“Ronaldino can do everything on the field. I can’t even describe what he can do,” said Pareira. “I must say that he trains with enthusiasm and, most importantly, he plays with joy. He’s not just doing it for himself; rather, he scores the goal for the team.”
According to Pareira, his main job is to help Ronaldino, Rolando, Adriano and Kaka do their best.
“They simply have to play the way they play in order to become champions.”
The Brazilian soccer trainer confesses that at first, he had second thoughts about fully dedicating himself to training; after all, only the best play in the team.
“Now I can say that it wasn’t hard bringing the players together. The games for qualification showed me that they can play as a team,” says Pareira and hopes that the team will follow the rules of the game and the trainers will keep an eye on the violations.
There is more good news for Brazilian soccer lovers. The main forward of the team, Ronaldo got injured during the unofficial match with New Zealand and fortunately, he didn’t suffer a big injury. He is currently recuperating and is already participating in trainings. Doctors say that he will be ready to play the first game with the Croatians, which will take place on June 13. The Germans also hope to win the championship. Although the German team trainer Yurgen Klinsman and the two goal-keepers Oliver Can and Yens Leman don’t like each other, the German press has promised Klinsman to “operate him without tranquilizers” in case the team loses. Germany is ready to do everything for its players and the players are striving to win. The German government has promised to grant 300,000 Euro to each player if the team wins.
What do Armenian soccer fans predict?
Everyone is waiting for the world soccer championship to kick off and trying to make predictions. We think that the reader will be interested in knowing about some of the opinions of well-known people in Armenian society. We asked the following questions to whomever we could contact: Are you going to watch the world championship games? Which team do you want to win? Who will be the champion? To be honest, we were a little surprised after hearing the replies to these simple questions. First of all, we were amazed to find out that most of the men don’t care about the championship at all. There were also some people who didn’t want to answer. There were some unique replies too.
First, we wanted to ask president of the Armenian Soccer Federation Ruben Hayrapetyan for his opinion, but he had already left for Germany to watch the championship there.
We got a hold of actor Hrant Tokhatyan and he said that he wants Brazil to win without thinking twice.
“Either Germany or Brazil will become the champion. But of course, I want Brazil to be the champion.”
It turns out that businessman Hrant Vartanyan isn’t too interested in the world soccer championship.
“I don’t even know which teams are playing. I personally like the Armenian soccer team.”
But will the Armenian soccer team actually make it to the world soccer championship finals if things go at this rate? Mr. Vartanyan is optimistic and remembers the victories of the “Ararat” soccer team back in 1973.
“Armenians like two sports the most-soccer and chess”.
Actor Hrachya Harutyunyan said that he will definitely watch the championship games and already has his preferred team.
“I like the individual games; that’s why I want Brazil to win. Brazil and England will make it to the finals and of course, Brazil will win.”
Leader of the National Unity party Artashes Geghamyan’s answer was strictly diplomatic.
“I am going to go for the one who deserves it, may the one who deserves it win the championship.” That was it…
Singer Zaruhi Babayan is not going to watch the championship because, as she says, “I don’t have the time for that and I really don’t like soccer.”
Singer Emma Petrosyan also doesn’t like soccer, but she is on Brazil’s side. Her husband Aramo is also rooting for Brazil and said on behalf of his family.
“We will definitely watch the games. I am going to root for Brazil first, then Italy and Argentina. Brazil will make it to the finals and will compete with either Germany or England. But Brazil will win. My son also thinks that Brazil will win. Emma is also of the same opinion, although she doesn’t watch soccer.”
National Assembly MP Hranush Hakobyan will most definitely watch the games, but before answering our questions, she talked about the victory of our chess players.
“I am happy to see that Armenian men proved that they are the cleverest.”
According to H. Hakobyan, in contrast to chess, the brain doesn’t play a major role in soccer, but rather the feet, but it’s also important to think. Her favorite team is Brazil.
President of the Writers’ Union of Armenia Levon Ananyan interrupted this “love for Brazil” parade for a short while.
“The world soccer championship is going to be full of surprises,” said L. Ananyan. According to him, it’s hard to make predictions because there are many good teams out there. But there is one thing L. Ananyan is sure of.
“On behalf of my friends and me, Brazil is not going to win. Don’t bet on Brazil.” He likes the German team out of all the participants.
Director of the “Sharm” company Ruben Jaghinyan loves the Brazilian team, but this time he wants Spain and Italy to win.
Who will actually win? As expected, R. Jaghinyan’s response was original.
“Of course, the Armenians”.
Head of the Armenian State Taxation Service (ASTS) Felix Tsolakyan is going to watch the games and is even worried about waking early in the morning and going to work. He has always loved the Brazilian team.
“I think the Brazilian and German teams will make it to the finals. Perhaps Brazil will win, however I have some doubts. The games are taking place in Germany and the field factor is very important,” said head of the ASTS.
Whose side is leader of the United Labor Party (ULP) Gurgen Arsenyan on?
“I am a Brazilian team fan.”
G. Arsenyan gave a more original answer than Ruben Jaghinyan to the following question: “Who will become champion?”
“The team that wins in the finals will be the champion.” Who would have thought?
Actor Arthur Utmazyan is a soccer fan and is absolutely going to watch the games. He likes individual soccer players better, like Ronaldino and Zidan. That’s why he had a hard time saying which team was going to win. However, he did try to make a prediction.
“The English team is good, but Brazil will make it to the finals and compete against England, or it may go against Germany.”
Although French Armenian benefactor Oshin Yeghiazaryants loves soccer, he probably won’t have time to watch the games.
“I love soccer, but I don’t really follow up on such events. I might watch if Brazil and France play,” he says.
We weren’t able to contact president of the Central Bank of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan, but his press secretary told us that Tigran Sargsyan likes the Brazilian team and believes that Brazil will be the champion.
Singer Alla Levonyan said:
“I don’t know, I probably won’t watch the games. Armenia isn’t playing, so I won’t watch. It’s not about the “honor”. I used to watch and I liked the Argentinean and Brazilian teams.”
Armenians are once again “out of the game”
Armenians once again remained observers of the world soccer championship. Of course, this is neither surprising nor something to be happy about. The bad thing though is that Armenians have gotten used to this and don’t even think about not being last. In any case, starting on June 9, Armenian soccer fans will sit in front of the television set with a bottle of beer, asking “Who did you make a pass to?” or “Goal!” and see how the Ronaldinos, Beckhams and Zidans out there score the goals. Perhaps very few people will remember that there is another soccer game on June 9, which is not part of the world championship. On June 9 at 5:00 p.m., the Armenian young soccer team will play with the San Marino team at the stadium named after Vazgen Sargsyan. It is worth mentioning that in the first round of the San Marino game in the European championship, the Armenians lost 3-0 due to the disqualification of an Armenian soccer player. On June 9, the Armenian soccer players must score four goals. Only after scoring those goals will the Armenian soccer team be able to make it to the next stage of the European championship. Perhaps the score of this game will show us whether the Armenian team will be able to compete during the 2008 championship games. We wish our Armenian soccer players good luck. We are optimistic and hope that they will score the four goals. As for the world soccer championship games, we are forced to put up with the fact that the Armenian team is not playing in Germany and root for the other teams. We can’t make any conclusions or predictions and recommend watching the professional players. It is quite possible that the teams will set new records and we will hear new names.