Santos in talks with former Germany striker Lucas Lima wave

The board of Santos coach Dorival Junior and constantly together to strengthen the squad for next season. The  UOL Esporte  found the first name that appeared in reinforcements list was Cocoa striker, Brazilian-born German. The 34-year-old, who played in the World Cup 2010 in Germany, was offered to the Sao Paulo club.

After discovering that Cocoa wants to return to Brazilian football, the Santos board consulted Dorival Júnior. The coach approved the hiring and therefore the negotiations with the entrepreneur player has already begun. However, the talks are at the very beginning.

Between directors and coaching staff, Cocoa is considered one of the athletes who can supply to the absence of Lucas Lima. The Santos board plans to keep the shirt 20 in 2016, but is afraid that the entrepreneur Player, Wagner Ribeiro, is already preparing the half output later this year.

In the 4-2-3-1 system, which operates the Dorival Santos, the Brazilian-born German can act in any position of the line playing behind Ricardo Oliveira - formed by Geuvânio [Marquinhos Gabriel] Lucas Lima and Gabigol.

Cocoa played eleven seasons in German football, but the latter was the striker's club Cerezo Osaka, Japan. The athlete, born in Santo André, played in the Bundesliga between 2001 and 2013.

The striker played for Nuremberg, but had the best phase of his career in Stuttgart. A total of 307 games in the German football and 88 goals scored. The German team, he played 23 matches and netted six times. One of them took place in World Cup 2010.

Cocoa has waved his desire to defend the shirt of Santos and accepts even reduce the salary earned in recent years abroad to come to terms with the team at Vila Belmiro.

In addition to Cocoa, Santos  gives priority to hiring a quarterback. Kadu is one of the names listed for the sector. The defender has 29-year spell at Corinthians and currently holds the defense of Paraná team.

FC Porto-Chelsea 2-1 A DRAGON GIGANTIC, EPIC AND SENTIMENTAL

That pose, that pride, that ability to loom! It is to be congratulated Dragon. Jose Mourinho knew that Porto likes to be large compared to the great, but tonight was more than that. It was huge! 2-1 and leadership in G of the Champions League group.  

The image of those long minutes en route to the last quarter of an hour, were of a vulgarized Chelsea, suffering blunt in all areas of its defenses.For a moment, the London team was too small against FC Porto size.  

Ali did the lyric stage of dragons, the sentimental touch, that variable that conveys charm to a relatively nuanced play. Mourinho did not believe that FC Porto temptation. But it was felt. Alongside a bewildering Brahimi were two figures that cause chills in blue and white skin:. Reuben Neves and Andrew Andrew  

Reuben merits alone, a chapter. A few months ago, did not even have a driving license. Now aged 18, he looks like a white-haired maestro showed rhythms. A man's game, ace. Confirmation of pure talent.  

Public Dragon standing ovation your jewelry, there born and raised. He endured 77 minutes, succumbing to physical problems. Soon to be André André, two names and two goals in big games. After the classic against Benfica in the Champions League and Chelsea. New collective ovation.  

It would be unfair to reduce the compliment to these characters and forget Maxi Pereira, Aboubakar, Imbula (what a great second part!). The Maicon's header. And Iker Casilllas. The night we set a new record for attendance in the Champions League, fleeing to Xavi, did not deserve the maximum penalty by circumstantial tie Chelsea on the break.  

It would be wrong to reduce the analysis the outcome and conclude that Julen Lopetegui clearly surpassed Jose Mourinho . Truth be told, the fall of the cloth Marcano committed penalty, handles the ball in bidding with Diego Costa (89m). That is the objective analysis. But Porto did not deserve to win? Deserved, surely.  

The two teams drew similar schemes, with changes of circumstances and statements of mutual respect. A false extreme (André André the Portuguese side, Willian Chelsea), a second man to strengthen the area ahead of the defense (Reuben Neves FC Porto, Ramires with visitors).Lopetegui added Indi, risk affixed to the left side. Not lost.  

The major headache for FC Porto was Diego Costa, the returning with the reputable and - still - unstoppable wanderings to the left-handed side. For much of the game, Maicon and his peers could not stop the arrow of Chelsea. Alone, could hold and serve for quick entries. Simple formula, team in transition, and not rarely effective.  

The Dragons went better, announced what went but was Iker Casillas to prevent the English goal, after the initial minutes after shots of compatriots Cesc Fabregas and Pedro Rodriguez.  

Porto He answered from the half-hour by taking advantage of clear Ivanovic's inability to clear a disconcerting Brahimi. The first goal would come around, after Algerian ballet on the left to the center. Begovic postponed, André André appeared suddenly to recharge.  

Not everything was perfect, yet. Dragons hesitate defensive coverage. A inattention was fatal, on the break, with Ramires to appear between Ruben Neves and Imbula to approach the area and conquer missing, committed by Danilo.  

Casillas gesticulated, screamed, was uncomfortable. It was noted at the outset that did not see the ball. And William, with class, shelved it on the far side, where it should be the goalkeeper. I did not see, did not fall alone, but fell. At that time, Iker Casillas failed.  

Chelsea had more opportunities created before and after, but the story will be a superb entry of FC Porto in the second half. Again Brahimi, now receiving from Indi and win a corner. This was followed by the laboratory, the perfect design, Maicon to flee the networks storage, and to divert measured after crossing Reuben Neves. Again Porto in front.  

Diego Costa responds, hits the iron, wants to solve the issue alone. Hazard later shoots the side netting. But everything else is a blue and white immense around Begovic's goal, a show of strength, class, want. The announcement of a third goal that did not arise.  

In this period was glaring lack of defensive safety of Chelsea, with a line to walk to the end of shelf life. Danilo Pereira headed against the post, among many trials.  

Julen Lopetegui managed efforts, took the units with higher throughput and longer wear - Reuben Neves for disability after André André and Brahimi - Mourinho responded with Hazard before Matic and Kenedy  

The Chelsea fired up with a siege of Porto's goal and the clear threat tie. Not scandalize nor would it be fair for what Porto did throughout the night. A Dragon beyond great. Huge.

Santa Cruz wins Bragantino and enters the G-4

Before this 29th round, the Santa Cruz flirted with the G-4 Series B sixth. On Tuesday, the team reached the goal by beating Bragantino by 3-1, in Arruda even working with a reduced field from the 28 minutes of the second half. 

With the win, the choir team is the new third place Series B of the Brazilian Championship with 48 points combined. The Bragantino on the other hand, comes in ninth place with 42 

out Vale, however, that the match tonight only marked the opening of the 29th round.All other direct competitors of Santa Cruz for a spot in the G-4 still enter the game at the weekend.

The game

After a few minutes cautious, Santa Cruz already shook the net after just four. The goal Lelê, however, was canceled because of a touch on Vitor lateral arm. Still, a good move articulated by Allan Vieira and Louie lifted the crowd in Arruda.

Then it was the turn of the Bragantino hit by the trio of arbitration in the eighth minute when Rodrigo Maranhão tried to take advantage of a rebound in Alan Mineiro's shot and was caught offside. In response, Santa Cruz came to attack with veteran Grafite, who turned on the marking and demanded the first good defense Douglas Friedrich.

The striker returned to take dangerous after 21 minutes. After corner kick from Daniel Costa on the right of the attack, Graffiti rang head hard and pulled out ink indent of alvinegro goalkeeper.

After some pushing, Santa Cruz managed to open the scoring on 34 of the first half.The bidding started with Louie, who lifted the ball into the area. While their central defense marked Graphite, Lelê was free in front of Friedrich goal, and put Bragantino in the network background.

In return for the second time, Louie managed to extend their lead in the ninth minute, taking advantage of a shadow in corner kick to score the second of the host team. Bragantino, however, it decreased the difference five minutes later, Alan Miner.

After 28 minutes, defender German left the lawn expelled because of his second yellow card by the referee applied Francisco de Paula dos Santos Silva Neto. Still, with a player less on the field, the Santa Cruz also reached the third goal after 43 when Bruno received from Louie and closed the account in 3-1 for the Pernambuco team.

SANTA CRUZ 3 X 1 BRAGANTINO

Location:  Arruda stadium in Recife (PE) Date:  September 29, 2015, TuesdayTime:  21h (GMT) Referee:  Francisco de Paula dos Santos Silva Neto (RS)Assistants: Carlos Henrique Selbach (RS) and Marcos Santos Vieira (AM)Yellow cards: Lelê (Santa Cruz); Renan, Gilberto and Eder Lima (Bragantino) Red Card:  German (Santa Cruz) GOALS:  SANTA CRUZ: Lelê after 34 minutes of the first half, Louie, the ninth the second, and Bruno, the 43 BRAGANTINO: Alan Mineiro at 14 minutes from time

SANTA CRUZ: Tiago Cardoso; Vitor, German, Danny Morais and Allan; Wellington, Daniel Costa (Bruno), John Paul, Louie and Lelê; Graphite (Bruno Moraes) (Marlon)
Coach: Marcelo Martelotte

BRAGANTINO: Douglas Friedrich; German, Gilberto, and Bonfim Eder Lima;Wigor, Renan (Conrad), Alan Mineiro and Chico (Rodolfo); Rodrigo Maranhão (Bruno Correa) and Jobinho
Technical: Wagner Lopes

FIFA confirms 2022 World Cup in Qatar will kick off Nov. 21

FIFA says the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will start on Nov. 21, kicking off a 28-day tournament that will finish on Dec. 18.

FIFA's executive committee confirmed the 2022 dates on Friday, six months after picking the Sunday, Dec. 18 date — Qatar's national holiday — for the final.

In March, FIFA finally decided to switch the 2022 tournament from June-July to avoid Qatar's summer heat.

A 28-day World Cup is four fewer than usual and is designed to cause less disruption to clubs and leagues which must shut down for several peak midseason weeks.

FIFA had delayed choosing a kickoff date in Qatar while it held talks on the 2019-2024 schedule of national team fixtures.

The international calendar mandates when clubs must release players for national-team duty.

Impact confident even if artificial turf may keep Drogba out of key game in Orlando

Didier Drogba is a question mark for a key game at Orlando City on Saturday, but the Montreal Impact have been getting positive results lately no matter who is in the lineup.

It has yet to be determined if Drogba will play because Orlando's Citrus Bowl has artificial turf, which would be hard on the 37-year-old's knees.

"He's not comfortable playing on artificial turf," coach Mauro Biello said Wednesday. "He hasn't played on it throughout his career.

"We'll probably have a training session on artificial turf (on Thursday) just to get ourselves accustomed to the ball and the bounce and then train again Friday on (Orlando's) turf and then make a decision based on that."

Former Chelsea star Drogba, who joined the Impact in mid-season, has seven goals and an assist in six Major League Soccer games and has helped the team get on a six-game unbeaten run.

Orlando players like Canadian Cyle Larin, who set the MLS rookie scoring record of 14 this week with a hat-trick against the New York Red Bulls, said they were looking forward to facing a boyhood idol, but they may not get that chance.

Either way, the Impact is a confident team of late, coming off a sweep of three home games after a pair of draws on the west coast. One of them, a 1-1 tie at San Jose, was without Drogba and several other veterans in the lineup.

"Every game we play now we play with the mentality to win," said midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker. "That's the mentality you have to have in a championship-winning dressing room.

"We don't go in looking for a draw. There are different scenarios that might pop up, but we go in looking for wins."

The Impact (12-11-6) hold the sixth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, four points up on seventh-place Orlando with two games in hand. Orlando will be eliminated if they lose to Montreal, while a draw would also put them in deep trouble.

Drogba's two goals in a 2-0 victory over D.C. United On Saturday earned him MLS player of the week honours for the second time this month. He and Reo-Coker were picked for the MLS team of the week.

Reo-Coker, 31, has come alive since returning to the starting 11 when Biello replaced the fired Frank Klopas after an Aug. 29 loss in Toronto.

The former West Brom and Aston Villa midfielder was a regular until he fell out of Klopas' favour in late June. He was on the bench for 10 matches until the coaching switch, but has played in all of the last six games, five as a starter.

"I haven't paid too much attention to my individual performances," said Reo-Coker. "For us, it's a team effort.

"That's something Mauro implemented as soon as he took charge, that we're nothing without one another. It's the same throughout the team."

Reo-Coker began his MLS career in 2013 with the Vancouver Whitecaps but was traded in August, 2014 to Chivas USA, who folded after last season. Montreal got the former England under-21 captain with the first pick in the waiver draft.

In the Impact's last outing, Biello used a 4-3-3 formation with Marco Donadel just behind Reo-Coker and Patrice Bernier to shore up the defence and start the attack.

"A lot of people were surprised at that formation, seeing the three old men with crutches in the middle of the park," said Reo-Coker. "For three old men I thought we did OK.

"It makes the team very solid defensively and at the same time we managed to get up and create some chances."

Champions League - What hype are the Spanish teams in the draw of Champions?

Barcelona, ​​European champions will be the only Spanish team that will be among the top seeds in the draw for the Champions League on Thursday. Real Madrid contained in Pot 2 with Atletico Madrid and Valencia. Sevilla goes to hype ranking number 3 after Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen.

The Forum Grimaldi of Monaco will host on Thursday at 17:45 the historic draw for the group stage of the Champions League in which for the first time there will be five Spanish teams.

We explain what the draw to give you an idea of ​​the rivals who could face the Spanish teams.

Pot 1, the seedings

The system for designating the seedings has changed already this season and will not be the eight teams with the best UEFA coefficient seedings, but eight major champions league.

The seedings will be Barcelona , Chelsea , Bayern Munich, Juventus , Benfica , Paris Saint Germain, Zenit St Petersburg and PSV Eindhoven.

Pot 2, the Spanish

The Real Madrid will be in Pot 2 next to Atletico Madrid and Valencia and teams like Porto , Arsenal and Manchester City .

Teams in the hype, by order of the coefficient: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Porto, Arsenal, Manchester United , Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen and Manchester City.

Drums 3 and 4

For the composition of the remaining drums shall address itself to the UEFA coefficient.

Pot 3: Shakhtar Donetsk and Sevilla as top teams. Also: Olympique Lyon, Dynamo Kiev, Olympiakos, CSKA Moscow, Galatasaray and AS Roma.

Pot 4: BATE Borisov, Borussia Moenchengladbach, Wolfsburg, Dinamo Zagreb , Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Gent, Malmoe and Astana .