Brazil look to recover lost ground with victory

Brazil look to recover lost ground with victory
Agence France Press

Montevideo, April 25: Former world champions Brazil will have to put their dreams of World Cup glory in far-off 2002 firmly to the back of their minds as they target a vital qualifying win on Wednesday at home to Ecuador.

Following a mediocre goalless draw in Colombia in their opening match Brazil already have to make up lost ground as eternal rivals Argentina thrashed Chile 4-1 in their first tie to move into pole position.

Four of the ten South American teams are guaranteed a slot for the 2002 finals, hosted by Japan and South Korea, with the side finishing fifth requiring a play-off against a team from Oceania to decide their fate.

Brazil, who have to contemplate a future without the injured Ronaldo, go into action at the Morumbi stadium in Sao Paulo against an Ecuador side which won its opening tie 2-0 in Quito against Venezuela, who are expected to be the group whipping boys.

As reigning continental champions the Brazilians are unlikely to have any trouble making the finals -- especially as coach Wanderley Luxemburgo has taken a hard line and insisted clubs release their players, turning a deaf ear to angry protests.

Flamengo had threatened not to release defender Athirson, creating friction between the club and Brazilian football federation (CBF). But Athirson arrived, however, at the team hotel and said he was delighted to be in the Brazilian squad.

"I really wanted to play for Flamengo this Sunday but I was lucky because the club understood my situation and authorized my release." The only tense moment came when Ronaldinho Gaucho of Gremio arrived an hour after the deadline for the players to meet at the team hotel.

An agitated Ronaldinho said his plane had made an unscheduled stop and was therefore delayed. Brazil include Champions League stars Rivaldo of Barcelona and Real Madrid's Roberto Carlos in an 18-man squad.

"We are confident that we can pull out a great performance and score a good win," Rivaldo said after Monday training.

Ecuador coach Hernan Dario "Bolillo" Gomez is on record as saying he had a dream earlier in the week that his men will win 1-0 with a goal from Ulises de la Cruz.

Argentina meanwhile travel to Venezuela, whom they should beat despite the loss through injury of record scorer Gabriel Batistuta, who has a back complaint.

The Fiorentina striker came off after an hour of Saturday's Serie A defeat against Juventus. But the 'albiceleste' (whites and sky blues) do welcome back Monaco's playmaker Marcelo Gallardo, who was on Monday elected French player of the year for his decisive role in leading his club to the league title.

Chile, who reached the second phase at France '98 but whose morale is at a low ebb after their drubbing by Argentina, host a Peru side who beat Paraguay last month.

Chilean authorities have declared the match "high risk" as they seek to avoid a repeat of the crowd trouble which brought a halt to the Davis Cup tennis clash with Argentina on April 7.

Uruguay, coached by Argentinian football legend Daniel Passarella, play away in Asuncion with the 1978 World Cup winner insisting he is in the post for the duration despite recent threats to step down in frustration at getting little time to work with his European-based players.

The Uruguayans, twice world champions, got off to a winning start against Bolivia, whom they beat 1-0 last month.

Elsewhere, Colombia will get a sharp intake of breath at La Paz, where they play Bolivia, who have won the right from FIFA to carry on playing their home qualifiers at 3,658m altitude at the Stadio Hernan Siles, known affectionately as "El Nido del Condor" (the Condor's Nest). Bolivia will rely on striker Erwin 'Platini Sanchez, who plays his trade in Portugal with Boavista.