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World Cup veteran Ronaldo all charged up for title defence
Teresopolis, Sept 05: While training for the South American qualifiers for the World Cup, Ronaldo speaks optimistically.
Teresopolis, Sept 05: While training for the South American qualifiers for the World Cup, Ronaldo speaks optimistically.
Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who has been to three World Cups in his playing career, is set to play his first World Cup qualifiers as the five-times world champions begin the defence of their crown away to Colombia on Sunday. Three days later, Brazil are at home to Ecuador.
The Real Madrid striker trained with the squad on Thursday (September 4) for their World Cup qualifiers and said he had set a goal for himself to emulate Pele who played in four World Cups.
Ronaldo seemed focused as the World Cup champions begin the defence of their crown.
"The World Cup starts now," said Ronaldo. "The first eliminatory match that we're going to think about is this one, with the greatest desire possible of participating and making history one more time. And when it's done, we'll think of the next one."
The 26-year-old was included in the Brazil squad which won the 1994 World Cup when he was 17, although he did play. He then spearheaded the Brazil team which finished as runners-up at France '98 and was topscorer as the South Americans won their fifth world title last year. But he has never experienced the tension of a South American qualifier.
Brazil qualified automatically for the 1998 World Cup as defending champions and Ronaldo missed the qualifiers for 2002 when he was plagued with his knee injuries.
Brazil struggled without their top player, using four coaches and losing six matches before finally clinching their place in Japan and South Korea with a 3-0 win over Venezuela in their last match.
This time, Brazil have to go through the qualifying even though they are defending champions after a change in the FIFA rules. Ronaldo expects to continue playing for Brazilian World Cup teams and said he sets professional goals to motivate himself.
"When I said that I wanted and want to reach at the level of Pele, wearing the jersey of the Brazilian team, I think it's a reachable objective and a way for me to stimulate and motivate and always be wanting more," said Ronaldo.
Brazil will play 18 qualifiers over the next two-and-a-half years as they attempt to maintain their record as the only country to have played at every World Cup tournament.
Bureau Report
The 26-year-old was included in the Brazil squad which won the 1994 World Cup when he was 17, although he did play. He then spearheaded the Brazil team which finished as runners-up at France '98 and was topscorer as the South Americans won their fifth world title last year. But he has never experienced the tension of a South American qualifier.
Brazil qualified automatically for the 1998 World Cup as defending champions and Ronaldo missed the qualifiers for 2002 when he was plagued with his knee injuries.
Brazil struggled without their top player, using four coaches and losing six matches before finally clinching their place in Japan and South Korea with a 3-0 win over Venezuela in their last match.
This time, Brazil have to go through the qualifying even though they are defending champions after a change in the FIFA rules. Ronaldo expects to continue playing for Brazilian World Cup teams and said he sets professional goals to motivate himself.
"When I said that I wanted and want to reach at the level of Pele, wearing the jersey of the Brazilian team, I think it's a reachable objective and a way for me to stimulate and motivate and always be wanting more," said Ronaldo.
Brazil will play 18 qualifiers over the next two-and-a-half years as they attempt to maintain their record as the only country to have played at every World Cup tournament.
Bureau Report