22 Dec 2005(Thu)

December 21: For an Englishman, it’s not been a good end to 2005. I turned the TV on thi s morning and everywhere on the sports news it was about Brazil.

First, Ronaldinho retained his FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Next, Sao Paulo arrived home to show off the Toyota Cup after beating Liverpool in the FIFA Club World Championship final on Sunday.

In addition, Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni was made a “Freeman” of the city as a reward for his MVP services to the club – and this honour coming from the city mayor who is a fierce supporter of Sao Paulo’s rival, Palmeiras!

Oh, and just to round it off, we saw a few shots of Ronaldinho playing his part in Barcelona’s latest victory to keep his team on top of the table going into the winter break in Spain.

So not a good day so far for an Englishman, as 2006 looms, bringing with it the World Cup in June.

There can be no complaints about Ronaldinho winning the award again, though, as clearly he is well ahead of Lampard and even Eto’o. He is, without doubt, the most exciting player on the planet at the moment, and how Manchester United must wish they had tried that little bit harder to sign him a few years ago.

As for Sao Paulo. Well, many people are saying they were lucky to beat Liverpool 1-0 at Yokohama. Liverpool had 17 corners to 0; Liverpool had three goals disallowed. Lugano should have been sent off for a crude tackle on Gerrard.

Goals win matches, not corners; the officials looked to be spot on by disallowing Liverpool’s goals, although the third was very close; and Lugano, yes, may have been shown the red card on another day, but I think many would have been surprised if he’d been sent off for that foul on Gerrard as he surged down the right wing.

No, Sao Paulo defended well. They have two good full-backs and a good keeper who commanded his box.

I think Benitez got it wrong with his selection, was too cautious and paid the price. Morientes should have scored in the first minute with that header to Gerrard’s right-wing cross, but his miss was hardly Sao Paulo’s fault. Brazilians can defend and attack; it’s as simple as that.

There is no doubt Brazil go into 2006 with a massive psychological advantage over their World Cup rivals, even though I feel England still have a good chance to win in Germany.

ends