08/06/2006
Ronaldo to miss practice because of fever
Striker Ronaldo did not practice
with Brazil on Thursday because of a fever.
The Real Madrid player was absent from
Brazil's training session in Offenbach, which was held in front of more
than 22,000 fans at a packed Bieberer Berg stadium, near Frankfurt.
"Ronaldo woke up with a little bit of fever and is being medicated," the
Brazilian Soccer Confederation said on its Web site. "He will be rested
from Brazil's practice on Thursday afternoon."
CBF did not immediately release any other details about Ronaldo's
condition.
Ronaldo trained normally Wednesday after recovering from blisters that
forced him to leave Brazil's warmup against New Zealand at halftime last
Sunday.
The Real Madrid striker's season has been marred by injuries. He was
sidelined in April and May because of a muscle injury suffered in the
Spanish league, and had various injuries at the start of the year.
Many said Ronaldo was overweight when he first reported to Brazil's
training camp, but the striker insisted such comments were coming from
people who were "not well-informed." Brazilian doctors have constantly
said Ronaldo is in good physical condition.
Ronaldo has scored five goals in Brazil's three warmups since arriving
in Europe on May 22 - against Fluminense's under-20 squad, Swiss club FC
Lucerne and New Zealand.
Brazil's training session in Offenbach was the only one open to the
public. Brazil has been training in the nearby town of Koenigstein.
The defending champion will open its World Cup campaign against Croatia
on June 13 in Berlin. It will then face Australia and Japan in Group F.
