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Ronaldinho expecting to face
tough defense
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"I've
been facing tough defense for quite some time with Barcelona and
the national team," Ronaldinho said Tuesday before one of Brazil's
practice sessions in Koenigstein. "It's not going to be any
different in the World Cup."
Ronaldinho, named FIFA player of the year for the last two
consecutive times, will be leading Brazil on its quest to win its
second straight World Cup title - and sixth overall.
"All nations try to set up the best defense in the world when they
are facing Brazil," he said. "We know we will face a lot of
difficulty because of that. Everybody plays very defensively
against Brazil."
The striker, who helped FC Barcelona win the Spanish title and the
Champions League earlier this year, said he doesn't want extra
pressure because of his status of best in the world.
"I think everybody (in the team) has the same responsibility," he
said. "What I have is a lot of motivation to play my best. I'm
going through a wonderful moment and I hope to get to the World
Cup at the same level."
Ronaldinho, 26, also said he's not worried about his scoring
drought during the team's pre-World Cup preparation. He netted no
goals in the three warm-up matches in which Brazil outscored its
opponents - Swiss club FC Lucerne, Fluminense's under-20 squad and
New Zealand - by 25-1.
"My job (in the national team) is different," he said. "I have to
help the forwards score."
Ronaldinho will be playing in his second World Cup. He was a
member of the squad that won Brazil's fifth title at the 2002
World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
Ronaldinho earned high praise from Brazil coach Carlos Alberto
Parreira on Tuesday.
"He has matured a lot since the last World Cup," Parreira said.
"He has grown-up as a player, as a person, as a man and I think
this will reflect in his performance in the World Cup."
Ronaldinho has 46 goals in 88 matches for Brazil.
"He can do everything with the ball," Parreira said. "But the most
important thing is his ability to see the openings."
Ronaldinho on Tuesday proudly distributed to teammates the first
issue of the Brazilian comic book in which he is a toothy, boyish
character possessing the soccer wizardry of his namesake, the
Brazilian Soccer Confederation said. The deal for the player's
comic book series was closed last year in Brazil.
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