Punter's Guide Mon, Jun 12, 2006

Punter's Guide Mon, Jun 12, 2006   
Preview: Brazil v Croatia   

 

Associated Press
 

 

Brazil forward Ronaldo has been the big talk of the World Cup - literally and physically.

 

With an eye on history to become the World Cup`s all-time leading scorer and incessant questions about his fitness, Ronaldo leads the ``Selecao`` in defense of their 2002 title and their bid to win soccer`s most prestigious event for a record sixth time Tuesday when they play Croatia in their Group F opener at Berlin.

 

Ronaldo enters this World Cup with 12 goals, tied for third on the all-time list with Brazilian legend Pele and behind only West Germany`s Gerd Mueller (14) and France`s Just Fontaine (13). The 29-year-old forward netted both goals in Brazil`s 2-0 win over Germany in the 2002 championship game and finished with eight in the seven matches, gaining total redemption for his side`s 3-0 loss to France in the 1998 final in which he almost did not play after suffering a seizure before the game.

 

While his greatness in the all-time annals of soccer will be eternally debated, the immediate talk around Ronaldo involves his weight. The Real Madrid striker`s web site lists him at 189 pounds, nine more than the figure submitted by Brazil to FIFA. Ronaldo weighed 169 pounds in 2002, causing mass speculation that even had the country`s president inquiring.

 

``I think I deserve a lot more respect because of my services in the national team. I think it`s ridiculous,`` Ronaldo said after Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva asked the team`s coach during a video conference pep talk about Ronaldo`s stature.

 

``People shouldn`t care about this,`` he added. ``What difference does it make?``

 

Ronaldo has had injury problems heading into this World Cup, and many have attributed it to the added weight. He also played just half of Brazil`s last exhibition match due to blisters on his feet, a topic of conversation that lasted almost four days afterwards.

 

``I was surprised with the repercussions, people were talking about the blister for three or four days,`` Ronaldo said. ``Everything was about the blister, they were putting my capacity in doubt because of the blister.``

 

Despite all the speculation, Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who already won the 1994 World Cup with the ``Selecao``, has announced Ronaldo will be in the first 11 and make his 100th career international appearance.

 

``Of course Ronaldo will start in the opener,`` Parreira said. ``The team is set, and Ronaldo is included.``

 

Parreria has an embarrassment of offensive stars from which to choose, and the first match will feature his ``four stars`` lineup which will have Ronaldo, fellow forwards Ronaldinho and Adriano as well as midfielder Kaka. Adriano is the only one of the quartet to be making his World Cup debut in Germany, and the 24-year-old already has 23 goals in 32 international appearances.

 

Coming into the World Cup, it appears Brazil has distanced itself further from the world. The ``Selecao`` won the 2004 Copa America, finished first in the grueling 18-match qualifying process in South America and won the 2005 Confederations Cup in Germany with what was mostly a reserve lineup.

 

Additionally, group play has been a mere formality for Brazil. The ``Selecao``, the only team to qualify for every World Cup, have lost just one group play match - a meaningless 2-1 defeat to Norway in 1998.

 

With Brazil such a heavy favorite to win the group, Croatia has joined fellow Group F teams Australia and Japan in what has become a three-team battle for the other spot to the knockout round. The Croats won Group 8 in European qualifying in strong fashion, winning seven matches and tying the other three to finish ahead of Sweden.

 

This is Croatia`s third consecutive World Cup appearance, but the Croats are trying to move away from their disappointing group exit in 2002 after a surprising run to the semifinals in 1998. But Croatia coach Niko Kranjcar seems willing to sacrifice three points to Brazil in a close loss if it means his team`s psyche will be steady heading into its other two matches.

 

``We will try to win, but it is no tragedy if we lose against a team everybody is touting as perhaps the best Brazilian team ever,`` Kranjcar said Saturday. ``It is more important that we don`t get thrashed, as that would be a blow to the players` psyche.``

 

Kranjcar`s son Zlatko is one of Croatia`s starting forwards and will team with Dado Prso, who lead Croatia with five goals in qualifying. Veterans Igor Tudor, brothers Robert and Niko Kovac and Marko Bobic provide stability, and striker Ivica Olic is expected to play after originally thought to be sidelined for this match with a thigh injury.

 

The team has been suffering from an unknown virus since their arrival in Bad Bruckenau last week. Doctors could not determine the cause of the infection, which included symptoms such as nausea, high fever and headache.

 

Brazil will continue group play June 18 against Australia at Munich, Germany, while Croatia will play Japan the same day at Nuremburg.