Santos v Rangers Match Preview
Last updated : 19 July 2002 By Vanderhogg
Tomorrow sees Rangers finish their pre-season tour to New York with a match against legendary Brazilian outfit Santos. Of course when described as legendary, we really mean that Santos are famous for only one thing – Pele.
 | Santos - a sleeping Brazilan giant? |
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In the complex world of compassion that is Brazilian football, the Sao Paulo club have in recent years seemed like a spent force. Indeed since 1968, Santos have only won two major honours – the Campeonato Paulista (one of the many championship honours in Brazil – they currently sit top of the league after 5 games) in 1984 and the Copa Conmebol (South America’s version of the UEFA Cup) in 1998. It was however the 1960s and Pele’s time at the club that brought huge honours. A grand total of 23 titles came their way in that period. Like last weekend’s match against a good River Plate side, the Santos game should provide a stern pre-season test for Rangers given the Brazilians have started their season already.
 | Boss - some tough choices to stay happy |
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Rangers go into the game having won 2 and lost 1 of their tour games and would dearly like to sign off with another win. All the players in the party have been used thus far with Neil McCann (due to injury) being the exception. The question is not so much about the starting line-up however, more about the formation that manager Alex McLeish will adopt as both 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 seem to be playing on his mind.It will also be interesting to see who performs given that only 3 weeks tomorrow is the big kick-off. So far many have impressed and will be staking their claim for a regular first team spot.
The game is part of a double header with the New York/New Jersey Metrostars v New England Revolution kicking off at 4pm ET (9pm GMT) with the Rangers v Santos game after that at around 6.15pm ET (11.15pm GMT).
If in the area, you can get tickets from www.ticketmaster.com or www.metrostars.com
Vanderhogg
The East Enclosure Dutchman