Porto Alegre is the capital and largest city in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Located near the tip of Brazil, the people from this area are called gauchos, and have their own distinct cowboy culture, but share a lot of similarities with their Argentinean and Uruguayan neighbors. It is the southernmost state capital in the country of Brazil, residing at the confluence of five different rivers at the mouth of the Baia de Guiaba, officially called Guaíba Lake (popularly mentioned as a river too).
The City also boasts stunning scenes from nature such as the sunset over Lake Guaíba, one of the most beautiful in the world. A popular music scene and a considerable theatrical tradition, Porto Alegre remains, since foreign performers of all kinds usually include the 2014 World Cup host city on any Brazilian or wider South American tour. Porto Alegre has a long- standing tradition of excellence in soccer, featuring two clubs, Sport Club Internacional and Gremio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, that both have won numerous national and international honors throughout their distinguished history.
The Estadio Beira- Rio Stadium is the home of Internacional, arch-rivals to their Porto Alegre neighbours Gremio. The venue is now preparing to host five games at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, among them a Round-of-16 tie. Estádio Beira-Rio replaced Internacional’s previous stadium, the Estádio dos Eucaliptos which hosted the 1950 World Cup.
In 1969, after the Estádio Beira-Rio was inaugurated, the Estádio dos Eucaliptos was deactivated. The 51,300 seater has gone through restoration and developments that makes it fit to host matches. Beira-Rio complex named ‘Gigante Para Sempre’ (Giant Forever), is scheduled to play host to four group matches and the last-16 tie between the winners of Group G and the runners-up of Group H.
In the initial stage, France are due to play Honduras there, Australia play Holland, Korea take on Algeria and Nigeria face Argentina.
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Porto Alegre is home to Brazilian footballer Ronaldo de Assis Moreira (born 21 March 1980), commonly known as Ronaldinho or Ronaldinho Gaúcho. Ronaldinho was born in the city of Porto Alegre, the state capital of Rio Grande do Sul.
Renowned for his technique, tricks, dribbling, overhead kicks, no-look passes and free kicks, Ronaldinho is widely regarded to be one of the best footballers of his generation. Ronaldinho was named in the FIFA 100, a list of the world’s greatest living players compiled by Pelé, and to the FIFPro World XI from 2005– 2007.
With Barcelona, he won the UEFA Champions League in 2006 and the Ballon d’Or in 2005. On 19 November,Ronaldinho scored twice as Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3–0 on the road in the first leg of El Clásico. After he sealed the match with his second goal, Madrid fans paid homage to his genius with a standing ovation, so rare a tribute only the great Diego Maradona had ever been granted previously as a Barcelona player at the Santiago Bernabéu.