World Cup briefs
Ronaldinho confident of being selected for Brazil
Ronaldinho claims
he will make coach Dunga’s final Brazil World Cup squad and take part
in this year’s tournament in South Africa.
The Milan playmaker
has been constantly overlooked by Dunga this season, despite being the
assist leader in Italy’s top flight and improving over 600 places in
the Castrol Rankings since September.
“I’ll tell you a
secret: I can’t imagine a World Cup without Ronaldinho on the pitch,”
suggested ‘Dinho in an interview with Chi.
“It seems
impossible, even if I consider the risk of not being there I feel bad,
very bad. Then I say with certainly I will honour my country at the
next World Cup and I, along with my national team, will win.”
Meanwhile, his club side are now third favourites for the Scudetto
after falling behind Roma and Inter in the Serie A standings.
“The Scudetto? It’s finished only when we are out mathematically,” continued the former Barcelona man.
“I am compelled to believe in the championship. Each game will be a battle and I am ready.”
‘Five or six injured players can’t be in the squad’
Spanish national
team coach Vicente Del Bosque hopes that the majority of the players he
is hoping can represent La Roja in this summer’s World Cup will be able
to overcome any physical ailments to be included. But he has
acknowledged: “In the case that some players are not able to play,
there are excellent alternatives.” In comments reported by Marca, Del
Bosque spoke of his hope that in the remaining month before the World
Cup, “all players will be in fine health”.
Furthermore, the
coach dismissed the notion of any controversy regarding Fernando
Torres’ knee operation, stating: “He [Torres] decided on an operation
with the counsel of his club. He could not play in the condition he was
in.” However, in the event that players are not ready in time for the
competition, Del Bosque warned: “I cannot include five or six injured
players in the World Cup squad with the hope that they will recover in
time. In the case that a player would not be able to play, there are
many others who can step in.” Currently, Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas
and Andres Iniesta are all suffering from extended injuries that could
put their World Cup hopes in jeopardy.
Sibusiso Zuma hopes to win South Africa squad place
Sibusiso Zuma has
been playing his football at club level in Denmark, with FC
Nordsjaelland and he recently revealed his confidence in capturing a
place in the 23-man squad to be announced by South Africa coach Carlos
Alberto Parreira ahead of the World Cup in June.
“If I play well for
the club, I can decide for myself if I go to the World Cup. They know
me in the coaching staff, and I have worked a lot with the coach before
so he knows what I stand for,” Zuma told Kanalsport.
“It is up to me to
prove that I can still get into top form. I am not that far away, but I
still need some hard work.” The striker revealed that he would not
simply be making the team to warm the bench, stating that he would be
an important part of the coach’s plans.
“I don’t go just to
be part of the squad. I have played in the World Cup before, so I have
experienced it.” After expressing his confidence of potentially making
it into the squad for the World Cup, the Bafana hopeful suffered an
injury at his club, which is likely to keep him out of action for a few
weeks, well into May.
After the injury, he told Kanalsport: “The timing is all wrong. My
form was getting better. I don’t know if I can make it to the World
Cup, but I still hope I have a chance.” Time will tell whether the
South African star will find space in the final 23 players destined to
defend the host country’s colours at the World Cup, but this latest
injury is likely to be a major setback for Zuma.
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