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Still hurt Ronaldo to sit out of Brazil's qualifier against Chile
Updated: Monday October 01, 2001 6:47 PM
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) -- Ronaldo is back in Brazil for a World Cup qualifier against Chile, but he won't be coming to the team's rescue this time. The Internazionale striker arrived Monday from Italy and was to report later to training camp in the southern city of Curitiba, where Brazil faces Chile on Sunday. But after a two-year absence from the national team, Ronaldo will have to wait a bit longer for his return. "I think it's practically impossible for me to play Sunday," he said in a televised interview. The two-time FIFA Player of the Year strained his right thigh muscle last Thursday during Inter's 3-0 win over Romania's Brasov in a UEFA Cup match. A scan showed the injury was slight, but enough to keep him out of action this week. "If the game were next weekend, maybe I would be ready," he said. The good news was that the injury apparently was not related to the knee problems that led to two operations and sidelined Ronaldo for 17 months. "I've been practically two years without playing," he said. "I still have no rhythm. It was possible that this kind of thing would happen." Still, Brazil goes into Sunday's crucial game without its biggest star. Rivaldo, Elber, Ronaldinho, Denilson and Franca are vying for the two slots in the front line. Brazil is tied with Uruguay for fourth place in the South American group, behind Argentina, Paraguay and Ecuador. With three qualifying games, Brazil is facing the prospect of sitting out a World Cup for the first time in history. Only the top four are assured a spot in next year's World Cup, to be held in Japan and Korea. The fifth-place team plays Australia in a two-game series for the final spot. Meanwhile, Rivaldo was expected at training camp Tuesday. The FC Barcelona star, who was listed as questionable because of a knee injury, underwent treatment in Brazil and flew back to Spain last week for his club's league match with Real Sociedad on Sunday. Still, Barcelona coach Carlos Rexach didn't play the Brazilian, and Rivaldo complained about the long and seemingly pointless trip to Spain and back. "I was surprised that I wasn't in the lineup, especially because I worked hard in Brazil to take part in that game," he said in an interview on Pele's web site, www.pele.net. "Obviously I was not happy that I didn't play."
Salas leads Chile for qualifier against BrazilSANTIAGO, Chile -- New head coach Jorge Garces on Sunday nominated a combination of veterans and rookies to the Chilean national soccer team for the Oct. 7 World Cup qualifier against Brazil. Although Chile has already been eliminated, Garces nominated several of Chile's top stars playing for European clubs, including striker Marcelo Salas of Juventus of Italy and Clarence Acuna of Newcastle of the English Premier league. But the list also includes several new faces, including defenders Alex von Schwedler and Victor Cancino and goalkeeper Nicolas Peric. The match will be played in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba. The roster Goalkeepers: Marcelo Ramirez, Carlos Toro, Nicolas Peric. Defender: Alex von Schwedler, Jorge Vargas, Miguel Ramirez, Raul Munoz, Moises Villarroel, Victor Cancino. Mediocampistas: David Pizarro, Marco Villaseca, Mirovan Milosevic, Pablo Galdamez, Clarence Acuna, Jaime Riveros. Delanteros: Marcelo Salas, Carlos Reyes, Reinaldo Navia, Rodrigo Valenzuela. Batistuta says he never felt left out by ArgentinaBUENOS AIRES -- Gabriel Batistuta said on Monday he never felt left out of the Argentina team by coach Marcelo Bielsa despite last playing for his country a year ago. "I never felt outside the national team. I'm very happy to be back in it," Batistuta said on arriving in Buenos Aires for Argentina's World Cup qualifier in Paraguay in Asuncion on Sunday. Batistuta, who has scored an Argentine record 54 goals in 74 internationals, last played in their 2-1 home win over Uruguay in October 2000, scoring the winner. "I've been coming out of an injury, that's all. Now I'm pretty good physically and I wanted to be in the team again," the AS Roma striker said. Bielsa caused a stir at home and in Europe by leaving Batistuta out of Argentina's recent qualifiers in favour of Lazio's Hernan Crespo, who has top-scored as his side clinched their place at the 2002 finals in Japan and South Korea. Paraguay are nine points behind South American qualifying group leaders Argentina, and if they win they will also secure a berth in the finals for the second World Cup in a row. The two teams drew 1-1 in Buenos Aires last year. Batistuta arrived in Argentina with several other European-based members of Bielsa's squad, including Inter Milan midfielder Javier Zanetti, Valencia defender Fabian Ayala and Monaco's Marcelo Gallardo. Manchester United's Juan Veron arrived on Sunday, the day after helping his team to a remarkable comeback against Tottenham Hotspur when he scored the fourth goal as the English champions came from 3-0 down at halftime to win 5-3.
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