Dream season

Sonck looking for perfect finish at World Cup

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- In a season when everything has gone right, Wesley Sonck is looking for the perfect finish.

The explosive striker is already assured of becoming the Belgian league's top scorer, his club team Racing Genk has clinched the league championship and he has won the Golden Boot as the most valuable player of 2001.

Now he's going to the World Cup.

In the space of just two seasons, the 23-year-old has moved from a benchwarmer in the lackluster Belgian league to a hot property for agents seeking to feed Europe's richest clubs.

A good showing at the World Cup can only improve his value.

"I wouldn't say no to a great offer," he said. "A transfer to Real (Madrid) or Manchester United is probably beyond my reach at the moment, but in life, you should never say never."

Weaker than usual in defense, Belgium will rely on Sonck to make the difference at front. At just 1.74 meters (5-foot-8 1/2) and 74 kilograms (163 pounds), he's surprisingly quick and his constant prowling can weigh heavily on defense.

And he has something all good strikers have -- when his team is down, he can turn things around.

"I can score out of nothing," he said.

When Belgium was struggling in a warmup game against Slovakia in April, he suddenly outjumped a much taller defender and blasted a header past the goalie. The ball crashed against the bar, but served a warning to all World Cup defenders -- never let Sonck out of your sight.

His league tally of 29 goals in 33 games easily keeps him among the top 5 scorers in Europe, a rare distinction for a Belgian forward.

 

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