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MR ROY’S FILM CLUB

When Wayne Rooney settles down for an evening in front of the box, his feet up and his wife beside him, he loves to watch a film. He eases into his home cinema room and reaches for his most adored DVDs. Tonight, perhaps it will be his absolute favourite – Grease – or it could be another of his beloved musicals, Hairspray maybe, or possibly the film he once admitted was his third favourite movie of all time, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. His tastes are likely to clash somewhat with the sophisticated, worldly leanings of his England manager. Mr Roy, it turns out, has recently been in one of his side’s World Cup destinations, Manaus, where he has been both back-pedalling harder than a reversed Chris Froome highlights reel and dropping the names of arthouse cinema auteurs into casual conversation. As you do.

Mr Roy, you’ll remember, got the Manaus mayor into a hot funk by saying it was a “place to avoid” shortly before England landed a Group D fixture against Italy in that very place. Since then, far from keeping to his word, the England manager has enthusiastically undertaken a winter fact-finding mission there (current temperature 30C) from the UK. His mission has largely involved a nice boat trip to the confluence of the Rio Negro and the Amazon, and the dropping of such insights as “I didn’t expect to see the grass so green as it is” on a visit to the city’s Arena Amazonia. But he is also doing his best to suggest the gulf in tastes between coach and star striker means that neither is likely to be in the other’s hotel room of an evening watching a DVD together come June.

“I have always quite liked the idea of coming to Manaus because of the famous film many years ago by Werner Herzog,” Mr Roy told a Sky TV reporter, who quickly changed the subject once the topic of the New German Cinema and the Oberhausen group of directors was introduced. To Rooney’s – and very possibly the Sky man’s – dismay, the Herzog film Mr Roy was referring to neither starred Whoopi Goldberg, nor features much in the way of singalong hits like Summer Nights, but was instead Fitzcarraldo – which, though set in Peru, was partly filmed in Manaus. Telling the story of an ambitious would-be rubber baron’s attempts to drag a steam ship over a mountain, it’s not clear why the film’s themes of reckless determination to achieve the unlikely in the face of mounting evidence that such a mission is doomed to disaster should appeal to the manager of England in a World Cup year.

Mr Roy also took time out of his busy schedule to underline his rapport with England’s supporters. He talked of his concern for their safety in the wake of last year’s Confederations Cup violence, then All-Right-Jacked that his squad would be fine as “we are going to have a lot of protection”. Still, well-versed with the sorts of extra-curricular activities in which England fans usually indulge on tour, he has at least recommended some Manaus highlights for them to take in: “They’ll enjoy it here – especially if they have a bit of time, like we’ve had, to visit the opera house.” Oh Mr Roy!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“He said good luck. I don’t think he meant it” – Germany defender Jérôme Boateng reveals what his brother, the Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince, said to him when the two sides met in South Africa in 2010.

O FIVERÃO LETTERS

“Why is O Fiverão only weekly? Surely as proper journalists you could make up this sort of rubbish daily?” – Jennie Fiddimore [Er … – O Fiverão Ed].

“Scott Connolly was on to something when he likened O Fiverão to a tired old rock band (last week’s O Fiverão letters). For the group that can barely see their best days in the rearview mirror, Brazil is heaven. Adoring fans will pay crazy money to see Simply Red, The Cranberries, Seal and A-ha go through the motions for that one last big payday. It seems O Fiverão has found his spiritual home. Parabéns” – Darren McVeigh.

• Send your letters to [email protected], with ‘O Fiverão‘ in the subject line. Or just ‘World Cup Fiver’ if that’s easier. And if you’ve nothing better to do you can also tweet the Fiver. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the week is: Darren McVeigh.

BITS AND BOBS

Following his return to football after a near-two-year absence with a 10-minute substitute appearance for Atlético Paranaense against The Strongest, big-boned striker Adriano has targeted a place in Brazil’s squad. “I would be lying if I said it’s impossible to return to the national team and play in the World Cup,” he dreamed.

Fifa blazer Jérôme Valcke insists work for the Curitiba stadium is on course despite earlier fears it would not be ready for the tournament. “It’s a race against a very tight timeline,” tweeted Valcke, neglecting to add the hashtag #YOLO. Curitiba official Reginaldo Cordeiro said he was grateful that Valcke “tugged at our ears”.

Meanwhile Valcke has predicted a “quiet” World Cup. In other news riot police used batons, tear gas and rubber bullets in World Cup city Brasília this week as 15,000 protesters marched from the Mané Garrincha football stadium to the Palácio do Planalto state office of the president.

Rob Green’s QPR understudy Júlio César has joined Toronto on loan in the hope of boosting his chances to represent Brazil this summer. “Adding a player of César’s experience and ability strengthens our club,” cheered Toronto’s Tim Bezbatchenko of, to repeat, Rob Green’s understudy.

Fifa’s refs chief has backed Swedish World Cup official Jonas Eriksson after Manuel Pellegrini accused him of being “on Barcelona’s side” against Manchester City during the two clubs’ Big Cup meeting. “Absolute nonsense,” parped Jim Boyce, who has yet to offer Howard Webb the same consideration.

And the position of water carrier will be a more literal role in Brazil after Fifa announced that drinks breaks will be introduced should the temperatures rise too high. “We can provide players with cold towels where necessary,” soothed a Fifa quack.

STILL WANT MORE?

Buried behind adverts for Bendix homes, reports of a lightning strike in Wigan and rainfall levels in Hull came the Big Paper report of Uruguay’s 1950 World Cup win over Brazil. And despite its lowly billing, it was quite the win, writes Scott Murray.

Fernando Duarte updates the Football Weekly podcast on the latest state of the preparations in Brazil. Idiosyncratically.

For decades, women’s football was banned in Brazil. Now ex-drug traffickers are tackling prejudice in the game by training future stars from the favelas, reports Jo Griffin.

And, in a story published on Valentine’s Day, the romantic tale of whether the crackdown on Brazil’s $ex industry is a threat to human rights.

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NICE TO HAVE YOU BACK MR RIBEIRO

• World Cup 2014
• World Cup

Tom Bryant

theguardian.com