21/06/2006
Ronaldo is promising to pick up the pace in Brazil's match against Japan on
Thursday.
The veteran striker had a dismal outing in
Brazil's 1-0 opening win over Croatia - barely touching the ball and
being substituted in the 69th minute - and improved only slightly in the
team's 2-0 victory over Australia.
"I'm very upbeat for this match," Ronaldo said on his Web site. "I feel
very good physically and I know I'll play even better against Japan."
The Real Madrid player has been working overtime recently to get in
shape. He's been taking part in individual training sessions in addition
to the regular practices with the rest of the squad.
"I've been practicing hard and I'm certain that the results will show
even more in the match against Japan," he said.
Ronaldo arrived for the World Cup admittedly overweight after enduring a
series of injuries with Real Madrid earlier in the season.
Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said he may rest some of his
starters against Japan, but said Ronaldo was likely to stay in the
lineup so he can continue to "gain rhythm."
The 29-year-old player is only three goals away from becoming the
tournament's all-time leading scorer. He is one goal behind Just
Fontaine of France and has two less than Gerd Muller of Germany.
Ronaldo is tied with Pele with 12 World Cup goals, and one more will
make him Brazil's all-time leading scorer in the competition.
"I haven't scored in two matches ... Hopefully (I will) in this next (one),"
Ronaldo said Tuesday.
Playing in his fourth World Cup, Ronaldo has scored 65 goals in 101
matches with Brazil. Pele netted 95 goals in 114 matches.
As a 17-year-old, Ronaldo was with Brazil when it won its fourth title
in 1994 in the United States. He could equal Pele's feat as a three-time
World Cup winner. Pele won it in 1958, '62 and '70.
Ronaldo had to deal with a series of distractions since arriving at
Brazil's training camp three weeks ago, including the weight controversy
and a string of minor health problems.
Brazil - which has already advanced to the second round - needs a draw
against Japan to finish first in Group F.
It would then face the second-place team in Group E, which includes
three-time champion Italy, the United States, Ghana and the Czech
Republic.
