Fortaleza, BRAZIL, March 26 - Brazil is desperate for Ronaldo to make his first international appearance for 30 months against Yugoslavia on Wednesday, but the Internazionale striker seems likelier to start on the bench after struggling for fitness in training.
"That's normal," said Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. "This is the first time he's had a
chance to train for two days. There will be a lot less doubt over who
will be in the squad once the matches against Yugoslavia and
Portugal (April 17) are over," he added.
Ronaldo, who was welcomed in Fortaleza like a returning hero on
Monday by more than 2,000 fans, is equally keen to pull on the
yellow jersey again.
"I want to play as soon as possible," he said. "I feel good and I have
a debt to Scolari and the national squad."
Ronaldo
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Yugoslavia sees the match against the four-times World Cup
winners as a good chance for coach Dejan Savicevic to try out
some promising youngsters. He is particularly keen to see how Partizan Belgrade
forward Danko Lazovic copes with the pressure.
"He is the most valuable youngster in Yugoslav football," said
Savicevic. "And I have the perfect opportunity to test him out in a new formation."
YUGOSLAVIA (possible): Jevric, Lazetic (Koroman), Mirkovic, Krstajic, Dmitrovic,
Jokanovic, Djordjevic, Duljaj, Mijatovic, Kezman, Milosevic.
BRAZIL (possible): Rogerio Ceni, Lucio, Roque Junior, Edmilson,
Cafu, Gilberto Silva, Emerson, Ronaldo Assis, Roberto Carlos,
Denilson, Ronaldo
Earlier stories
March 22: Dejan Savicevic names talented Lazovic for Brazil game
