The start of a Brasileirão implies various speculations. Everything is subject to questions and opinions from transfers to who is going to have a good season, or to simply wonder if certain information is true.
The start of a Brasileirao is when Brazilian football goes from a state to a national level. The state Championships are over and now it is only 20 teams fighting for the most important title of the country.
And journalists love speculations, despite their pledge to truth and factual reporting sport journalists still enjoy the good old discussions on who is going to win the title, and who is going to the Copa Libertadores next year, and who is going to end up in the Serie B in 2012.
In the Sambafoot team it is no different. All of us gave their feelings and opinions. Some might be wrong and some might be right but we will only know at the end of the year.
But still Sambafoot is a bit different, as the opinions don’t come from only one country but from four nations of football: Brazil, France, Spain and England.
The columnists opinions:
Diogo Kotscho from Brasil is the PR of Paulo Henrique Ganso and he believes Santos will win the title. For him Cruzeiro, Sao Paulo and Internacional will be the other three teams selected for the Copa Libertadores. And still according to him Avai, Atletico-GO, America-MG and Bahia will play in the Serie B next year.
From Spain, Juni Calafat thinks that Cruzeiro will win the title and will go to the Copa Libertadores with Santos, Fluminense and Sao Paulo. For those who will end up in the Serie B, Juni agrees with Diogo except for Avai, who will according to him stay in the Serie A and Figueirense will be relegated.
Walquir Mota, columnist on the French platform, also believes that Santos will win the title. Corinthians, Cruzeiro and International are the other teams that will play in the Copa Libertadores. Heading for the Serie B are in his opinion Atletico-Go, America-MG, Avai and Figueirense.
The British Tim Vickery, well known for his knowledge in Brazilian football believes that the title will go to Cruzeiro. And he named Atletico-MG, Internacional and Santos as the other three teams qualified for the Copa Libertadores. Tim agrees with his peers on the relegation of Atletico-GO, America-MG and Figuerense, but for the forth name he is the only one who believes in the fall of a big team: Botafogo.
Summing up the opinions
Adding all the opinions of the columnists, the journalists and even of the website director, Frederic Fausser, it gives a good idea of the beautiful games that lie ahead of us.
For the title, Santos comes as the big favorite, as 59% of Sambafoot’s team voted for them. Just behind Santos is Cruzeiro with 25% of the votes.
Favorites for the title
1º Santos 59%
2º Cruzeiro 25%
3º Internacional and Flamengo with 8% each
Regarding the votes on who is going to play in the Copa Libertadores the sum doesn’t add up to 100% as every journalists voted for 4 teams. Once again, and without surprises, santos comes ahead followed by Corinthians, Cruzeiro and Internacional.
Favorites for the Copa Libertadores
1º Santos 100%
2º Corinthians 75%
3º Cruzeiro 59%
Internacional 59%
5º Fluminense 33%
Flamengo 33%
7º São Paulo 17%
8º Atlético-MG 8%
Grêmio
Atlético-PR
For the relegation, the winner, or rather the looser is America-MG who received 92% of the votes. Also on the list are Atletico-GO, Avai and Figueirense.
Candidates for the relegation
1º América-MG 92%
2º Atlético-GO 83%
3º Avaí 67%
Figueirense
5º Bahia 42%
6º Ceará 17%
Coritiba
8º Botafogo 8%
Out of the 20 teams, 18 were picked in the votes, 10 for the Libertadores and 8 for the relegation. This is the proof that the Brazilian Serie A is a balanced championship where every team has a chance of winning.
Now we just have to wait for the ball to roll to see who was right and who was wrong. And you? Do you agree or disagree? Be part of Sambafoot and participate in the forums to make your voice heard.
