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A disappointing effort
World commentators decry Brazil, Ronaldo
Posted: Sunday July 12, 1998 08:58 PM
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Plagued by injury and a great deal of pressure, Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo didn't come through in the World Cup finals (AP) |
PARIS (AP) - The pictures from Stade de France hadn't
gone black before commentators from around the world chimed in on France's
World Cup victory Sunday night -- or more like it Brazil's loss.
The general feeling was not that France had achieved a remarkable victory,
rather Brazil -- and a hobbled Ronaldo -- blew it.
"It is a shame we have not seen much of [Ronaldo]," said former Dutch
forward Wim Kieft, a member of the 1988 European championship team. "Today
especially because of the injury, but there was also so much pressure on
him."
Ronaldo initially was listed among the substitutes in the starting lineups
distributed an hour before the start of the match. The 21-year-old two-time
FIFA Player of the Year had been taken to a hospital earlier in the day for
X-rays and was diagnosed with tendinitis in his left ankle. But team
doctors approved him 45 minutes before kickoff.
"The Brazilians were disappointing," Kieft said. "France has a great
midfield, a strong defense but poor attackers."
Former Scottish international and BBC analyst Alan Hansen also seemed
disappointed.
"France won the World Cup without recognized strikers," he said. "It seems
you can win by being very strong defensively and having a very good
midfielder."
Accepting the second place medal, Ronaldo was gracious in defeat (AP) | |
One congratulatory comment came from Italy.
"A very well-deserved victory, a victory that doesn't leave a shade of
doubt," commentator Bruno Pizzul said on RAI state TV.
Egyptian commentator Mimi el-Shirbini also offered praise to the French.
"Congratulations [Didier] Deschamps for the five kilograms of gold,"
el-Shirbini said on state-run television as the French midfielder carried
the World Cup Trophy. "May God give us long life to witness the coming
World Cup."
But most everybody else kept pointing the finger at Brazil -- and
Ronaldo.
"This Ronaldo story will not end," former Dutch great Ruud Gullit. "If he
was fit he would have come out for the warmup, but they didn't even come
out. Something was going on in the locker room. Everyone wants to find out
what really happened there."
"Ronaldo wasn't fit on the day," Leicester City manager Martin O'Niell
said on the BBC. "It was massive blow."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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