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| Monday, December 2, 2002 18:17 EST |
Ronaldo should see action after bout with flu
[Reuters]
YOKOHAMA, Japan -- European champions Real
Madrid will be looking to end a poor run of results and cap its centenary year with victory over Olimpia of
Paraguay in the World Club Cup on Tuesday.
The Spanish giants, who arrived in Japan with a number of
key players still carrying knocks or trying to shake off a flu
bug, are also determined to put the record straight in Yokohama
after losing 2-1 to Argentina's Boca Juniors two years ago.
Real beat Vasco da Gama of Brazil 2-1 to win the 1998 World
Club Cup but victory against Olimpia would give the club a
timely boost after a goalless draw with Barcelona and the 1-0
Champions League defeat at AC Milan in the last 10 days.
Coach Vicente del Bosque has played down fitness concerns
over Brazil striker Ronaldo (flu) and captain Fernando Hierro
(ankle), although French midfielder Claude Makelele and forward
Guti could miss the game with minor injuries.
Ronaldo, who memorably scored twice to give Brazil a 2-0
victory over Germany in the World Cup final in his last
appearance at International Stadium, arrived at Narita airport
on Friday wrapped in a woolly scarf and a thick dufflecoat.
However, the 26-year-old, who joined Real from Inter Milan
for $44 million in September, showed no lingering effects from
his bout of the flu during training over the weekend.
South American champions Olimpia, who, remarkably is also
in its centenary year, arrived in Japan more than a week ago
to acclimatize and coach Nery Pumpido has a full complement of
players available to him.
In attack, Paraguayan strikers Richart Baez -- who had a spell
with J-League club Avispa Fukuoka in 1996 -- and Miguel Benitez
are both capable of embarrassing the Real defense.
Meanwhile, the influential Uruguayan Sergio Orteman will
relish the opportunity of going up against the likes of Zinedine
Zidane and Luis Figo in midfield.
However, Olimpia's World Club Cup preparations were hit by a
3-1 defeat to J-League second division side Yokohama FC in a
practice match on Friday that earned the players a
tongue-lashing from Pumpido.
Olimpia, who beat Brazilians Sao Caetano on penalties to win
its third Libertadores Cup in July, was beaten 3-0 by AC
Milan in 1990 in its only other World Club Cup appearance
under the current one-match format.
But Pumpido has warned that underdogs Olimpia would not be
overawed by the nine-time European champions.
"Real Madrid are the best team in the world. So what? We
have great respect for them but at the same time we are
confident we can win. I have said that all along," said Pumpido,
who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986.
However, Real -- currently seventh in La Liga, eight points
behind leaders Real Sociedad -- will want to make it a full set
of international titles in 2002 after lifting the Champions
League and the European Super Cup.
The mind games began over the weekend when Brazil defender
Roberto Carlos suggested that Real would have "home advantage"
in Yokohama.
"We are playing on a ground where Ronaldo and I won the
World Cup. The fans know us here and it will feel just like
playing at home," he said.
If either side needed any more incentive, South America and
Europe are locked at 11 wins apiece since the two-leg format was
replaced by one match in 1981.
Both teams will be desperate to end their centenary years on
a high, but Real could just want it that little bit more as the club tries to get its domestic and Champions League campaigns back on
track.
Probable teams:
Real Madrid (4-4-2): Iker Casillas; Michel Salgado, Ivan
Helguera, Francisco Pavon, Roberto Carlos; Luis Figo, Esteban
Cambiasso, Albert Celades, Zinedine Zidane; Raul, Ronaldo
Olimpia (4-4-2): Ricardo Tavarelli; Nestor Isasi, Pedro
Benitez, Nelson Zelaya, Juan Ramon Jara; Sergio Orteman, Julio
Cesar Enciso, Julio Cesar Caceres, Gaston Cordoba; Rodrigo
Lopez, Miguel Angel Benitez
Referee: Carlos Eugenio Simon (Brazil).
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