BRAZIL: SOCCER - BRAZIL'S NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM AT THEIR TRAINING CAMP IN TERESOPOLIS PREPARING THEIR FORTHCOMING WORLD CUP QUALIFYING MATCH AGAINST BOLIVIA.
Record ID:
251063
BRAZIL: SOCCER - BRAZIL'S NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM AT THEIR TRAINING CAMP IN TERESOPOLIS PREPARING THEIR FORTHCOMING WORLD CUP QUALIFYING MATCH AGAINST BOLIVIA.
- Title: BRAZIL: SOCCER - BRAZIL'S NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM AT THEIR TRAINING CAMP IN TERESOPOLIS PREPARING THEIR FORTHCOMING WORLD CUP QUALIFYING MATCH AGAINST BOLIVIA.
- Date: 2nd September 2004
- Summary: TERESOPOLIS, BRAZIL (SEPTEMBER 02, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. PLAYERS ON THE PITCH 2. STAFF AT WORKING 3. PHOTOGRAPHERS 4. VARIOUS OF TRAINING 5. COACH CARLOS ALBERTO PARREIRA AND TECHNICAL COORDINATOR MARIO ZAGALLO WATCHING 6. VARIOUS OF TRAINING 7. PARREIRA TO PLAYERS 8. RONALDO'S LEGS
- Embargoed: 17th September 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: TERESOPOLIS, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Reuters ID: LVABK48MPHC1LSIQXOZ3D4OBGTKL
- Story Text: Brazil's national soccer team gears up for Sunday's
World Cup qualifier against Bolivia.
The Brazilian soccer team, which won the Copa
American in Peru in July, is training hard at its
Teresopolis camp for the World Cup qualifier against
Bolivia on Sunday (September 5) in Sao Paulo.
The match at the Morumbi stadium pits the top and
bottom teams in the 10-nation South American qualifying
group. Brazil, unbeaten after seven games, lead with 13
points while Bolivia are bottom with six.
Despite their comfortable position, coach Carlos
Alberto Parreira has not lost sight of his main goal.
"Our objective is to qualify. We are going to play four
games this year, it's twelve points and we are looking at
scoring highly. We want to end the 2004 season in a
comfortable position, so winning is the most important
thing," he said.
Goalkeeper Julio Cesar is determined to hold on to
Brazil's lead position. He would be replacing first choice
Dida, who was not called in retaliation after his club,
Italian giants Milan, refused to release him, captain Cafu and
midfielder Kaka for a recent friendly "peace game" in Haiti.
"I hope to be able to do in this game all that I showed
in the Copa America, good football to help the Brazilian
team stay in the lead, because in the last few qualifier
games it was very hard," he said.
But, with Ronaldo looking slim, eager and keen to
impress his new girlfriend Daniella Cicarelli who he took
to watch training on Tuesday (August 31), Brazil are
expected to romp home.
According to Edu, the team are all in good spirits and
ready for their challenge.
"The team is fine, it's calm, it's living a good
moment. We are leaders in the rankings, a little while ago
we won the Copa America, basically we are going through a
good moment and we are taking advantage of this to continue
going for a long time," he said.
Ronaldinho, who has been nursing an ankle injury which
kept him out of Barcelona's opening Spanish league game
last weekend, looks almost certain to be fit and is ready
to take his place in the team.
"I'm a bit worried because I haven't gone back to
training normally with the team. I train with them, after I
train alone, but I hope tomorrow to train the whole time
with the group to be able to play well at the weekend," he said.
Bolivia have lost 5-0 and 6-0 on their last two visits
to Brazil and coach Ramiro Blacut has named three
goalkeepers, nine defenders and only two forwards in their
squad as they attempt to avoid a repeat performance.
Thirty-five-year-old midfielder Luis Cristaldo, who
missed the 3-2 defeat by Ecuador last June through
suspension, returns to a full-strength Bolivia team.
Brazil have had some injury problems with reserve
left-back Gustavo Nery, central defender Juan, midfielder
Diego and striker Luis Fabiano all pulling out.
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