 World Cup final match
winner Ronaldo says he worked for
nearly three years to recover from
serious injury to be the star player
at the 2002 finals this month.
"I worked for 2½ years
trying to recover from that injury
and today God reserved this for me
and the team," he said as he
celebrated with team mates after Brazil
won an unprecedented fifth world title.
"Everyone is so happy to have
landed this championship. It's a fantastic
feeling to be Brazilian tonight.
"This is for my family and my
physiotherapist, who fought with me
knowing we would be here two years
later."
Brazilian physio Nilton Petrone has
worked constantly with the Internazionale
striker to get him in shape after
three serious knee injuries since
his World Cup disappointment in France
four years ago. Many felt his career
at top level was over last year after
the final serious knee surgery. He
had not played a game for Brazil in
three years until scoring in friendly
last month against Malaysia ahead
of these finals and has now hit 45
goals in 64 matches for the Selecao.
The 25 year old scored both goals
in Yokohama midway through the second
half to end as top scorer at the finals
with eight goals in seven matches.
Germany: Kahn, Linke, Ramelow, Metzelder,
Frings, Schneider,Jeremies (Asamoah
77), Hamann, Bode (Ziege 84), Neuville,Klose
(Bierhoff 73).
Subs Not Used: Baumann, Bohme, Butt,
Jancker, Kehl, Lehmann,Rehmer, Ricken.
Booked: Klose.
Brazil: Marcos, Edmilson, Lucio,
Roque Junior, Cafu, Kleberson,Gilberto,
Carlos, Ronaldinho (Juninho Paulista
85), Rivaldo,Ronaldo (Denilson 90).
Subs Not Used: Belleti, Ceni, Dida,
Edilson, Junior, Kaka,Luizao, Polga,
Ricardinho, Vampeta.
Booked: Roque Junior.
Attendance: 69,029.
Referee: Pierluigi Collina (Italy) |
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