Brazilian football

As I think I'm the only Brazilian here and in case anyone wants to know more about our championship, here it goes:
The clubs usually play 3 main championships, I'll explain it better:


We have the national championship (3 different divisions): Serie A, Serie B and Serie C.

In Serie A:
- 20 clubs
- Home and away system like most European championships
- 1st to 4th enter Libertadores Cup (It would be the Latin American Champions League).
- 5th to 12th enter the Southamerican cup (Equivalent to Uefa cup)
- 17th to 20th are relegated to Serie B

In Serie B:
- 20 clubs
- Home and away system
- 1st to 4th promoted to Serie A
- 17th to 20th relegated to Serie C

In Serie C:
-First phase: 64 clubs divided in 16 groups of 4 playing home and away system; 1st and 2nd of each group qualify for next phase
-Second phase: 32 clubs divided in groups of 4 with the same system of the first phase.
-Third phase: the 16 clubs play the same system reffered above.
-Last phase: the remaining 8 clubs play home and away and the first four are promoted to Serie B

Copa do Brasil (Brazilian Cup):
In the same pattern as Coppa Italia.
- The champion has the right to play Libertadores Cup
- Clubs playing Libertadores Cup do not play this Cup in the current year.

State Championships:
As our country is divided into states, we have these championships
-1st and 2nd place in each state championship have the right to enter the Serie C ; If the 1st and/or 2nd are already playing one of the leagues (A, B or C), the spot goes to the club below them in the standings.

As we are located in the southern hemisphere and our summer is the winter in the northern hemisphere (and vice-versa). So, our football calendar is different:
-At the beginning of the year, usually from January to February, clubs play state championships.
-Usually the Brazilian Cup starts at the middle of February.
-Serie A starts in May and ends in December

Feel free to ask me any question! (but I don't know if I'll have the answer hahaha)

What Brazilian team do you support Thiago??

When I play some FIFA games and choose a Brazilian team I generally pick Gremio for some random reason and I think Santos once or twice.

I remember a few seasons ago didnt Palmeiras win some championship and then like the year after were relegated? Correct me if im wrong. If I am right, how does this happen when they had the WC2002 winning GK and a good squad and coach aswell!!??

Thiago, what do you think about Valdivia?

Is he a real idol in Brazil as we think in Chile?

Here in Brazil I like Vitoria (one of the teams from my city) it's not a big club and lately it has been unstable. This season that just started they are showing some good football, currently in 2nd place with 20 points in 10 games, only behind Flamengo with 23.
This is their badge:
http://www.edulima.com.br/escudos/vitoria_ba.gif

I think Palmeiras didn't win anything the year before relegation (Actually it was Vitoria who won 4-3 on the last fixture and relegated them) and the year after relegation, Vitoria again trashed them on Brazilian cup; Palmeiras 2-7 Vitoria (Yes, at their stadium!)

And please, pay attention to the last goal Vitoria scored... This is what the GK of the winning team of 2002 made:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfnbQ4CGZws

I also like Flamengo a lot which is one of the most famous Brazilian clubs (the club Zico played).

I guess I know why you like Grêmio :P Their colours are sky blue, white and black. Isn't enough? Their stadium is called Olimpico hahaha

And Mafalda, yes. Valdivia is an idol here too! (Specially for Palmeiras supporters). I like the way he plays!

Here the standings of Brazilian league:
http://esportes.terra.com.br/futebol/brasileiro/2008/classificacao/0,,OI1511344-EI11421,00.html

Thiago wrote:

I guess I know why you like Grêmio :P Their colours are sky blue, white and black. Isn't enough? Their stadium is called Olimpico hahaha

Yep I think thats why I like them hehe

Good to see that your favourite Brazilian team is coming 2nd Thiago!