Soccer
Gonzalo Plata guarantees dedication to Flamengo with an eye on the World Cup
11 Set 2025 | 15:21
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Soccer
31 Jul 2025 | 09:40 |
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Flamengo could enter the field with a modified team this Thursday (31), at 9:30 pm, against Atlético-MG, at Maracanã, for the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. With the Brazilian Championship as a priority in the calendar, coach Filipe Luís is considering saving some starters .
Still without the reinforcements, but with important returns, coach Filipe Luís should send onto the field a Flamengo with: Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira (Cleiton), Viña; Allan, Evertton Araújo, Arrascaeta; Luiz Araújo (Matheus Gonçalves), Bruno Henrique (Cebolinha or Wallace Yan) and Pedro.
One of those expected to be rested is Jorginho, who has played in nine consecutive matches, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in the club's last four Brasileirão matches . This means the defensive midfield duo is likely to be Evertton Araújo and Allan.
On defense, the coaching staff may rest one of the center-backs. Cleiton, who came on in the final minutes of the Brasileirão victory over Atlético-MG, is an option to start . At left-back, Ayrton Lucas , having recovered from an injury, is back in the squad after three weeks. Alex Sandro, who is also recovering from a muscle problem, is likely to be available. Viña, who played the longest last Sunday, is expected to start.
In attack, Pedro is expected to remain in the starting lineup, as the number 9 is suspended for the next round of the Brasileirão. On the wings, Luiz Araújo, who started on the bench last round, could regain his starting spot. Matheus Gonçalves and Cebolinha are vying for a spot , with Wallace Yan also running as an outside hitter.
Three newly signed reinforcements—Emerson Royal, Saúl Ñíguez, and Samuel Lino—have already been registered with the CBF's BID and are legally fit to debut. However, Royal and Saúl still need to reach their peak physical condition, as they have been out of action for a long time.
The La Plata team's starter has not recovered from an injury to the adductor muscle in his thigh and will be out against Mengão in the competition.
11 Set 2025 | 19:30 |
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Flamengo focuses its attention on the clash with Juventude , this Sunday (14), for the 23rd round of the Brasileirão. However, Filipe Luís' team is also starting to prepare for the next big challenge of the season : the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals, against Estudiantes (ARG).
The Argentine team will be without right-back Eric Meza, one of the team's standout players . The player suffered a muscle injury in the adductor of his thigh and will continue to recover, being out of Thursday's match (18), at Maracanã.
For the red-and-black team, midfielder Erick Pulgar is a certain absence. The Chilean is still recovering from a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot . Jorginho, Alex Sandro, and Varela are also doubtful for Filipe Luís, as they remain under treatment in the medical department.
Whoever advances from this clash will face the winner of the duel between Racing (ARG) and Vélez Sarsfield (ARG).
Before the Libertadores, Flamengo returns to the field for the Brasileirão this Sunday (14) . The match will be against Juventude, at 4 pm (Brasília time), at Alfredo Jaconi Stadium, for the 23rd round of the competition. The Mais Querido is the leader of the competition with 47 points, three more than the second-placed team, Cruzeiro.
Former Mengão striker retired from football in 2024, but is considering a return to play in the first World Cup of his career.
11 Set 2025 | 18:30 |
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Bolivia's all-time leading scorer and national idol, Marcelo Moreno, formerly of Flamengo, revealed he is considering coming out of retirement . The striker explained that Bolivia's qualification for the playoffs has rekindled his desire to wear the country's jersey once again.
Despite surpassing 100 caps for the national team, Marcelo Moreno has never played in a World Cup. Bolivia only participated in the tournament in 1930, 1950, and 1994 —when the center forward hadn't even begun his professional career in 2006.
Marcelo Moreno, ex-Flamengo, on returning to the World Cup: "Let's see what happens next"
With the team finishing sixth in the qualifiers, the striker had already expressed a desire to return if a World Cup berth became a reality. Now, he's considering the possibility of representing the country in the playoffs.
"I'm enjoying it to the fullest, I can't believe it. I needed to retire, I needed a break from my career . Today, with this happiness that the boys on the national team are giving us, it motivates us to do so many things... We'll see what happens next," he said in an interview with GE.
Marcelo Moreno officially retired in 2023, playing for Independiente del Valle (EQU). The following year, he played a farewell match for Cruzeiro, the club where he became an idol: " God willing and allowing, so be it . I feel good about returning. We'll see what happens. I'm making the most of it, and we'll analyze it carefully. That's the best answer I can give right now," the striker added.
Trained in the youth ranks of Oriente Petrolero (BOL) and Vitória, Marcelo Moreno built an international career, playing for Cruzeiro, Shakhtar Donetsk, Werder Bremen, Wigan, Grêmio, Flamengo , Changchun Yatai, Wuhan Zall, Shijiazhuang Ever Bright, Cerro Porteño and Independiente del Valle.
Marcelo Moreno arrived at Flamengo in 2013, a year when the club was in a period of cost-cutting under Eduardo Bandeira de Mello. Signed on loan from Grêmio, he played just 20 games, scoring four goals and assisting one . In 2014, he returned to Cruzeiro, before beginning his career in Chinese football.
Uruguay's national team schedules games in Asia for the next FIFA Date, which makes it difficult for the midfielder and full-back to arrive for the Mengão games.
11 Set 2025 | 17:30 |
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The September FIFA World Cup has ended , but the teams are already planning their next matches. Uruguay has confirmed two friendlies in October, against the Dominican Republic and Uzbekistan, both in Malaysia, which could directly impact Flamengo .
Uruguay faces the Dominican Republic on October 10th in Kuala Lumpur. Three days later, they face Uzbekistan in Malacca . These matches are part of the team's preparation for the 2026 World Cup, for which La Celeste has qualified.
Although the Brazilian soccer calendar is interrupted during the FIFA World Cup, the strain of the long trip is a concern . Players like Arrascaeta , Varela, and Matías Viña, already heavily used this season, may feel the effects of the logistics.
In the last FIFA World Cup, Marcelo Bielsa's team confirmed their place in the World Cup. They played two matches: a 3-0 victory over Peru and a 0-0 draw with Chile . Arrascaeta, Varela, and Viña were called up, but only the full-back and the defender played in the second match.
Meanwhile, Flamengo focuses on the Brasileirão. Championship leader, Filipe Luís' team faces Juventude this Sunday (14), at 4 pm (Brasília time), at Alfredo Jaconi, for the 23rd round. Championship leader, Mengão has 47 points, three more than Cruzeiro, with one game less than Raposa.
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