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'We're very confident'

Brazil favored over Saudis in Confed Cup semis

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Posted: Sunday August 01, 1999 09:35 AM

Brazil's Roni (right) fights for the ball in a 2-0 victory over New Zealand. AP

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) -- Brazil is heavily favored to defeat Saudi Arabia in a Confederations Cup semifinal match Sunday, but the Brazilians said they aren't letting themselves get too confident.

"There's only one easy game in soccer -- the game in which the other team doesn't show up and forfeits," coach Wanderley Luxemburgo said Saturday. "Anything can happen in 90 minutes."

But his team, one of the best in the world, is in a much better position. Many of his usual starters sat out Brazil's 2-0 victory over New Zealand on Friday night, and will be rested for Sunday's game.

"That was the thinking of Professor Luxemburgo," star forward Ronaldinho said, referring to the coach by the title most of the players use. "For the game against Saudi Arabia we're in great shape, and we hope to get another victory.

"We're very confident that we can reach the finals."

Brazil is the only team in the Confederations Cup to have won all three first-round games, although the second game, against the United States, was a close 1-0. Brazil hasn't given up a single goal the entire tournament.

The lineup for Sunday's game is similar to that of Brazil's first matches of the cup, against Germany and the United States.

Dida will be goalkeeper, and the defenders will be Evanilson, Odvan, Joao Carlos and Serginho. The midfielders will be Vampeta, Emerson, Ze Roberto and either Flavio Conceicao or Alex. Ronaldinho and Christian will be the forwards.

Saudi Arabia didn't release its lineups.

The Saudi team traveled to Guadalajara from its Mexico City base on Saturday for the semifinal game. The team held a practice at a local soccer field and checked into its hotel to rest.

Coach Milan Macala complained about the Confederations Cup schedule, saying it didn't give players enough time to rest. Many of the games have been played with only one day off.

"The players need at least two days of rest to be ready for the next game," he said.

He said Brazil hadn't brought its best players to the cup, but "that doesn't affect anything, because they could have three national teams of the same level of play."

He said anything was possible in Sunday's match -- including a Saudi Arabia win over Brazil.

"The score at the start of tomorrow's game will be 0-0, so we'll take advantage of all our opportunities," Macala said.

In the other semifinal match, also Sunday, the United States faces Mexico in Mexico City's Azteca Stadium. The winners meet in the final on Wednesday.

 

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