RONALDO REAL .: НАСТОЯЩИЙ РОНАЛДО .: РОНАЛЬДО .: REAL RONALDO .: РОНАЛДУParreira lauds 'fat' Ronaldo's showing

	01/06/2006 Parreira lauds 'fat' Ronaldo's showing

Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira heaped praise on fit-again striker Ronaldo after the star struck twice in a pre-World Cup rout of Swiss club team Lucerne. Parreira has consistently dismissed questions over Ronaldo's physical conditioning following a difficult season in Spain that raised concerns about the fun-loving centre-forward's expanding waistline. And after watching the 29-year-old former world footballer of the year pounce in yesterday's 8-0 win - Ronaldo's first match since an injury in April - Parreira was left in no doubt about his striker's form. "Ronaldo played a match for the first time in 52 days and he scored two goals," said Parreira. "Ronaldo's aim is exactly that, scoring goals, and that's why he is in the Brazilian team. Spending 52 days only training is very little. "We have to have a little patience with him. "Ronaldo has scored goals in every training session and in this match he scored two more. I hope he will also score in the World Cup." Parreira has chosen to limit Brazil's pre-World Cup friendly internationals to just one, against New Zealand on Sunday, and the bulk of the team's work has been done at an idyllic training retreat at the foot of the Alps. Wednesday's match was watched by 30 000 delighted fans in Basel, and Parreira was satisfied with the display which also saw goals for Adriano (2), plus one each for Robinho, Juninho Pernambucano, Kaka and Lucio. "The point of the match was to give the first team a chance to take to the field of play because these players have not played together since October last year," said Parreira. "I think we achieved our objective because the team worked well, closed down spaces and defended staunchly. "The team is only in their eighth day of preparation. We can't take giant steps, everything is progressing and so is the team. You can't ask for a perfect team in eight days. "Lucerne were not a technically strong team but it was the quality of the Brazil team that made this match look easy. "They tried to beat Brazil but in the end there was a huge difference between the sides." Brazil played a full-strength team before making a flurry of changes with around 20 minutes to go. Tellingly, Parreira played Ronaldo and Adriano up front with Ronaldinho and Kaka behind them and Emerson and Ze Roberto completing the midfield. Brazil begin their World Cup campaign on June 13 against Croatia before playing Australia on June 18 and Japan four days later.

01.06.2006 20:02 +0400 source

01/06/2006 Parreira lauds 'fat' Ronaldo's showing

01/06/2006
Parreira lauds 'fat' Ronaldo's showing