Yugoslavia may face Ronaldo

Brazil and Yugoslavia meet in Fortaleza tonight with one side eyeing the summer's FIFA World Cup finals and the other looking ahead to the EURO 2004™ qualifiers in the autumn.

Looking ahead to EURO 2004™
Yugoslavia's players landed in Fortaleza in the north-east of Brazil on Monday, leaving themselves 48 hours to prepare for their 17th encounter with the South Americans. Coach Dejan Savicevic cites their opening EURO 2004™ qualifier against Italy as the target for his side, but Brazil have less time on their side with the departure for Korea/Japan less than two months away.
 
Ronaldo speculation
One man desperate to make an impression before then is Ronaldo and speculation today suggested the Internazionale FC striker and two-time World Player of the Year might return for Brazil after an absence of more than two years. Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said: "Ronaldo will decide himself whether he will play and he will consult Inter about that. Brazil should never depend on just one player, even Ronaldo."

Last appearance in 1999
The 25-year-old has not played a game at club level since before Christmas after the latest setback on his long road back from injury. His last appearance for his country was in a friendly away to the Netherlands in October 1999, and his last goal for Brazil in the final of the Copa America against Uruguay three months earlier. Since then, knee injuries have threatened to wreck his career.

'A great honour'
Ronaldo or no Ronaldo, Savicevic is confident there will be much to gain from facing Brazil. "We have come to Fortaleza to see how and where we stand and to get ready for the mach against Italy on 12 October," he said. "I do not have to motivate the players because playing against Brazil is a great honour. The Brazilians have been playing a 4-4-2 formation for several years now and they will surely not change now."

Two wins against Brazil
Yugoslavia have won just two of the countries' 16 previous encounters, with seven draws and seven defeats. Indeed their last victory over Brazil was in 1934, when they ran out 8-4 winners. A repeat is unlikely, despite Scolari's assertion the Yugoslavians are a "highly skilled team".

'A highly skilled team'
The Brazil coach believes the match will provide an important test for his players. "I have insisted on the match against Yugoslavia in order to see how we play against a technically highly skilled team," he said. "Also my intention is to make the boys run more."

No Romário
Scolari has ignored the claims of former PSV Eindhoven and FC Barcelona striker Romário for this match preferring instead 1903 Grêmio FBPA striker Luisão. "I am not concerned if fans are upset about Romário not being in the squad. I am the one picking the team and I am responsible for the results," he said.