Soccer
18 Abr 2025 | 13:29 |
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On the eve of the classic between Flamengo and Vasco for the Brasileirão , Rômulo , a former midfielder who played for both clubs, starred in one of the most surreal and talked about videos of Friday (18). In an unlikely comparison between Vasco in 2011, which only won one Copa do Brasil due to the away goals criterion , and Flamengo in 2019, Brazilian champion with a historic campaign and winner of the Libertadores , the former Mengão player predicted Vasco's victory by 9 to 3.
The analysis caused outrage among fans, mainly due to the dubious logic behind the choices. In defense, Rômulo gave Vasco a total advantage: Fernando Prass beat Diego Alves , Fagner beat Rafinha , and the duo Dedé and Anderson Martins got the better of Rodrigo Caio and Pablo Marí . The first victory for the red-and-black team came only on the left side, with Filipe Luís beating Márcio Careca.
In the middle, Rômulo placed himself ahead of Willian Arão , claiming: “At the time, I think I.” However, he was forced to admit Gerson was superior to Juninho Pernambucano . The choices in attack, however, took the comparison to an even more questionable level .
Everton Ribeiro lost to Felipe , while Arrascaeta was outperformed by Diego Souza , according to Rômulo, "for what he represented, for my team". Bruno Henrique was also overlooked in favor of Éder Luis , classified as a "buddy". Flamengo's only clear victory came with Gabigol over Alecsandro . As coach, Rômulo preferred Ricardo Gomes to Jorge Jesus , justifying the choice by his personal relationship with the former Vasco coach.
The controversial comparison may be related to Rômulo's personal frustration during his time at Flamengo . Signed in 2017, after years in Russia, the midfielder failed to establish himself . That season, he played in 26 matches , totaling 1,404 minutes — an average of 54 minutes per game — with only one goal and no assists .
The following year, he had even less space : 13 games and 502 minutes on the field, without direct participation in goals. In 2019, he was loaned to Grêmio and left Flamengo permanently shortly after, heading to Chinese football.
The Chilean club where the midfielder plays is looking for a new coach and the champion for Mengão is in the running to get the job.
06 Set 2025 | 22:00 |
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A Rio de Janeiro champion with Flamengo in 2017, coach Zé Ricardo may be close to returning to the South American stage. He's participating in a selection process to take over Colo-Colo in Chile, a team whose star midfielder Arturo Vidal, who won the Copa do Brasil and the Libertadores with Flamengo in 2022, is among the highlights.
Zé Ricardo, ex-Flamengo, about Colo-Colo, by Arturo Vidal: "I participated in the first stage"
Without a club since leaving Criciúma, Zé Ricardo has already advanced to the first stage of the selection process: "I participated in the first stage, which was the presentation of my resume. Then there was a cut, and only five remained. I was invited to give a presentation , which I did, and now we await the next stage, which is the proposal. I'm happy, because it's not easy: in Chile, there's no tradition of Brazilian coaches," he told the Chilean newspaper As.
If the deal goes through, the Brazilian will replace Jorge Almirón, formerly of Boca Juniors, who was dismissed in August: "Just being at this stage is a great honor. I have my fingers crossed. I know it's a difficult choice, because Colo-Colo is a great and traditional club," added Zé Ricardo.
Zé Ricardo experienced his initial peak at Flamengo , where he won the 2017 Carioca Championship and led the team to third place in the 2016 Brasileirão , returning the club to the Copa Libertadores after three years. However, the early exit in the group stage of the continental tournament brought intense pressure, culminating in his departure.
Since then, the coach has had stints at Vasco, Botafogo, Internacional, Cruzeiro, and other mid-tier clubs, without recapturing his early brilliance . Now, Colo-Colo presents a chance to regain his place at a continental giant. Vidal's Chilean club is the only one in the country to win the Copa Libertadores, in 1991.
The coach has managed to get the Mengão player back to playing at a high level at Real Madrid and the Brazilian star defends his stance.
06 Set 2025 | 21:00 |
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2002 World Cup winner Rivaldo approved of how Xabi Alonso has handled his relationship with Vini Jr. at Real Madrid. In an interview with Betfair, the former player commented on the Spanish coach's decision to leave the Flamengo-born striker on the bench for the second round of La Liga against Real Oviedo .
Rivaldo on Xabi Alonso's action: "It was a strategy to get the best out of Vini Jr"
For Rivaldo, the decision wasn't a punishment, but rather a strategy to boost the number 7's performance: "I don't see it as a punishment. It was a strategy to get the best out of Vinícius . It's a way to make him grow even more ," the five-time world champion emphasized.
Alonso's gamble quickly paid off. In the 3-0 victory over Oviedo, Vini Jr. came on in the second half and made his mark. In the following round, he found the net again against Mallorca , confirming his strong start to the season.
Rivaldo also praised the arrival of the new Real Madrid manager and his relationship with the Brazilian: " Xabi is a great coach, but he was also a great player . He knows exactly what someone like Vinícius thinks and feels. Sometimes you have to make adjustments, even with the stars," he concluded.
After ending last season below expectations, Vini Jr. started this season on a high note. In three La Liga rounds, he has two goals and one assist, contributing to half of Real Madrid's goals. Without being called up for the FIFA international break , the striker remained in Spain and remains focused on the rest of the season. The Merengues' next match will be on September 13th, against Real Sociedad, away from home, in the fourth round of the Spanish Championship.
Juan Sebástian Verón, idol and current president of the La Plata club, which faces Mengão in the Libertadores, does not forgive the entity's decision
06 Set 2025 | 20:00 |
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Flamengo already knows its next opponent in the Copa Libertadores : Estudiantes de La Plata (ARG), in the quarterfinals. Even before the ball kicked off, the president of the Argentine club and idol Juan Sebastián Verón took to social media to criticize CONMEBOL, following Independiente's exclusion from the Copa Sudamericana.
Estudiantes president Verón on Conmebol: "They chose the easiest option"
"They chose the easy option. It's very difficult to understand how they came to this decision ... and I don't condone any kind of violence, but this is all very unfair," criticized the president of Estudiantes de La Plata .
The punishment came after Independiente fans got into a fight with Universidad de Chile supporters. They invaded the visiting team's section, stole banners , threw bombs, and set fire to objects.
Given the seriousness of the case, Conmebol decided to exclude the club from the competition and apply a fine of 250 thousand dollars (approximately R$ 1.3 million) , in addition to a punishment of seven games within Conmebol with closed doors, in addition to another seven as a visitor without the right to fans.
In the quarterfinals, Flamengo and Estudiantes will face off in two decisive matches . The first will be on September 18th at the Maracanã Stadium. The second leg is scheduled for the 25th at the Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium in La Plata.
Quarterfinal matches
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