World Cup Soccer: Brazilian Squad announced

Brazilian team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, or “Filipao” , as he is known, reveals his squad for the world cup finals and declares that he has the obligation to win.

“I have the obligation to win the world cup. My son told me recently that the second placed is the first among the last. It shouldn’t be, but that is how Brazilians feel football, so I feel obliged to win”, he declared.

Romario’s hope at being picked for the national team was short-lived and resulted in tears as he abandoned a training session in Rio. Also left out is Mario Jardel, Europe’s leading goal scorer with 42 goals for Sporting Clube de Portugal (Lisbon) after winning 4 championships with FC Porto and one with Galatasaray, Turkey, finishing all his six seasons in Europe as the top national goal scorer and always among the top in the continent.

Filipao, however, does not consider that either of these players fit into the tactical structure of his team, one based on talent and experience. “The fans have to understand that the team has a manager. If not, there will be 170 million Brazilians who are the team coach”.

Scolari states that there are no problems with injuries in the Brazilian squad and quotes as his main objectives a greater coordination between the players and a faster movement of the ball from defence into attack. Brazil will play in the finals with three central defenders, two midfield players marking the opposing forwards and two fluid wings, moving up in support of the attack.

“It is not the system which wins games. What wins games is the players’ concentration, the enthusiasm they show in their contribution to team spirit and the seriousness with which they consider being picked to play for their country”, declared Filipao, who chooses the following squad of 23 players to win the World Cup 2002 in Japan/Korea:

(Clubs in Brazil unless otherwise stated)

Goal-keepers: Marcos (Palmeiras), Dida (Corinthians), Rogerio Ceni (Sгo Paulo);

Defenders: Cafu (Roma, Italy), Belletti (Sгo Paulo), Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid, Spain), Junior (Parma, Italy), Lucio (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Edmilson (Lyon, France), Roque Junior (AC Milan, Italy), Anderson Polga (Gremio);

Midfield players: Emerson (Roma, Italy), Gilberto Silva (Atletico MG), Kleberson (Atletico PR), Vampela (Corinthians), Kaka (Sгo Paulo), Ronaldinho Gaucho (Paris Saint Germain, France), Juninho Paulista (Flamengo);

Forwards: Ronaldo (Inter Milan, Italy), Luizao (Gremio), Edilson (Cruzeiro), Denilson (Betis, Spain), Rivaldo (Barcelona, Spain).

Marcia MIRANDA PRAVDA.Ru BRAZIL