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Vasco unveils 'super team' Romario leads club into Club World Championship
Posted: Thursday December 30, 1999 04:10 PM
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) -- Vasco has unveiled its new lineup for the First World Club Championship next month -- and already is being heralded as Brazil's newest "super team." The Brazilians picked apart African champion Raja Casablanca 4-1 in a friendly Wednesday with a show that drew ovations from the crowd at Rio's Maracana stadium. And while fans know that it won't be so easy against Corinthians, Manchester United or Real Madrid, in sheer depth of talent, Vasco will be at least be equal to the big names. "As a team, the current Vasco squad is the strongest I've ever played on, the same level as Barcelona in 1993 and 1994," Brazil's 1994 World Cup hero Romario said. Romario, who left Flamengo and returned to the club that projected him on to the world soccer stage a decade ago, is one of many reinforcements Vasco has added to bolster its already talent-heavy roster. World Cup veterans Jorginho and Junior Baiano also joined, and Valber reportedly will sign too. When injured striker Edmundo returns to the lineup, that could leave former all-stars Viola, Pedrinho, Amaral and Odvan on the bench. For coach Antonio Lopes, the problem is how to instill some sense of team unity in his new squad. But to judge by Vasco's performance against Raja, it won't be difficult Romario scored a pair of goals, one on a penalty kick, and Gilberto and Odvan added one each as Vasco coasted to victory. Aboub scored for the Moroccans and created his team's best chances. But it was Romario who brought the crowd to its feet with a genial dribble past his defender and a gentle chip shot that bounced capriciously off the crossbar. Some of the most enthusiastic praise came from coach Raul Arias of Mexico's Necaxa, which will face Vasco in a Group B match on Jan. 11. "I knew Romario was good, but not that good," he told reporters after the game. "Romario is on another plane, on a superior level. He can do nothing for much of the game and, in one spectacular play, tip the balance. He is worth the price of admission." Arias said Necaxa was an "experienced, battling team that could surprise." But the CONCACAF champion is considered an outsider for one of the two final berths in Group B, which also includes Manchester United and Australian champion South Melbourne. In Group A, Real Madrid and Corinthians are favored to reach the finals, with Saudi Arabia' Al-Nassr and Raja the longshots. The tournament runs from Jan. 5-14.
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