The excitement for the upcoming World Cup is building as it is only 16 days away. Our correspondent in Brazil, Joe Callaghan, provides us with the latest news and updates from South America. He also shares some traveler tips for those who are planning to visit the country during the tournament. In addition, Callaghan gives us a glimpse of how the World Cup in Brazil is taking shape. Back in June 2008, Luis Felipe Scolari expressed his desire to retire in four or five years. He mentioned that money was one of the reasons behind this decision, and he did not want to continue working as a coach until he was 70. However, as time has passed, Scolari’s wish has not been fulfilled. Now at the age of 65, he is far from experiencing the tranquility of retirement that he had envisioned. The picturesque Granja Comary in Teresopolis, with its lush green surroundings, can offer brief moments of serenity amidst the chaos of preparations for the World Cup. Below, you can watch the video of Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull filming the official World Cup song.
Chilled out: Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari emanated a sense of calmness as he warmly welcomed reporters to their practice facility.
The Brazil national team arrived at their training center for the World Cup amidst a chaotic scene. The squad had to navigate through protestors, fans, and journalists, with all eyes focused on them. However, their coach, Scolari, seemed unfazed by the commotion. Retirement was not even on his mind. Despite his initial plans to buy a winnebago and travel the world with his wife, Scolari found himself exactly where he wanted to be – leading Brazil in their quest for World Cup glory. These unexpected turns were a far cry from the press conference he held in 2008 when he was appointed as the Chelsea manager, replacing Avram Grant. The upcoming tournament is a big deal for Brazil, as they prepare to compete on their home turf with the hopes and expectations of millions of people weighing heavily on their shoulders.
+17 Browse through the photo gallery to see Scolari’s warm welcome to Neymar, Brazil’s shining star, as they settle into their World Cup training base this week.
+17 Look at the slideshow of photos Complaint: A small group of protesters also confronted the players, unhappy about the large amounts of money spent on the World Cup. He didn’t accept the position and the lucrative three-year contract until a month later, but it was all over within another seven months. It was a brief period marked by a long list of failures. The signings, with Deco as the prime example, never quite worked out, there were conflicts with senior players, and tactical breakdowns were abundant. But more than anything, what ultimately led to Scolari’s downfall was following in the footsteps of two unbeaten home managers, Grant and Jose Mourinho, only to drop 16 out of 39 points at Stamford Bridge. This experience deeply scarred Felipao, both in his nickname and in his character and confidence. Being seen as incapable of succeeding in the Premier League greatly affected him. After all, he had successfully knocked England out of all three major tournaments he had participated in – the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, and Euro 2004 in between – before the streak was interrupted when the Three Lions failed to qualify for Euro 2008. Forget about Germany or Argentina, Scolari is now considered the new rival.
Scolari still carries the emotional scars of his disappointing tenure as Chelsea manager, which makes his current situation all the more ironic. Now, over a year after his supposed retirement, he is aiming to make history by becoming only the second manager to win two World Cups, the first being in 1938. To achieve this, he is heavily relying on the very league that caused him so much pain, selecting six Premier League players and even including four from his former team, Chelsea. Interestingly enough, Scolari has his old nemesis Mourinho to thank for some of his success. Despite their past conflicts during their time as Portugal coach and Porto manager, Scolari acknowledges that Mourinho’s influence has been beneficial.
+17 Browse through our photo gallery
Benefactor: Scolari has reaped the benefits of Jose Mourinho’s influence on Willian and Oscar during their time at Chelsea. When it comes to Scolari’s revamped Selecao, there are clear signs of Mourinho’s impact on the transformation of Willian and Oscar. While Scolari may never admit it, Mourinho played a crucial role in molding them into the relentless and dynamic talents they are today. Despite this, Scolari has undergone a noticeable change. He has become more mellow and welcoming, treating his squad like family rather than a strict headmaster. While he has adapted some new traits, his loyalty remains unwavering. For the home glory bid, Scolari will rely heavily on his trusted Confederations Cup winners. Luck has also been on Scolari’s side, as there have been no major injuries during the preparation for the tournament. Additionally, their opening night opponents, Croatia, will be missing their key player, Mario Mandzukic, due to suspension. These early advantages can set the stage for success and boost confidence. Scolari made it clear that winning is the only option for Brazil in this tournament. Retirement can wait; there is still work to be done.
+17 Browse images Great Expectations: Scolari asserts that the Brazilian populace has a sole aspiration for the World Cup – victory. Promising Week: Defense Delirium David Luiz’s extravagant transfer from London to Paris has set off a frenzy of financial activity involving talented Brazilian defenders. It appears highly probable that Dani Alves will be joining the former Chelsea player at PSG, while Marquinhos will be heading in the opposite direction to Barcelona. In the meantime, Marcelo secured a triumph and received a bonus for scoring a goal in the Champions League final. We presume the defenders will be treating everyone to drinks at the Brazil camp.
+17 View gallery Victor: Marcelo from Brazil scores a goal in the Champions League final to secure Real Madrid’s victory over Atletico Madrid. A Rough Week: Disappointing Performances by J-Lo and Claudia Brazil’s talent extends beyond just football – they also excel in the music industry. It comes as no surprise then that the host nation has held high standards for the official song of the World Cup. Unfortunately, the song “We Are One” performed by Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, and Brazilian artist Claudia Leitte has failed to meet these expectations. In fact, it has been heavily criticized by the Brazilian audience, comparable to the strict judging of Simon Cowell. It is evident that the song lacks authenticity with regards to Brazilian culture, much like a stadium that is completed on time but lacks the passion and spirit that Brazil is known for. The dissatisfaction with “We Are One” has reached such a level that locals would prefer the return of Shakira’s anthem for the 2010 World Cup, with the hashtag #VoltaWakaWaka trending in Brazil. This highlights the country’s desire to replace J-Lo and her collaborators with a song that resonates more with the Brazilian people. In this case, Brazil may be united in their disappointment, as they collectively express their desire to lower the volume on J-Lo and Pitbull’s World Cup music video.
Let the festivities begin! Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, and Claudia Leitte took the stage to deliver an exhilarating performance of the Official World Cup anthem.
+17 Browse through the gallery Unison: The Brazilian audience has given a thumbs-down to J-Lo and Pitbull’s World Cup anthem We Are One
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Have you heard of Juliano Belletti? He may not be as well-known as some Brazilian football imports like Juninho or Gilberto Silva, but he definitely left his mark at Chelsea in the Premier League. While some Brazilian players struggled to adapt to the English game, Belletti managed to find a sweet spot between success and mediocrity. During his three seasons at Stamford Bridge, Belletti showcased moments of brilliance. As a World Cup-winning full-back, he possessed the ability to score impressive goals. His memorable strikes for Chelsea came to mind recently when Marcelo scored for Real Madrid in the Champions League final against Atlético. It’s interesting to note that Belletti holds a significant title as the last Brazilian to score in the biggest European football match – the Champions League final. In 2006, he broke Arsenal fans’ hearts with his winning goal. Although he has been retired for three years now, Belletti continues to contribute to the world of football as an analyst for SporTV in Brazil.
+17 Browse through the photo gallery Do you remember me? Juliano Belletti, the former Chelsea defender, has taken on a new role working for a Brazilian TV network. Here’s the quote of the week: “We believe that we are making progress in the right direction. We still have two more games to play in Brazil, and these matches are crucial for our preparation for the first game against Chile.” These were the words of Australia coach Ange Postecoglou after his team’s uneventful 1-1 draw with South Africa on Monday. The Socceroos will be the first team to arrive in Brazil, landing here on Wednesday, a whole 11 days before England. Since they are placed in a group with Spain, Holland, and Chile, it would be wise for them to take full advantage of their pre-tournament time. However, it is unlikely that they will last long in the tournament after the first game kicks off. Travel tip: Stay hydrated beforehand. FIFA recently announced the food and drink prices at the stadiums. While fans flying in from Europe or Australia may be pleasantly surprised to find that the prices are reasonable compared to those in their home countries, the same cannot be said for the locals. Paying R$6 (£1.60) for a small local beer (a large is £2.70, and a large Budweiser is £3.50) may not affect the budget too much, but being charged R$6 for a 500ml water bottle when any local convenience store in Brazil sells 1.5-liter bottles for a fraction of the FIFA price seems like a clear case of taking advantage. It might be a good idea to hydrate well before entering the stadiums.
+17 Browse through the gallery The exorbitant prices charged by FIFA for food and drinks inside Brazilian stadiums have sparked strong opposition from the public. Have you checked the weather forecast for Manaus in the Amazon? With June approaching this weekend, the world’s largest rainforest is entering its winter season, but there’s no need to dig out your gloves and scarves just yet. The scorching heat in Manaus shows no signs of relenting. Temperatures will reach highs of 30C throughout the week, while lows (or what English fans might call “slightly less highs”) will be around 23C. Even stadium volunteers, who are local residents, have complained of feeling unwell after training sessions in the heat in recent days. If this is the impact on the locals, newcomers might be better off staying indoors.
