The greatest soccer show on Earth will be
without its marquee player when Brazil plays Argentina in a 2006 South
American World Cup qualifier on Wednesday in Buenos Aires.
Conspicuously absent from the showdown will be Brazilian striker Ronaldo,
who wants to play, but won't because coach Carlos Alberto Parreira won't
let him. Ronaldo was dropped by Parreira last week after asking to be
excused from the eight-team Confederations Cup that begins on June 15 in
Germany.
With the conclusion of the 10-month Spanish League season last Sunday,
the three-time FIFA Player of the Year argued that this summer will be
his last chance to rest before the 2006 World Cup. In an all-or-nothing
decree that showed who's boss, Parreira told Ronaldo if he doesn't want
to play in the Con Cup, then he can't play in today's South American
qualifier against Paraguay or at Argentina.
While Parreira has every right to assert his authority, it's a pity he
took such a firm stance with Ronaldo. Greatness is measured by how well
a player does in epic games, and more often than not in recent years,
Ronaldo has risen to the occasion and taken Brazil with him.
In a performance that only he could produce, Ronaldo used his
breathtaking quickness to set up and score three penalty kick goals in
Brazil's 3-1 win over Argentina in a qualifier played last summer. He
has scored nine goals in South American qualifying to lead all scorers.
Recent history shows, however, that without Ronaldo, Brazil's yellow
jerseys lose some of their glow. He missed 2002 qualifiers with a series
of knee injuries and Brazil sputtered to a record six losses. He
returned in time for the 2002 World Cup and scored eight goals to lead
Brazil to its fifth title.
Now, Parreira will see whether Ronaldo can be replaced by the next
generation of supernatural Brazilians. He's expected to start Copa
America hero Adriano and possibly Robinho as his strikers, with
Ronaldinho and Kaka as the attacking midfielders. Poor Brazil.
Reigning FIFA Player of the Year Ronaldinho just led Barcelona to its
first Spanish League title since 1999. Kaka is an emerging soccer artist
after two seasons at AC Milan. Adriano scored seven goals in the Copa
America last summer, the last one coming in the 93rd minute to tie
Argentina in a championship match Brazil won in penalty kicks.
And then there's Robinho, the next great Brazilian. The lithe
21-year-old is making headlines on a weekly basis for domestic league
power Santos, where he produces goals that remind people of Pele.
Reports out of Brazil have him close to signing with Real Madrid as
early as next week, where he would play alongside Ronaldo.
Still, Robinho has hasn't played Argentina in Buenos Aires. Last year's
game was a beauty to behold as each side played to their strengths;
Brazil through the individual genius of Ronaldo and Kaka, and Argentina
through its highly cultured midfield. The difference was Ronaldo and
only Ronaldo. |