footballcircus: Football in the Spotlight

It's all about the spotlight this week Football Circus. 33 scouts at one match and a film focusing on Roy Keane. We also have an on-pitch brawl and Carlo Ancelotti who has had a lot to say this week.

Scouts Representing 33 Various Clubs Present at Benfica-Porto Match

It's been a pretty historic month for Portuguese football. First we saw the sad passing of the legendary Eusebio. Then this week we watched as Cristiano Ronaldo pipped Lionel Messi to be crowned this year's Ballon d'Or winner. This week also saw arguably the two biggest club sides in Portugal go head to head, as Benfica hosted Porto at the Estadio da Luz. Not only did they host their fierce rivals, they also hosted an array of scouting staff sent by no less than 33 clubs from around the world.

Representatives from some of Europe's biggest clubs including Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund were among those present at the Estadio da Luz for what on, paper was set to be a mass showcase of talent. Ezequiel Garay, Nicolas Gaitan, Nemanja Matic and Jackson Martinez had all been linked with moves out of Portugal prior to the game.

Benfica ran out 2-0 victors, a win which they dedicated to the aforementioned Eusebio, the club's most famous player. The legend spent fifteen years at the Lisbon based club. Sadly, they are unlikely to hang onto any of their current crop of stars for so long if offers start coming in. Chelsea have been the first club that had a presence at the match to make a move, with Nemanja Matic moving back to the London club from Benfica this week.

A full list of the scouts was published on Twitter and can be seen below.

Brawl in Brazil

A football match descending into a mass brawl? In Brazil? Reported on Football Circus? It couldn't be! It bloody well could. Yes, regular readers of the blog will be aware that mass brawls generally tickle our fancy when it comes to relaying world football news and that, quite often, said brawls will have taken place in none other than 2014 World Cup hosting Brazil.

So it will come as no surprise that our attention was this week drawn to the Brazilian A3 Series encounter between Marilia and Tupa, the two giants of South American football that they are. The match, as it happens, was in fact a practice match.

The brawl began with a punch, which was followed by a flying kick / knee. What followed was a melee involving almost every player on the pitch.

Marilia coach Luis dos Reis seemed undetered by the whole thing, and was quoted after the match to say:

"The result is not important. This type of match is used to give rhythm to the players and improve rapport. At this point, I leave satisfied with what the team produced. We regret the confusion, no one wanted it, but it just happened. Regardless, I liked the team, which is beginning to have a face for competition''.

Oh. Well...Carry on then....

Keane on Screen

Irish people, Manchester United fans, football fans and even those with a passing interest in the sport we call football will be interested to know that a Roy Keane film will be hitting cinemas.

The film, dubbed "Rockmount" after the team Keane played for as a boy, will focus on Keane's early life. The Irish Film Board this week announced via their website:

"Roy Keane is a small but demonic eleven-year-old in 1980s Cork.

"He needs to get on the starting eleven for his football club, and nothing is going to get in his way.

"It is part of the latest series in the Signatures short-film scheme, which is in its seventh round".

What's Mad Mario Upto This Week?

Getting slated by Real Madrid and former AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti it would seem.

Poor old Balo, despite being one of the biggest names in world football, is not without his detractors and certainly not immune from criticism. One such detractor is Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.

After Balo's fellow Italian striker Giuseppe Rossi was ruled out of this summer's World Cup, Ancelotti was asked for his thoughts on Italy's chances by Spanish Radio station RNE. The manager stated:

"Italy’s real problem is in attack, where they do not have any top players. We are waiting for Balotelli, but Balotelli is simply not consistent.

"He is a great talent, but he can’t be relied upon and can leave you down to 10 men at any moment".

Italian Football Story of the Week

- Ancelotti Waxes Lyrical over new Milan Boss Seedorf

Clarence Seedorf retired from football this week, making Brazilian side Botafogo his last club side. He made the announcement on foot of news that he had been given the task of resurrecting the fortunes of Silvio-Berlussconi run AC Milan, one of the his former teams.

Milan parted company with Massimilano Allegri at the weekend after a defeat at the hands of Sassuolo in Serie A left the Rossoneiri just six points above the relegation zone. Milan will now look to rebuild and believe their former Champions League winning midfielder is the man to bring back success.

Seedorf told Brazilian reporters:

"I am here to announce that I will retire from playing after 22 years.

"It has been a difficult decision, but I am satisfied with what I have achieved in my career. Here at Botafogo I am happy because I leave a team who have qualified for the [Copa] Libertadores.

"I leave an improved club, especially in terms of their mentality and team spirit.

"Milan? We will meet again. This experience of the last year and a half has made me grow up a lot and will help me in my next step, as coach of Milan, who have hired me in both an elegant and correct manner.

"I hope that Brazil can have a memorable World Cup and the national team can honour its colours. Thank you".

Though not so complimentary about Milan striker Mario Balotelli (as mentioned earlier), one of the first to congratulate Seedorf was his former Milan manager, Carlo Ancelotti:

"I know Clarence very well. He was my player and he always showed a lot of personality. I believe he has the knowledge and ability to do anything he wants in the world of football. Now he’ll be facing a new experience in an environment he knows very well, which is important. His lack of experience? This isn’t the first time AC Milan has made this kind of choice. It happened with Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello, and in both cases things turned out very well. Personally, I wish both AC Milan and Seedorf the best".

Football Recommendation of the Week

- Sofa Score. Last year we recommended Live Score, but having discovered Sofa Score, we believe Live Score may have been bettered when it comes to upto the minute score updates. As an all round app and website, it seems more user-friendly and certainly has more to offer.

http://www.sofascore.com/