SWITZERLAND: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Brazil's Ronaldinho says he will forget about Brazil being World Cup favourites once the tournament begins

Record ID: 184201

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Brazil's Ronaldinho says he will forget about Brazil being World Cup favourites once the tournament begins
  • Date: 25th May 2006
  • Summary: WEGGIS, SWITZERLAND (MAY 24, 2006) SOURCE: REUTERS BRAZILIAN FLAG
  • Embargoed: 9th June 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Switzerland
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACEE6E97LJNRH1MQA7TIJQDF2M
  • Story Text: Ronaldinho said he will forget about Brazil being favourites for the World Cup once the tournanment begins.
    "Always, from the moment the competition begins, we forget all about it. Before the beginning of the competition we accept it, but from the start of the competition we know we will have to dedicate ourselves to the maximum," said Ronaldinho before Brazil's first serious pre-tournament training session in the Swiss resort of Weggis on Wednesday (May 24).
    The squad is spending 12 days at the quiet lakeside village prior to arriving in Germany to begin the defence of the title they won in 2002.
    Brazil trained in front of a paying crowd who filled about three-quarters of the 5,000 capacity, purpose-built arena with a mixture of visiting Brazilians and curious locals.
    Brazilian media have speculated that the arena, with less than two metres separating the pitch from the seats, could disturb Brazil's players.
    However, coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has said he will only close off practice if the public become too boisterous.
    Earlier, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said FIFA president Sepp Blatter visited the team at their nearby hotel and had lunch with officials including CBF president Ricardo Teixeira.
    Brazil, who have won a record five World Cups, face Croatia, Australia and Japan in their Group F first round matches at the tournament, which starts June 9.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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