Invisiblewall.net: Gilberto Silva News

Gilberto Silva answers his critics

Gilberto Silva had a brilliant game for Brazil in their second group game against Ivory Coast on June 20th.

He was integral in breaking up many of the Ivory Coast’s attacking moves, and he made a few great passes forward to the attackers in the first half.

He even had a volley shot from inside Ivory Coast’s area. It was blocked, but still.

After the game, he said:

“Qualifying for the next phase is not enough for Brazil, as our first challenge is to finish as the absolute leader of the group, ahead of Portugal and North Korea.

It turns out, too, that Gilberto is the hardest working Brazilian player in terms of distance run during a game. Translated from Brazilian magazine, Placar:

Midfielder Gilberto Silva, 33, is Brazil’s oldest player. Even so, he was the player who covered the most distance in Brazil’s first two games of the World Cup in South Africa after this Sunday’s 3-1 victory over the Ivory Coast.

In all, the “volante” (“invisible wall”) has covered 22,124 meters, with 11,054 during the first game, and 11,070 in the second. Moreover, the defensive midfielder made only one foul in the two games. If the player before the World Cup was unpopular in Brazil, he is answering his critics on the pitch.

The movement from Gilberto Silva is something to be envied by the three players in the team of 26 years. This is because the second most energetic player for Brazil was the left winger, Michel Bastos, who ran 19,577 meters over both games. Following is Felipe Melo who ran 19,493 meters, while Robinho covered 19,423.

Among the rest of the players, obviously goalie Julio Cesar ran the least (with 8.735km). Following him, defender Juan, 31, has been the most static, with 15,580 meters, followed by midfielder Elano (replaced in the second game), who despite making some good passes and being active in the game, covered just 15,882 meters.

How fantastic for Gilberto! The oldest, but most energetic.

Congratulations, Gilberto.

He wasn’t injured – he asked to have a rest

Translated from the Portuguese language UOL.com:

Gilberto Silva says he asked to leave training

Soon after the 3-1 World Cup victory over Ivory Coast in Johannesburg, midfielder Gilberto Silva of Brazil tried to clear up the “controversy” that occurred in the training session and ended up causing problems in the media to coach Dunga.

On occasion, the Brazilian press reported that the “volante” (invisible wall) reserve Josue had trained in Brazil’s starting lineup in place of Gilberto just two days before the game against the Ivorians. A day later, at the press conference, the national coach got angry and said that Gilberto Silva had not been injured.

“I’m not a firefighter to come put the fire out for you [the media]. We open the training session for you reporters to film; you take a photograph, and you turn it. The other day you said that Julius Caesar was hurt in the morning [the goalkeeper had back pain], and later it was the best training session yet. Now you’ve created a circus saying he [Gilberto Silva] was injured. Whoever wrote that report has to apologise, because every day it creates panic for the fans,” said Dunga, on Saturday, the eve of the match against Ivory Coast.

“But it was I who asked to leave. I had a niggle at the training on Friday and thought it best not to practice to be fit for today [Sunday],” said the Panathinaikos player.

Gilberto Silva took the opportunity to praise the performance of the Brazilian team’s victory and qualification to the last sixteen of the competition. With their second win of the tournament, the team is on six points; and have secured one of the to two places in Group G.

“Every game is a test for us. And this time, the team played the way that everyone expects, that is attacking and making goals. But more importantly is that we play with tranquility,” he noted.

How philosophic! Glad he cleared up the mess about him being injured – and glad that he wasn’t injured in the end.

Well done Gilberto, and congratulations for your fantastic game against Ivory Coast!

From The Canadian Press

Brazil doctor Jose Luiz Runco said:

“All players are fit to play in Sunday’s match.”

This would obviously include Gilberto Silva.

Turns out that the “Gilberto ankle injury” rumours were just made up by the press. Dunga lashed out at the Brazilian media:

“Some of you went out there, took photos and said that Gilberto Silva was hurt. Everybody saw in the afternoon that he practised and was all fine, so these people need to apologize to the Brazilian fans.”

Glad he’s okay! Good luck Gibba!

In an interview with Sky Sports, Gilberto Silva has commented on Brazil’s game with Ivory Coast on Sunday. He’s particularly worried about Didier Drogba’s hair – which, he thinks, could become self-aware and try to take over the world. He said:

“We will be expecting a lot of difficulties against them. They have a strong team, but we are very confident that we can do well and win the game.”

“They have a strong team; we must play very well from the first to the last minute.”

“We don’t know yet whether he (Drogba) will play or not, even though he came on as a substitute, but we’ll see.”

“Of course, we respect him when he plays against us, he’s a very important player for them. He is a player about which we should be very careful.”

Seems to be a valid concern – Ivory Coast will be a tough opposition; they are very athletic and have some top players with Champions League experience. He will also meet up with ex Arsenal team mate Kolo Toure.

According to Brazilian newspaper Globo Esporte (Globe Sport), Gilberto trained with the Brazil squad on Saturday morning after an injury scare with his ankle.

Here is a translation of the article:

After taking a knock in training on Friday and being replaced by Joshua in the team, Gilberto Silva began Brazil’s last training session before the match against Ivory Coast. The player took to the field with the rest of the squad.

After warming up with the players, the coach Dunga again ordered the reporters away from the training session. It is the fifth Brazilian national team’s closed training since arriving in South Africa. Some have determined that the removal of the journalists after 45 minutes of activity was due to a photo taken of Josue as he trained with the first eleven. The communications director of Brazil’s national team, Rodrigo Paiva, however, said it was a technical decision.

Gilberto Silva concerned the coaching staff after leaving the last part of the training led by coach Dunga on Friday after receiving a knock to his ankle. The “volante” Gilberto was under observation and was reassessed by the medical department team on Saturday morning.

Brazil will play the Ivory Coast to 15h30m (20h30m in South Africa) on Sunday. If they win, the team will qualify for the final sixteen.

Globo reports (via Worldcupblog.org) that Gilberto Silva may have picked up an ankle injury in training for Brazil’s world cup game against Ivory Coast on Sunday.

Globo reports in Portuguese,

Gilberto Silva is doubtful for the second match of Brazil’s World Cup matches against Ivory Coast on Sunday in Johannesburg. In the final part of training led by coach Dunga on Friday on Saint Sthithians school’s pitch, with the doors already closed to journalists, the midfielder received a blow on his ankle and ended up leaving the session. Joshua filled the gap left by Gilberto.

Gilberto Silva is under observation and will be reevaluated by the medical team on Saturday morning to determine the severity of the injury. Brazil will play the Ivory Coast to 15h30m (20h30m in South Africa) on Sunday. If they win, the team qualifies for the last-sixteen.

The latest will follow as it comes in…

Reported by the dire Daily Mail

Blackburn are among a clutch of Premier League clubs willing to talk to Brazil midfielder Gilberto Silva who is ready to quit Panathinaikos and return to England.

The former Arsenal man, 33, will be allowed to leave for a small fee as the Greek side are struggling financially.

Fulham, Everton and Liverpool are also monitoring his situation.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1287747/Rovers-return-Brazilian-Gilberto-Silva-Blackburn-eye-Arsenal-midfielder.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#ixzz0rIdBwffZ

Sounds like a load of rubbish to me. The Daily Mail? The Daily Fail.

Gilberto has been talking about Kaka and how he will come good in the world cup tournament:

“In every game he will improve. It is very good to see him because he is really hungry to do well for Brazil and for himself. All the team are behind him and he has got the confidence of everyone. I am sure for the next games he will be much, much better.”

Talking about whether it was a good first game from Kaka,

“As a debut, I believe it was good. I didn’t know what condition I would be in for the World Cup because of injury, so I am happy. I hope to constantly improve, but the debut has been a positive one,” he told globoesporte.com.

Gilberto Silva feels that the world still hasn’t seen the best from Brazil – saying that when they play the bigger teams, they will really be able to turn on the style.

He told Press Association Sport (PAS):

“There is a difference when you play against the biggest teams, they go for the game, they want to win also and then that opens the game up.

“That creates more chances to score. Some small teams play all behind the ball. But I’m not sure if North Korea will play against the other teams in the group in the same way that they played against Brazil.”

I feel he’s right – North Korea sat 8 men in front of their goal for the first hour of their game. Bigger sides simply will not do this. Brazil will consequently have more room to attack and play their normal game.

Or at least we hope.

On Sunday, Brazil will play Ivory Coast in the World Cup.

He will be up against old Arsenal team mate Kolo Toure.

Here’s what Gilberto Silva said:

“We will be expecting a lot of difficulties against them. They have a strong team, but we are very confident that we can do well and win the game.”

“When Kolo and I went through Arsenal’s unbeaten (2003/04) season that was a great achievement for both of us and it will be nice to see him again at the Ivory Coast match.”

“We don’t know yet whether Drogba will play or not, even though he came on as a substitute [in his last game], but we’ll see.”

“Of course, we respect him when he plays against us, he’s a very important player for them. He is a player about which we should be very careful.”

“They have a strong team, we must play very well from the first to the last minute.”

“We have every preparation to make sure that the team keeps on improving.”

Gilberto will have to be on his toes