Player of the Week - Oscar

What a start!

Brazil kicked off the World Cup with victory against Croatia in the opening game of Brazil 2014. After a spectacular opening ceremony, in Sao Paulo, it was up to Brazil, as the host nation, to continue the party atmosphere and win the game. Early in the match, Croatia took a shock lead, through an own goal by Marcelo, but after this, Brazil played well and scored three times (Neymar (2) and Oscar). Many people's man of the match was Neymar, but our man of the match was Chelsea's Oscar. With some fantastic crosses and dribbling on the right, he caused problems for the Croatian defence all night. And in the final minute, he scored the best goal of the night, with a fine individual effort. 

What do we know about Oscar?

Júnior Oscar Dos Santos Emboaba is from a town called Americana in the São Paulo region of Brazil.  His first major club was São Paulo FC, which he joined in 2004 at the age of 13.  He helped them to win the Brazilian championships of 2008 and 2009.  During the 2009 season the midfielder had some problems with his contract and left São Paulo FC.  He moved to Internacional in the southern city of Porto Alegre.  He spent three years with Internacional, before moving to London to sign for Chelsea for around £25 million.

What has Oscar achieved at Chelsea?

“My favourite moment at Chelsea was my debut when I scored two goals,” says Oscar. The game was in the Champions League against Italian giants Juventus in September 2012 (2-2).  The midfielder’s second goal was very special: he turned quickly just outside the area and hit the ball over goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.  “I won’t say it’s nice to concede a goal, but it’s still nice to be a part of a great goal like that,” said Buffon.  It was voted ‘Goal of the Season’ by Chelsea fans. This was not the only trophy Oscar won in his first year at Stamford Bridge. In May 2013, Chelsea beat Portuguese side Benfica 2-1 in Amsterdam to win the Europa League.

Can Oscar work hard?

English football is famous for being very fast and physical.  “I used to watch English football on TV when I was younger in Brazil,” Oscar says. “I already knew it was a dynamic, competitive way of playing.”  Oscar is light (66 kg) and not very tall (1m 78cm), but he combines great skill and creativity with a lot of hard work.  In his first Premier League season, he won 86 balls compared to a total of 53 by his midfield partners Eden Hazard and Juan Mata.  And he cleared the ball 32 times compared to their total of eight. 

Is Oscar enjoying London?

Oscar took English lessons when he moved to London, but it was his wife Ludmila – his childhood sweetheart – and the friendship of Portuguese-speaking teammates that helped him most.  "Myself, David Luíz, Ramires and Lucas Piazón are very close.  At least once a week, we have lunch or dinner together.  Our families are always together as well.  It’s really important that I have them around,” Oscar has said.  The British capital is a friend, too: "I feel lucky to have come to London as my first home in Europe. You can find whatever you like to do. I don't even want to go to Brazil for holidays.”  But the English weather is a problem: “During the winter, I miss Brazil a lot!" he says.

What did you understand?

Did you know......?

• Oscar scored a hat-trick for Brazil in the Final of the 2011 Under-20 World Cup against Portugal (3-2).  He was only the second player to score three goals in a FIFA Final.  The other was Geoff Hurst for England in the 1966 World Cup against West Germany (4-2).
• The official capacity of Stamford Bridge is now 41,837 but the record attendance is 82,905 against Arsenal in 1935.
• The first Brazilian to play in England was Francisco Ernani Lima da Silva, or ‘Mirandinha’, who signed for Newcastle United from Palmeiras in 1987.
• Brazil have won the World Cup (five times) more than any other country.
• The nickname of the Brazilian national team is ‘Os Canarinhos’, or ‘Little Canaries’, because of their yellow shirts.