Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira
confidently named his starting line-up on Wednesday for his team's
opening World Cup match against Croatia next month.
Parreira, whose side play Croatia on June 13 and face Australia and
Japan in their first round group, will field his so-called magic quartet
of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Adriano and Kaka.
Injury and fitness-permitting, the world champions' team will be the one
that started the World Cup qualifier against Venezuela in October,
Brazil's last competitive match.
"To start the Cup, it will be the quartet," Parreira told reporters.
"The team which starts the Cup will be the same one which finished the
qualifiers, we have to be coherent."
"Afterwards, during the course of the competition, the results and
performances will determine whether or not it's necessary to change,"
Parreira added.
Brazil began the Venezuela game with Dida in goal, a back four of Cafu,
Juan, Lucio and Roberto Carlos, Emerson and Ze Roberto as the defensive
midfielders, plus the attacking quartet.
Parreira also said that Ronaldinho would be allowed to play with the
same freedom he enjoys at Barcelona.
"It's absurd to say that he plays differently in the national team and
Barcelona because of his positioning," Parreira said.
"He has complete freedom in the Brazil team. The difference is that,
when he plays for his club, he has the stage to himself and in the
national team he has to divide it with other stars."
Parreira declined to comment further about who else would be included in
the 23-man squad, which will be named on May 15. |
