Grêmio’s 2010 World Cup break tournament before league surge and Renato Gaúcho’s first spell | OneFootball

With Grêmio using the World Cup pause for friendlies, they face Cruzeiro in Brasília on Sunday after a defeat to Chapecoense and a narrow win over Cascavel. The 2010 break brought a similar detour, the Copa da Hora, which came before a late surge in that Brasileirão and Renato Gaúcho’s first spell as coach.

As reported by Globo.com, the invitational ran from 30 June to 5 July 2010 at Ressacada, Avaí’s home in Florianópolis. The format was a single round-robin with Vasco, Coritiba and Avaí alongside Grêmio.

Coached by Silas, Grêmio endured an uneven campaign and finished bottom with three points from nine. They lost 2-0 to Coritiba on 30 June, beat Vasco 3-0 on 3 July, then fell 3-2 to Avaí on 5 July.

Vasco took the trophy with six points, level with Avaí but ahead on the head to head. Coritiba also ended on three points.

Grêmio’s starting XI in the opener was Victor, Edilson, Ozéia, Rodrigo, Fábio Santos, Adilson, Willian Magrão, Maylson, Hugo, Jonas and Borges, with Silas in charge.

After the World Cup resumed, results did not pick up under Silas, with the side in the relegation zone. He was dismissed in August after a home defeat to Fluminense at the Olímpico, and Renato Gaúcho arrived. Despite debuting with a loss and a Copa Sudamericana exit, Grêmio surged in the second half and finished fourth, earning a Libertadores place.

Source: Globo.com