He's fat, he's round, he's worth....well, not in the best of shape and form. Yes, Ronaldo is struggling.He's overweight, at odds with fans, he lacks confidence and most worrying of all for his managers at Real Madrid and Brazil, looks to have lost his hunger for the game. The man who was the greatest striker in the world for the best part of a decade is now a lumbering shadow of his former self. The youngster who electrified Barcelona with his pace and dribbles in 1996 and 1997 and who bounced back from a career-threatening injury to record almost a goal a game with Real in the two years following the 2002 World Cup was gone. The 29-year old striker has been three time World Player of the Year. This could be a big World Cup for Ronaldo. Ronaldo has twice had serious knee injuries that have sidelined him for several months at a time. In the 1998 World Cup, Ronaldo had unexplained convulsions in the hours leading up to the final. He played poorly, and Brazil lost 3-0 to host France. Ronaldo was with Brazil when it won the title in 1994 and 2002, and he could join Pele as the only player on three World Cup-winning squads. Pele played on Brazil's teams in 1958, 1962 and 1970. Ronaldo also is only three goals shy of becoming the tournament's all-time leading scorer. He has 12, tied with Pele. Ronaldo has had an eventful life, full of upheaval for someone who does not turn 30 until September. It is clear that Ronaldo's personal life has a marked affect on his performance. The more settled he is in his private life, the easier it seems to be for him to concentrate on his game.
Ronaldo had a bad build-up to the World Cup: more than two months injured at Real Madrid, then blisters on his feet and a fever in the preparation stages; and, of course, constant comments about his weight. Yet because of all he has achieved with the national team, the press and public still considered him an untouchable member of the team till the world cup kicked off.
Ronaldo's performance in Brazil's opening game in this World Cup was certainly not whatI was expecting. It was very strange. Without doubt, he is not in very good physical condition, although everyone knew before the game that he would probably not play the entire 90 minutes. Ronaldo had a dismal performance in Brazil's 1-0 win over Croatia and the team admitted his physical condition was a factor. Ronaldo arrived for Brazil's training camp overweight, but doctors had said he would be ready for the start. Brazil's physical trainer said Ronaldo was not far from his ideal form, despite the striker's laboured performance in the team's opening World Cup game. That was borne out by his slow movement and the fact that he is finding turning and twisting very difficult. The Brazilian nation and the camp itself will be worried because Ronaldo is a talismanic figure to this team.
His lack of mobility and poor ball control combined with an eqaully non existing strike rate were the reasons that Brazil were unable to break down Croatia.Possibly the most disappointing aspect of Brazil's opening match against Croatia was the sight of Ronaldo waddling around the pitch looking unwilling or unable to break into anything approaching a sprint. Brazil were slow and ponderous. When Brazil attacked he was useless. The magic square became a triangle.
When Robinho replaced Ronaldoin the 69th minute, the contrast up front was obvious. Brazil finally started to play with 11 men. But the two men are very different types of player. Robinho is very light, very fast, and a different type of striker. Regardless, not having Ronaldo in top form will be a concern for the Brazilian camp because he is genuinely loved by his team-mates and they want him on the pitch in what could be his last World Cup.
Besides the worry of Ronaldo, the wider picture is that the team did not live up to global expectations in the first game, and those expectations are very, very high. Almost too much is expected of Ronaldinho, Cafu and Roberto Carlos, Adriano and Ze Roberto. Brazil are hot favourites to lift the trophy in Berlin on July 9, many of their top players are going through bad patches and they can't afford to be firing at less than full strength. In addition to Ronaldo's loss of form, Adriano has failed to find the net consistently, Roberto Carlos has come under fire at Real, and keeper Dida has made a number of costly mistakes for AC Milan. Cafu is out injured, Kaka is not turning it on with the same regularity as last year and Robinho is spending much of his time on the bench. We now expect brilliance of them, as a team, every time they take to the pitch.
I expect Ronaldinho to emerge as the player of this World Cup. He was fantastic against Croatia, but to reach the level of a Pele or a Maradona, he will need to show more. Ronaldinho not to think too much about his football. He should just play with his soul. If Ronaldinho thinks about what he is doing, he will not be the Ronaldinho we know. He should just feel free, feel the space around him and, if he does so, Brazil will fly.
The Brazilian press have been reporting that Ronaldo's team-mates have long been worried about the striker's poor pace. Ronaldo is diffuse, irritated and without focus in this World Cup. But still the team thinks he is a man who overcomes obstacles and, like the fans, will be hoping for a miraculous recovery of his fitness, mental state and technique. Ronaldo's importance is not doubted. If Brazil are to win the World Cup at all, it will depend on Ronaldo. If he improves physically and technically, the chances are good. If he doesn't it will be very difficult. They will have to depend on goals by Kaka and Ronaldinho.
Ronaldo is hardly worth his place going by his current form. But he needs to be on the field and playing through his poor phase. The problem is Ronaldo doesn't have the appetite for it. If he is to bounce back like he did in 2002 after years ruined by injury - and there is no reason he cannot - he needs to focus. He needs to want to prove his critics wrong. He needs a hunger. If he has that hunger the pounds will fall off and the glory days will return.
Ronaldo had a bad build-up to the World Cup: more than two months injured at Real Madrid, then blisters on his feet and a fever in the preparation stages; and, of course, constant comments about his weight. Yet because of all he has achieved with the national team, the press and public still considered him an untouchable member of the team till the world cup kicked off.
Ronaldo's performance in Brazil's opening game in this World Cup was certainly not whatI was expecting. It was very strange. Without doubt, he is not in very good physical condition, although everyone knew before the game that he would probably not play the entire 90 minutes. Ronaldo had a dismal performance in Brazil's 1-0 win over Croatia and the team admitted his physical condition was a factor. Ronaldo arrived for Brazil's training camp overweight, but doctors had said he would be ready for the start. Brazil's physical trainer said Ronaldo was not far from his ideal form, despite the striker's laboured performance in the team's opening World Cup game. That was borne out by his slow movement and the fact that he is finding turning and twisting very difficult. The Brazilian nation and the camp itself will be worried because Ronaldo is a talismanic figure to this team.
His lack of mobility and poor ball control combined with an eqaully non existing strike rate were the reasons that Brazil were unable to break down Croatia.Possibly the most disappointing aspect of Brazil's opening match against Croatia was the sight of Ronaldo waddling around the pitch looking unwilling or unable to break into anything approaching a sprint. Brazil were slow and ponderous. When Brazil attacked he was useless. The magic square became a triangle.
When Robinho replaced Ronaldoin the 69th minute, the contrast up front was obvious. Brazil finally started to play with 11 men. But the two men are very different types of player. Robinho is very light, very fast, and a different type of striker. Regardless, not having Ronaldo in top form will be a concern for the Brazilian camp because he is genuinely loved by his team-mates and they want him on the pitch in what could be his last World Cup.
Besides the worry of Ronaldo, the wider picture is that the team did not live up to global expectations in the first game, and those expectations are very, very high. Almost too much is expected of Ronaldinho, Cafu and Roberto Carlos, Adriano and Ze Roberto. Brazil are hot favourites to lift the trophy in Berlin on July 9, many of their top players are going through bad patches and they can't afford to be firing at less than full strength. In addition to Ronaldo's loss of form, Adriano has failed to find the net consistently, Roberto Carlos has come under fire at Real, and keeper Dida has made a number of costly mistakes for AC Milan. Cafu is out injured, Kaka is not turning it on with the same regularity as last year and Robinho is spending much of his time on the bench. We now expect brilliance of them, as a team, every time they take to the pitch.
I expect Ronaldinho to emerge as the player of this World Cup. He was fantastic against Croatia, but to reach the level of a Pele or a Maradona, he will need to show more. Ronaldinho not to think too much about his football. He should just play with his soul. If Ronaldinho thinks about what he is doing, he will not be the Ronaldinho we know. He should just feel free, feel the space around him and, if he does so, Brazil will fly.
The Brazilian press have been reporting that Ronaldo's team-mates have long been worried about the striker's poor pace. Ronaldo is diffuse, irritated and without focus in this World Cup. But still the team thinks he is a man who overcomes obstacles and, like the fans, will be hoping for a miraculous recovery of his fitness, mental state and technique. Ronaldo's importance is not doubted. If Brazil are to win the World Cup at all, it will depend on Ronaldo. If he improves physically and technically, the chances are good. If he doesn't it will be very difficult. They will have to depend on goals by Kaka and Ronaldinho.
Ronaldo is hardly worth his place going by his current form. But he needs to be on the field and playing through his poor phase. The problem is Ronaldo doesn't have the appetite for it. If he is to bounce back like he did in 2002 after years ruined by injury - and there is no reason he cannot - he needs to focus. He needs to want to prove his critics wrong. He needs a hunger. If he has that hunger the pounds will fall off and the glory days will return.
