest opposition possible," Scolari said.

Brazil's last six opponents include: Sweden, South Africa, China, Columbia, Iraq and Japan. Only Columbia could be considered an upper echelon FIFA member.

Upcoming matches with England (February 2013) and France (June 2013) coupled with the Confederations Cup in June will boost the level of play.