Nightmare of '98 returns to haunt Ronaldo
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-14 11:29
BERLIN, June 13 - In a performance eerily reminiscent of his ghostly display
in the 1998 World Cup final, Ronaldo appeared to be in a nightmarish world of
his own again on Tuesday.
Slow, lumbering, unable to control the easiest of passes and playing as if he
vaguely remembered the game although was not absolutely certain what it was all
about, Ronaldo was the worst player in Brazil's team that opened their World Cup
campaign with a 1-0 win over Croatia at the Olympiastadion.
Eight years ago, after being taken ill in the night before the World Cup
final against France in circumstances that have never been fully explained,
Ronaldo gave a detached performance at the Stade de France in Paris as France
won the World Cup for the first time by beating Brazil 3-0.
Coincidentally that was the last time France scored a goal or won a game in
the World Cup finals -- and the last time Brazil failed to win one.
Earlier on Tuesday, France drew 0-0 with Switzerland -- their fourth
successive game in the finals since then without a win or goal -- while Brazil's
victory over Croatia set a record.
After winning all seven games to lift the World Cup for the fifth time in
2002 they have become the first team to win eight successive matches in the
finals.
Ronaldo played a big part in that success four years ago by finishing as the
tournament's top scorer with eight goals including both in the 2-0 win over
Germany in the World Cup final.
On Tuesday night, Brazil opened the defence of their crown with another
victory but did so with little assistance from Ronaldo who burst into life only
once in the 69 minutes he was on the pitch -- unleashing a blistering 20-metre
drive that sailed just over Croatia's crossbar.
He then appeared to retreat into his shell again and was hauled off by coach
Carlos Alberto Parreira to the jeers of the Brazilian fans who welcomed Robinho
in his place.
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