07/06/2005
Robinho gets Brazil bobbing along

In Brazil's first competitive game with Robinho in the starting line-up, against Paraguay on Sunday, the world champions played their most fluent and exciting football since winning the World Cup three years ago.

It was a dream beginning for the much heralded Santos forward, who was included only after Ronaldo was left out complaining of tiredness. Robinho delighted home fans by performing several of his trademark "bicycle pedal" (stepover) dribbles, including one that won a penalty, and he scored the final goal in the 4-1 rout.

The easy victory brought Brazil to within a point of Argentina at the top of the South American World Cup qualifying group. With both teams virtually assured of going to Germany next year, their top-of-the-table clash in Buenos Aires tonight was described by the Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira as a "luxury friendly game for first place".

While Brazil are enjoying a new-found confidence and public approval, Argentina enter the match after a disappointing 2-0 defeat to third-placed Ecuador on Saturday. Argentina's usually bombastic rhetoric against their arch-rivals is somewhat subdued this time. "The statistics and achievements show that [Brazil] are a small step above any other team," said Argentina's coach José Pekerman.

Most of the attention in Brazil has been focused on Robinho, 21, whose mesmerising dribbles and feints have made him the country's most feted young star. The fans love him for his trickery and flamboyance. With Robinho alongside Adriano in attack on Sunday, closely supported by Kaka and Ronaldinho, Brazil passed the ball with more freedom and created more chances than they have done when Ronaldo is on the field.

Parreira will maintain the attacking quartet for tonight's match, although he stressed that Ronaldo still had a role to play. "Ronaldo doesn't mess up any team. He is a very important presence for what he represents, for who he is. He just needed a rest."

Robinho is widely expected to join Ronaldo at Real Madrid in the summer, although his future has become an issue of sovereignty. The minister of sport is studying a proposal made by Santos, with high-ranking political support, for state-run industries to pay him to stay in Brazil in return for image rights.

Because of his emergence at Santos, Pele's former club, and his physical similarity, Robinho has often been compared to Pele. On Monday in Santos, Pele's son Edinho, a former Santos goalkeeper, was arrested on suspicion of links with a drug-trafficking gang. According to the local press, the gang may have been involved in the kidnapping last year of Robinho's mother.

Brazil and Argentina are the bookies' favourites to take the title in Germany. Whoever wins today's match will be certain of qualifying for the finals with three games in the 10-team group remaining.

Parreira, who was in charge at USA 94 and was criticised for his defensive approach, is now applauded for encouraging an attacking style. "From now own, this will be Brazil's characteristic. Obviously, we will take precautions, but the tendency is we will attack all the time. We are not going to play conservatively. It would be suicide to come here and defend all the time."

Arsenal's Gilberto Silva made a brief substitute appearance against Paraguay and Argentina will play at least one Premiership player - Gabriel Heinze - tonight and possibly two if the Zaragoza defender Gabriel Milito signs, as predicted, for Liverpool.

Pekerman, who took over from Marcelo Bielsa last September, has gained a reputation for tinkering with his squad, which backfired when he played a second-string team in Quito. Hernán Crespo, Roberto Ayala and Javier Saviola were all rested and are expected to start tonight.

Paraguay, who face Bolivia tonight, lie in fourth place - the last automatic qualifying spot. Fifth place - currently held on goal difference by Colombia - wins a play-off against the winner of the Oceania group. All 10 South American teams still have a chance of qualifying.

08.06.2005 07:41 +0400
Guardian.co.uk

07/06/2005 Robinho gets Brazil bobbing along

07/06/2005
Robinho gets Brazil bobbing along