It’s a choice any coach would welcome: When Ronaldo returns, which of Brazil’s soccer stars should he replace?
It’s the decision Carlos Alberto Parreira will have to make — and it got tougher on Sunday when Brazil’s improvised front line led a steamroller offence that routed Paraguay 4-1 in a World Cup qualifier.
A standout was striker Robinho, who scored a goal and was tackled for a penalty that set up another score. For fans, he brought back the lilting rhythm of the ”samba soccer” that led Brazil to a record five World Cup titles.
”We played well, it was a great victory, and we leave here happy,” said the 21-year-old striker.
The victory left Brazil on the brink of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and turned Wednesday’s qualifier against Argentina — one of the great soccer rivalries — into a ”luxury exhibition game”, Parreira said.
Argentina still lead the South American qualifying race with 28 points, one ahead of Brazil. And the Brazilians aren’t mathematically assured of a spot in the Cup finals — although they could clinch a berth against Argentina on Wednesday, and still have four more qualifying games to go.
”Brazil is 99,9% qualified,” Parreira said after Sunday’s match.
As satisfying as the victory was the offensive firepower Brazil unveiled — without Ronaldo. The three-time Fifa player of the year was released from the two Cup qualifiers and from the upcoming Confederations Cup to allow him to rest and recover from a messy separation from his fiancée, Daniella Cicarelli.
With Inter Milan’s Adriano and Robinho of Santos improvised in the front line, Brazil came out in high gear and thrashed Paraguay, in fourth place in the standings with 19 points.
FC Barcelona star Ronaldinho, Fifa player of the year in 2004, scored twice on penalty kicks to give Brazil a 2-0 lead, and Bayern Munich’s Ze Roberto made it 3-0 on a curving shot into the upper corner.
After a header from Paraguay’s Roque Santa Cruz deflected into the net and closed the gap to 3-1, Robinho slipped a shot under goalie Justo Villar to seal the victory and an exceptional afternoon.
”Mission accomplished,” said AC Milan midfielder Kaka. ”We needed a game like this. It was a great show.”
But if Brazil are relaxed about Wednesday’s qualifier in Buenos Aires, Argentina feel the pressure after a surprising 2-0 loss to Ecuador on Saturday. Argentina coach Jose Pekerman fielded mostly second-stringers, resting his regular starters for the match-up against Brazil.
”The pressure is on them,” Real Madrid winger Roberto Carlos told Pele’s website. ”They’ll have to come at us.”
Parreira breathed easy. He recalled the team’s qualifying difficulties for the World Cups in 1994 and 2002, when Brazil struggled but went on to win the title.
”It was important to avoid the crunch I went through in 1993 and [Luiz Felipe Scolari] endured at the last Cup,” Parreira said. ”Now we have a luxury exhibition game — with first place at stake.”
The sporting press commemorated the win as a decisive step toward the 2006 Cup — and possibly a sixth world title.
”With one foot in the World Cup,” trumpeted the Rio de Janeiro newspaper Jornal do Brasil.
”Soccer worthy of a five-time champion,” said O Globo. — Sapa-AP