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Goalkeepers
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Taffarel
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(Atletico Mineiro), 31 (32 on May 8), 93 caps.
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One of around a dozen goalkeepers in Brazil of roughly the same standard, Taffarel gets the nod because of his experience. He has two World Cups, four Copa Americas and an Olympic Games behind him. Some recent blunders in club matches have made Brazilia
ns edgy.
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Carlos Germano
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(Vasco da Gama), 27, 8 caps.
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A one-club player who has performed well on the occasions that he has been asked to step in for Taffarel. Made his debut against Uruguay in 1995, though he has yet to feel the heat of international competition. Won the Brazilian championship with Vasco la
st year.
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Rogerio Ceni
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(Sao Paulo), 25, 1 cap.
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Brazil's third-choice goalkeeper. Takes free-kicks for his club, and has scored four goals, but is unlikely to get a chance to do the same thing for the national team. Made a brief appearance as a substitute against Mexico in last year's Confederations C
up.
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Defenders
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Cafu
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(AS Roma, Italy), 27 (28 on June 19), 63 caps.
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Extremely speedy right-back who has been a regular in the position since Jorginho ended his international career in 1995. Played for Sao Paulo, Real Zaragoza and Palmeiras before moving to Italy. Has trouble sending in balls from the flank.
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Ze Maria
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(Parma, Italy), 24, 15 caps.
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Cafu's backup at right-back. Made his debut against Russia in 1996 but also played in the 1996 Olympics where Brazil settled for a the bronze medal. Like Ze Roberto, started at Portuguesa, then moved to Flamengo, where he played only two games before his
transfer to Italy.
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Roberto Carlos
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(Real Madrid, Spain), 24, 46 caps.
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Left-back best known for his booming, swerving shot which makes free-kicks for the Brazilians almost as dangerous as penalties. Was excluded from the last World Cup in favor of veteran Branco. Made his debut against the United States in 1992. Began his c
areer with modest Uniao Sao Joao before making his name in a highly successful Palmeiras team during the mid-1990s.
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Ze Roberto
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(Flamengo), 23 (24 on July 7), 15 caps.
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Roberto Carlos's backup at left-back, he can also play in midfield. Started with Portuguesa before moving to Real Madrid and then back to Flamengo. Made his debut against South Korea in 1995 and he scored his only international goal when Brazil beat Bol
ivia in last year's Copa America final.
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Aldair
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(AS Roma, Italy), 32, 63 caps.
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Like Taffarel, is aiming for a hat-trick of World Cups even though his recent performances for Brazil have not been entirely convincing. Made his debut against Ecuador in 1989 and also played in the 1996 Olympics.
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Andre Cruz
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(AC Milan, Italy), 29, 29 caps.
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Central defender with a powerful left-foot shot who was recalled to the national team in 1995 after a six-year absence. Played in Brazil and Belgium before moving to Italy.
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Junior Baiano
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(Flamengo), 27, 15 caps.
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An undoubtedly gifted defender who has to control his temper that causes him to lash out on the field. Once banned for 10 games in the Bundesliga after punching an opponent and was also sent off in a CONCACAF Gold Cup game against Jamaica in February. L
ikes to go forward when the chances arises and has already scored twice for Brazil.
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Goncalves
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(Botafogo), 32, 22 caps.
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Intelligent central defender with natural leadership qualities. Led Botafogo to their only Brazilian championship title in 1995 after five years in Mexican soccer. Made his debut against Russia in 1996 and featured in last year's triumphant Copa America
team.
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Midfielders
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Rivaldo
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(Barcelona, Spain), 26, 9 caps.
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Left-footed attacking midfielder with silky skills who has always struggled to play as well for Brazil as he does at club level. Was made the scapegoat for Brazil's failure to win the gold medal at the last Olympics, when he was included as an over-age p
layer. Had to wait until last September before getting another chance at full international level. Played for Corinthians and Palmeiras before moving to Spain.
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Leonardo
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(AC Milan, Italy), 28, 39 caps.
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Another candidate for the playmaker role in midfield. Played as a left-back in 1994 but missed the matches from the quarterfinals onwards after being sent off for elbowing an U.S. opponent. The team's most articulate player, he once stunned Brazilian jo
urnalists by giving them a lecture on the role of the sports media in society when asked a simple question about Brazil's performances.
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Doriva
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(Porto, Portugal), 25 (26 on May 28), 8 caps.
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Low profile player who does the yeoman's work in midfield and is much admired by Zagallo for his tactical discipline and work rate. Played for XV de Piracicaba, Sao Paulo and Atletico Mineiro before moving abroad.
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Dunga
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(Jubilo Iwata, Japan), 34, 83 caps.
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Enjoyed the privilege of lifting the trophy in 1994, four years after seeing his name associated with Brazil's miserable failure in Italy. The 1990 World Cup was dubbed the "Dunga era" in Brazil, when he was seen as symbolic of the team's much-criticized
Europeanized style. Underrated ball player with a huge influence on the team, but sometimes goes over the top and was sent off during March's friendly with Germany.
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Flavio Conceicao
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(Deportivo La Coruna, Spain), 23 (24 on June 12), 21 caps.
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Midfield destroyer who also possesses a potent shot that has enabled him to score three international goals. Made his full debut against Lithuania, having previously played in the 1996 Olympics. Began his career with Palmeiras.
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Rai
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(Paris St. Germain, France), 32 (33 on May 15), 48 caps.
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Elegant midfielder and younger brother of former international Socrates. He began the last World Cup as captain but ended it on the bench after a dramatic loss of form. However, a resurgence at his club, coupled with Brazil's failure to find a playmaker,
inspired Zagallo to recall him for March's game with Germany.
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Denilson
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(Sao Paulo), 20, 15 caps.
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Speedy left-footed player whom Zagallo says is the nearest thing in the squad to an old-fashioned winger. Claimed his place in the team during last year's Copa America. Made his first team debut at Sao Paulo at the age of 17 and will join Spain's Real Be
tis after the tournament.
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Forwards
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Edmundo
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(Fiorentina, Italy), 27, 27 caps.
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Can be as good as Ronaldo At times but his place was in doubt for disciplinary reasons. He was sent off seven times in 1997 and earlier this year stormed back to Brazil because he was not getting regular playing time at Fiorentina. Last year he broke the
Brazilian championship goal-scoring record with 29 goals as Vasco da Gama won the title. Has also played for Flamengo, Palmeiras and Corinthians.
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Romario
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(Flamengo), 32, 63 caps.
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Brazil's hero at the last World Cup with five goals, Romario looks to be Ronaldo's most likely striking partner in France. A player who appears to be able to turn on the style and score goals when it suits him. Rejoined Flamengo in January after the seco
nd of two unhappy spells with Spain's Valencia. Has scored 41 goals for Brazil despite enduring long periods out of the national team because of his attitude.
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Bebeto
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(Botafogo) 34, 66 caps.
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Formed a lethal striking partnership with Romario in 1994 and now appears set for his third World Cup despite an unsettled 18 months which have seen him change clubs six times. Has scored 33 goals in his 66 full international appearances. Made his debut a
gainst Peru in 1985.
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Elber
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(Bayern Munich, Germany), 26, 4 caps.
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Belatedly made his debut against Guatemala in February after years of performing well in Europe. Little-known in Brazil, which he left at the age of 18 after his performances in the 1991 world youth championships in Portugal. Two goals on his second app
earance against El Salvador persuaded Zagallo to keep him in the squad.
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Donizete
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(Vasco da Gama), 29, 8 caps.
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Nicknamed the "Black Panther," he has rediscovered his form at Vasco da Gama after an unhappy year with Corinthians and before that Portugal's Benfica. Won the Brazilian championship with Botafogo in 1995. Scored the winner in a friendly against Argentin
a on his debut in 1995.
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Ronaldo
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(Inter Milan, Italy), 21, 36 caps.
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The world's top player even though he lost form briefly for Inter Milan earlier this season. An overcrowded schedule and ever-growing list of commercial engagements have threatened to wear him out. Has scored 25 goals since his debut against Argentina in
1994, including five in his last four appearances. Combines explosive speed with superb balance, a powerful physique and the coolest of finishes.
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