BestSoccerBlog

AC Milan idol Paolo Maldini has picked up yet another title having been awarded the “Giacinto-Facchetti, il bello del calcio” prize.

The award was created in 2006 at the initiative of sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport and named after the former Inter Milan player of the same name who died in the same year but was considered to have had an exemplary career.

The inaugural winner of the award, called the ‘beauty of football’, was Paraguayan Julio Gonzalez, who carried on playing despite having an arm amputated after a car accident.

Last year Iraq captain Younis Mahmoud won the prize following his war-torn country’s victory in the AFC Asian Cup.

Maldini, 40, is in his 25th season as a professional player for Milan during which time he made 126 appearances for his country, won seven Italian titles and the European Cup/UEFA Champions League five times.

Brazil coach Dunga and forward Ronaldinho, both jeered by the crowd during their goalless draw with Bolivia on Wednesday, shrugged off the hostile reception and said it was all part of the game.

Ronaldinho was booed when he was substituted in the 77th minute of the FIFA World Cup™ qualifier while Dunga was jeered throughout the second half and goaded with chants of “Goodbye, Dunga”.

The modest crowd at the Joao Havelange stadium also cheered when Bolivia, who played the last 35 minutes with 10 men, went forward. “When we don’t play well, it’s normal,” said Dunga, who suffered the same reception during the 0-0 draw at home to Argentina in June. “Supporters are emotional and it’s their way of protesting. We just have to get over it. The important thing is to be in the top four at the end.”

Brazil are second in the ten-team South American group from which the top four qualify for South Africa in 2010. Dunga has been under intense pressure following a run of poor results and, although a 3-0 win in Chile on Sunday gave him some respite, Wednesday’s drab performance means the heat is on again.

Ronaldinho agreed with his boss. “The supporters’ reaction was normal,” he said. “The Brazilian team always has the obligation to win. We hope we can revert this situation.”

Defender Luisao, however, was not so tolerant. “When we play abroad, we are jeered and insulted and when we get here, we are booed as well. That makes it complicated.”