Joel With The Goal Then Falls in a Hole

((ht: bleacherreport.com))

Ooops.

Here's your Wednesday soccer highlight of the day.

Check out the goal celebration by Cortiba's Joel (joe-el) after a breakaway goal where he ended up having to dance around a few defenders.

The goal, which was impressive, is only topped by what happened afterwards, Joel goes running down the end line and hurdles the advertising sign barrier. Then disappears.

Turns out he landed in a covered hole on the field.

No really, he did.

He wasn't hurt, this goal was one of two he had on the night as his team won 3-1.

This Was Not What Brazil Expected

((HT: ESPN/FIFA))

After getting blown out in the semi-finals by a far superior German side, the Netherlands got their pound of flesh in the third-place game with a 3-0 shut out for the bronze in Rio...

And you can bet that Scolari is SO done after this loss... Brazilian fans booed their home squad after the pitch...
Here's the highlights- if you're Dutch...


"Medals for Holland, Mockery for Brazil" indeed...

The HQ always enjoys Jon Champion...

And What Happens If Brazil Loses...???

((HT: FIFA/ESPN))

Well, first and foremost...

It would be Neymar to score the equalizer for the home country. It wasn't a thing of beauty, but it got the job done...

Welcome back Ian and Macca


But, it took an odd turn in the first nine minutes with an own goal of all things off a deflection to give the Croats some hope in the tournament opener...


The goals are up until they get pulled, obviously...
But it was 1-1 at the break...

Protests In Sao Paulo Day Of Brasil 2014 Start

((HT: CNN))

Police are setting up a 5km perimeter around the football stadium in Sao Paulo, Brasil- which translates into a little over 3 miles before the World Cup opener between Brazil and Croatia.

But protesters are working their way around in Sao Paulo and at the airport in Rio de Janeiro (with the airport workers themselves) setting the stage for, what could be, a very nasty month.

This morning police with tear gas canisters met protesters in frint of CNN's Shasta Darlington


Word is that a CNN producer also had her arm broken covering these protests.

This may not go over well and there's Russia and Qatar four and eight years from now to look forward to...

DEVELOPING: Neymar Rolls Ankle In Training

((HT: The Score))

Well, this has put the collective breath and heartbeat of the host country in their throats...

Neymar rolled his ankle in training today...
((HT: World Football))


Word was that he was running "normally" a few minutes later, but this is something to keep an eye on as Brazil has had a lot of injuries leading up to the tournament that starts Thursday.

Brazilian Soccer Riots Explode In Stadium

((HT: TheBest))

There is already, plenty, to be concerned about as the World gravitates toward Brazil for the World Cup in the summer...

Other than the corruption, the stadia that may or may not make their deadlines (and may or may not meet spec when the ARE done), and the violence in the streets... the country seems prepared for just about anything...

Except more rioting inside a soccer stadium...

Today, a match between Atlético Paranaense and Vasco da Gama led to nothing short of mayhem

Evidence below...


And it makes you wonder about how security will be when the world's best soccer players are all over a country in civil unrest...

Three fans injured were taken to hospital in critical condition...
Here's a longer version with interviews on the field in Portuguese...

Team Masseur Makes Saves In Real Game, Saves Game

But he wasn't the starting goalie...

A masseur for the Brazilian team Aparecidence was chased into the stands (and, really, out of the building) after he made TWO goal line clearances during a 2-2 draw with the Tupi team- and, you have to admit, the saves were pretty sweet...

((HT: Juliano Spader))


Romildo Fonseca da Silva is the guy's name and his actions kept the aggregate score at 3-3 with his saves.

According to Brooks Peck over at Dirty Tackle:

The match was halted for 20 minutes while the officials tried to figure out what just happened. When it resumed, neither side could score and Aparecidense advanced on away goals. Tupi-MG supporters threw rocks at Aparecidense's bus as it left and the club's board vowed to challenge the result in court.