Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira heaped
praise on fit-again striker Ronaldo after the star struck twice in a
pre-World Cup rout of Swiss club team Lucerne.
Parreira has consistently dismissed questions over Ronaldo's physical
conditioning following a difficult season in Spain that raised concerns
about the fun-loving centre-forward's expanding waistline.
And after watching the 29-year-old former world footballer of the year
pounce in yesterday's 8-0 win - Ronaldo's first match since an injury in
April - Parreira was left in no doubt about his striker's form.
"Ronaldo played a match for the first time in 52 days and he scored two
goals," said Parreira.
"Ronaldo's aim is exactly that, scoring goals, and that's why he is in
the Brazilian team. Spending 52 days only training is very little.
"We have to have a little patience with him.
"Ronaldo has scored goals in every training session and in this match he
scored two more. I hope he will also score in the World Cup."
Parreira has chosen to limit Brazil's pre-World Cup friendly
internationals to just one, against New Zealand on Sunday, and the bulk
of the team's work has been done at an idyllic training retreat at the
foot of the Alps.
Wednesday's match was watched by 30 000 delighted fans in Basel, and
Parreira was satisfied with the display which also saw goals for Adriano
(2), plus one each for Robinho, Juninho Pernambucano, Kaka and Lucio.
"The point of the match was to give the first team a chance to take to
the field of play because these players have not played together since
October last year," said Parreira.
"I think we achieved our objective because the team worked well, closed
down spaces and defended staunchly.
"The team is only in their eighth day of preparation. We can't take
giant steps, everything is progressing and so is the team. You can't ask
for a perfect team in eight days.
"Lucerne were not a technically strong team but it was the quality of
the Brazil team that made this match look easy.
"They tried to beat Brazil but in the end there was a huge difference
between the sides."
Brazil played a full-strength team before making a flurry of changes
with around 20 minutes to go.
Tellingly, Parreira played Ronaldo and Adriano up front with Ronaldinho
and Kaka behind them and Emerson and Ze Roberto completing the midfield.
Brazil begin their World Cup campaign on June 13 against Croatia before
playing Australia on June 18 and Japan four days later. |