Tom Jamieson Jun 17, 2014:

I guess my point is this:

If every brazilian article I can find refers to Dani Alves, Marcos Rocha, etc as "laterais-direitos", and we both know that Dani Alves and Marcos Rocha are right-backs, not wingers, then what is the debate about?

I would like Marina to post the name of the footballer in her source text, and we will see that he is a right-back.

Tom Jamieson Jun 17, 2014:

No, the articles are in Portuguese, that's the whole point. If you then take the names of those players listed as laterais on the portuguese websites, and look them up on English wiki or football websites, you will see that they are referred to as full backs. (I included the wiki links for some of the players in my previous discussion entry),

For example, everybody in Brazil says that Dani Alves is the current "lateral-direito" for the Seleção. Everyone who speaks English knows that Dani Alves is Brazil's right-back.

Look at the difference:

http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Alves
"Daniel Alves da Silva (Juazeiro, 6 de maio de 1983) é um futebolista brasileiro que atua como lateral-direito."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dani_Alves
"Daniel Alves da Silva (born 6 May 1983), commonly known as Dani Alves (Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈdɐ̃ni ˈawvis]), is a Brazilian footballer who plays for FC Barcelona in La Liga and the Brazilian national team, as an offensive right back."


I don't know how I can make it any more clear to be honest.

Mario Freitas Jun 17, 2014:

And by the way, Tom, Your PC must be configured to translate automatically, because all the references you posted are originally in Portuguese, without a word in English and no reference at all to the laterais being backs, as opposed to the 3.000.000 references I indicated, where you have "lateral" and "winger" or "wing" in the same text, as a translation of each other.

Mario Freitas Jun 17, 2014:

This may be a difference between British and US English. However, the wings used to be the "pontas" until the mid-80's, when the "laterais" were defense players. Since the early 90's, there is are no more "pontas" in the soccer teams, and the ""laterais" are no longer defensive players. It would be conceptually wrong to call a non-defense player a "back". There are three "zagueiros" in a soccer team, and only one is the center-back. The other two are the left and right backs. If you call the "laterais" backs, you team no longer has players in the wings, since the "pontas" no longer exist. And you'll have a team with five "zagueiros". Teams that play defensively, in the "retranca" style are the ones that may call their wingers "backs". Not Brazil.

Tom Jamieson Jun 17, 2014:

http://www.gazetaesportiva.net/noticia/2014/03/selecao-brasi... Lateral esquerdo = Marcelo = left-back


http://gq.globo.com/Essa-e-nossa/noticia/2013/08/os-candidat... Lateral-direito = Maicon, Dani Alves, Marcos Rocha, Rafael = ALL right-backs


http://www.mg.superesportes.com.br/app/noticias/especiais/tr... Lateral direito = Mayke = right-back = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayke


http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/ultimas-noticias/2013/07/2... Lateral-direito = Djalma santos = a right-back =http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djalma_Santos


Should I post more?

Tom Jamieson Jun 17, 2014:

Hi Georgia. You would call a centre-back a zagueiro, (or zaga) http://www.inglescomfutebol.com.br/2014/01/14/como-se-diz-du... Lateral, as rightly pointed out by Mario, means the side, which is where full-backs play.

I know a winger also plays on the side of the pitch, but I'm still surprised this has created such debate since it's not really a translation that is open to interpretation. There is a right answer and winger is not it. I provided tons supporting links in my answer. Just to be sure, I also asked a few Brazilian friends/family members today, "Quem é o lateral-direito do Brasil?" and they ALL responded with "Daniel Alves". Dani Alves is a right-back.

Anyway, it could quite easily be cleared up for this individual case if the asker was to tell us the name of the footballer in her text. Marina?

Georgia Morg (X) Jun 17, 2014:

Lateral For those of you who think a "lateral" is a full-back (and a "lateral direita" is a right full-back) what would you call a centre-back, (eg, John Terry)? Lateral refers to the wing. surely