Invisiblewall.net: Gilberto Silva News

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Report: Juventus Set To Offload Christian Poulsen & Olof Mellberg

According to Sky Sport Italia, Scandinavian duo Olof Mellberg and Christian Poulsen are set to leave Juventus after a single season in Turin. It is reported that the players will relocate to Greek club Panathinaikos and Turkish side Fenerbahce respectively.

Mellberg should sign on the dotted line over the next few hours and it is also suggested that Brazilian defensive midfielder Gilberto Silva could move to Turin in part-exchange.

Translated from Super Esportes:

Since Dunga took over as Brazil coach, the subject of his biggest criticism is midfielder Gilberto Silva of Panathinaikos. On Friday, the first news conference of the Brazilian team in Bloemfontein in South Africa, the coach vented on the analysis carried out on his football and contrasted it to the criticism of Argentina’s Juan Sebastian Veron, Argentinian midfielder.

“Every time I leave for Europe I take a vaccine beforehand to prepare for the criticism. Seeing the game in Argentina, there was a comment about Veron, about how he is experienced and important. But when Gilberto Silva is here in Brazil, it is that he is old. But I am calm; it does not bother me”, said Dunga.

Gilberto Silva is 32 years and has been in the team since 2002. While still at Atletico-MG, the midfielder was chosen by then coach Luiz Felipe Scolari during the final preparation matches before the World Cup in Japan and South Korea – and With great performances, the player took the position and had a role in Brazil’s fifth world cup title. Since then, the player is a constant presence in the national team.

The player has earned the trust of three coaches in the national team: Scolari, Carlos Alberto Parreira and recently, Dunga. For Gilberto Silva, the support of the coaches and especially his experience are essential in deflecting criticism of his play.

“After eight years, I have to get used to always being criticised. It is important to see that I have the confidence of the coach, but also have to show work. Criticism brings benefit and I always look at it in the right way in order to improve”, said the holding midfielder.

Source: Sports Illustrated

RECIFE, Brazil (AP) — Robinho and Nilmar scored in an eight-minute period either side of halftime as Brazil rallied for a 2-1 win over Paraguay on Wednesday and move a step closer to a place at the 2010 World Cup.

The five-time World Cup champion leads the 10-team South American qualifying group with four matches remaining.

But it had to withstand a worrying start from Paraguay, which opened the scoring in the 26th minute via Salvador Cabanas — only the sixth goal against the Brazilians in 14 qualifiers.

Robinho equalized in the 41st minute and Nilmar made it 2-1 in the 49th.

Brazil has 27 points in qualifying — one ahead of Chile — and is the only team to have played in every World Cup finals. Brazil’s next match is Sept. 5 at archrival Argentina.

“They were three important points, now we hope to beat Argentina in the next match to seal the qualification,” Robinho said.

Brazil coach Carlos Dunga, a defensive midfielder in his playing days who seems to have turned Brazil into a cohesive unit, took the victory in his stride.

“My main aim and that of the national side is to qualify for the World Club, and we still need three points to do that,” he said.

Brazil tried to control possession in the early exchanges with Robinho floating behind the strikers, and defender Daniel Alves raiding down the wing with Gilberto Silva sitting in front of the defense.

Paraguay started with three central defenders and five midfielders, relying on counterattacks centered on lone striker Cabanas.

A free kick from Cabanas deflected off Elano and past Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar.

With new Real Madrid signing Kaka closely marked, Brazil struggled to break down the Paraguay defense, but the resistance was overcome when Alves crossed to the back post for Robinho to score in the 41st.

Kaka, who this week moved from AC Milan to Real Madrid in a transfer estimated at $92 million, tipped his hat to the fans in Recife.

“I want to dedicate this victory to the followers in the Pernambucano (stadium) for the love and support they showed in the more difficult moments of the match,” he said.

Brazil took the lead soon after the break when Nilmar held off his marker to convert a high cross from Felipe Melo.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/soccer/06/10/s.american.roundup.ap/?eref=T1#ixzz0XoHkqQIO
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Source (translated by Google): Sidney Rezende

Four years later, midfielder Kleberson lives again the day-to-day life of the Brazilian. Important part in winning the fifth title in 2002, Flamengo expected to sign the group going to the World Cup in South Africa, despite knowing that the cast is practically closed.

“Many players are coming and I meet the expectations of the coaching staff. It is very nice to be here, I am very happy. I’ll try to help in what the team needs. Today, my place is different because the team already has a closed group “he said.

Kleberson also said the reunion with Gilberto Silva, who had a good partnership in the World Cup in Japan

“Gilberto was a person who helped me in the squad. We have a close friendship. It was very nice to see him again,” he said.

Also happy to see his friend, the player of Panathinaikos has a mild slam the 15th of Flamengo shirt.

“I am very happy to find it again. Also he missed it. But it is the political environment. At last, said that he would come to visit here and did not come (laughs). What matters is that it is a great player and has a good opportunity to take root here, “he concluded.

Source: Uefa.com

Greece: AEK Athens FC v Panathinaikos FC (Sunday, 21.15)
The concluding game of the Greek campaign is the decider for the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round slot between the two Athens rivals at the capital’s OACA Spiros Louis Stadium. Panathinaikos are three points clear of AEK in the four-team play-off to join double winners Olympiacos CFP in Europe’s premier competition – with PAOK FC and Larissa FC off the pace. AEK must win, and striker Ismael Blanco said: “It will be a tough match, like a final. It’s up to us to give our all, to concentrate and fight hard. We will have the fans on our side and hopefully will prevail.” Panathinaikos midfielder Gilberto warned: “We have a slight advantage, as a draw also suits us, but AEK are tough opponents and will give everything to clinch a UEFA Champions League spot.”

Source: The Straits Times

RIO DE JANEIRO – OFF-form Ronaldinho was left out of Brazil’s squad on Thursday for next month’s World Cup qualifiers and the Confederations Cup.

Striker Ronaldo, who has not played for his country since the last World Cup, was also overlooked despite a promising start to his latest comeback with Corinthians.

Ronaldinho has failed to settle at AC Milan since his move from Barcelona last year and has recently been mostly confined to the bench.

The playmaker was substituted by Brazil in their World Cup qualifier in Ecuador last March after one of his worst performances at international level and found himself among the substitutes for the following game at home to Peru.

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Gomes (Tottenham Hotspur), Victor (Gremio) Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Alex (Chelsea), Juan (AS Roma), Lucio (Bayern Munich), Luisao (Benfica), Kleber (Internacional), Andre Santos (Corinthians).

Midfielders: Anderson (Manchester United), Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Josue (VfL Wolfsburg), Ramires (Cruzeiro), Elano (Manchester City), Felipe Melo (Fiorentina), Julio Baptista (AS Roma), Kaka (AC Milan) Forwards: Alexandre Pato (AC Milan), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Nilmar (Internacional), Robinho (Manchester City).

Source: BBC

…Even Arsenal’s Brazilian star Gilberto Silva admitted: “In his prime, Ryan Giggs could have represented any country in the world – even Brazil!

“To play regularly for a great and successful club like Manchester United for so long, you have to be a bit special.”

Source: Goal.com

Luis Fabiano and Kaka have both admitted their delight at seeing their arch-rivals Argentina get thrashed 6-1 by Bolivia yesterday.

Dunga was a lot less reserved about the subject when questioned about the Argentine defeat.

“Altitude does affect a lot, it was clear in the play of Argentina,” he said.

Along with the coach, Gilberto Silva was also less controversial in his statements, saying that “we also have to play there [in La Paz] and playing at that height is difficult”.

Gilberto Silva was rated at Goal.com for his performance against Peru on April 1st:

Gilberto Silva – 7.5: After insipid display in Ecuador, he was back to his best, effortlessly robbing possession off his opponents time and again.

Player Ratings: Ecuador 1-1 Brazil
Brazil finally scored their first goal in Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier and they came close to a win too, but a late goal denied the Selecao. Goal.com rates the performers on the pitch.

Gilberto Silva – 5: The normally cool holding midfielder had to do a lot of running and his lack of pace showed as the Ecuadorian completely dominated in the middle of the park.

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