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Stars shine elsewhere Missing players could set up a quality tournament
DAEGU, South Korea (AP) -- Rivaldo up front, Zinedine Zidane as playmaker. Lilian Thuram and Roberto Carlos in defense, protecting Fabien Barthez in goal. The missing stars of the Confederations Cup could set up a pretty good tournament themselves. With soccer virtually a year-round business now, league schedules, nagging end-of-season injuries, fatigue, the sheer need for a holiday and even childbirth have kept some of soccer's brightest stars away from the eight-nation Confederations Cup, taking some shine of the tournament. Instead, the onus will be on coaches like France's Roger Lemerre and Brazil's Emerson Leao, forcing them to get results and show flair with less talent at hand. For Leao this mini World Cup might be vital, since a string of sub-par performances has left his future with the team depending on getting some pride back during the 10-day event. Here too, the lack of an international year-round schedule is wreaking havoc with coaches' options. For Brazil, the likes of Romario and Marcelinho are still in Brazilian playoffs or the Copa Libertadores. Leao also misses Ronaldo and Bayern Munich's Elber through injury and Ronaldinho because of a contract dispute. And that is not even counting on the European players, who still have club commitments. Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos are completing the Spanish league while Cafu still has a lot to play for in Italy. Lemerre has similar problems with Zidane and David Trezeguet of Juventus in Italy and Emmanuel Petit of Barcelona in Spain. "The championships in Italy and Spain have sapped the Brazilian and French teams," said FIFA Secretary General Michel Zen-Ruffinen. The French coach sent a clear message back to FIFA to do something about it. "We have to harmonize the leagues in Europe. It's sad not to see Zidane and Trezeguet here." The problems go beyond the world's great teams though. Australia too has its share of problems and is missing its Premier League stars Mark Viduka, who has gone through a grueling season with Leeds United, and Harry Kewell, who stays away because of fatherhood. "FIFA has no way of forcing a federation to [call up] specific players for any competition," said Zen-Ruffinen. But he preferred to look at the bright side too. Pointing to France, he said "there are 10 world champions from the last World Cup. FIFA has the conviction that the teams coming are of a very high quality." What's more, the absence of the superstars should keep fans on the lookout for surprises.
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