RONALDO REAL .: НАСТОЯЩИЙ РОНАЛДО .: РОНАЛЬДО .: REAL RONALDO .: РОНАЛДУRonaldo silences the doubters

	02/06/2006 Ronaldo silences the doubters

On the eve of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™, few believed Ronaldo would ever rediscover the form that made him one of the most-feared strikers of all time. Voted FIFA World Player of the Year in both 1996 and 1997, Ronaldo’s injury problems began shortly before the 1998 FIFA World Cup™, with the next four years proving to be an incredibly bleak period for the Brazilian superstar. The player hit an all-time low in April 2000, rupturing the patella in his right knee in an injury that would keep him out for nearly a year and a half. After so long on the sidelines, many doubted whether O Fenômeno would ever be the same again. Meanwhile, the Seleção had made hard work of sealing their place at Korea/Japan 2002 in Ronaldo’s absence, finishing well behind bitter rivals Argentina in the South American qualifying zone. At the finals in the Far East, the Auriverde were not considered amongst the favourites to take the Trophy, that honour going to 1998 champions France and the in-form Argentines. Plenty to prove In the event, the under-fire Brazilians hit top form at just the right time, with Ronaldo bursting from the shadow of his injury nightmare to help fire his country to their fifth world title. The then Inter Milan striker capped a magical month by winning the adidas Golden Shoe, awarded to the tournament’s top scorer. Ronaldo’s East Asian adventure began in the South Korean city of Ulsan, against a strong Turkey side. The Turks went ahead in first-half injury time only for Ronaldo to equalise just five minutes into the second half, soothing his team’s nerves and paving the way for a hard-fought 2-1 win. The following game against China saw Brazil rack up a fairly comfortable 4-0 victory, Ronaldo hitting his side’s fourth and final strike. Against plucky Central Americans Costa Rica, Ronaldo plundered two goals in the first 13 minutes as the Seleção ran out 5-2 winners. In the last sixteen, Brazil were given a stern test by a determined Belgian side, O Fenômeno having to wait until the 87th minute to make it 2-0 and seal his team’s place in the quarter-finals. Up against the 1966 champions England, Ronaldo failed to find the net for the only time in the entire tournament, although Rivaldo and Ronaldinho stepped up to the plate to give the Seleção a 2-1 win. From that point on, all Brazil’s goals would come from the lethal boots of Ronaldo. At the semi-final stage, Brazil once again found their path barred by group rivals Turkey. In another tightly-contested clash, the Auriverde dominated possession without finding a way past Turkey’s stubborn resistance. The deadlock was finally broken by that man Ronaldo early in the second half, but a see-saw encounter could have gone either way right until the final whistle. Life imitates art On 30 June, Brazil took on Germany in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Final, with Ronaldo determined to exorcise the demons of France 1998. Struck down with a mystery illness hours before the final on French soil, Ronaldo came close to missing his side’s 3-0 defeat by the host nation, the start of his four-year injury nightmare. A country held its breath as rumours of knee pains surrounded the powerful front man, although the player’s bizarre new hairstyle proved a resounding success in diverting attention away from the troublesome joint. The final itself followed the script to perfection. Chances came and went for both sides before Ronaldo stamped his class on the game, firing two goals past Germany shot-stopper Oliver Kahn, who had only conceded once en route to the Final. Mission accomplished, the former FC Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven star was withdrawn before the end of the game to a rapturous ovation, while his eight-goal haul made him the first player since 1974 to score more than six times at the FIFA World Cup finals. In the space of a month, Ronaldo had gone from being an injury doubt in an underachieving side to the top scorer for the five-time world champions. A remarkable achievement from a phenomenal player…

02.06.2006 23:49 +0400 source

02/06/2006 Ronaldo silences the doubters

02/06/2006
Ronaldo silences the doubters