Luis Fabiano is coming through with his promise to prove that he deserves to be considered one of the best strikers in the world.
With performances like the one he had against Italy in Brazil’s 3-0 victory Thursday at the Confederations Cup, he is doing just enough to get people to notice him.
The Sevilla striker scored two goals at Loftus Versfeld Stadium to help Brazil rout the Italians and earn a spot in the semifinals of the eight-team competition in South Africa.
”I think things are working out for me,” Luis Fabiano said. ”It seems my effort and my hard work is paying off.”
He scored his two goals in a six-minute span, with a low right-footer from inside the area in the 37th and a shot from near the penalty spot in the 43rd.
Luis Fabiano was especially happy for his goals in regard to his daughter Giovanna, who cried back home in Brazil when the Brazil forward failed to score against the United States last week, on the day of her fifth birthday.
”I told her that against Italy I was going to do it, and it happened twice. There was one for Gabriela, too,” he said, referring to his other young daughter.
Luis Fabiano had already scored one goal in Brazil’s 4-3 opening victory against Egypt last week, and with the two scored Sunday he joined Spain forwards Fernando Torres and David Villa as the Confederations Cup leading scorers with three goals each.
The 28-year-old Luis Fabiano is also keeping his promise that he would score at least one goal per match in the tournament, which is being used as a World Cup warm-up.
”I’m glad I’m being able to do that,” he said. ”It’s not easy.
”We are playing in very difficult matches, but I’ll keep fighting.
”That’s why strikers are there. You have to take advantage of the opportunities.”
Coming into South Africa, he said one of his goals was to perform well to try to open the doors for a transfer to a more traditional European club. He said that at Sevilla he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves or that he would be getting if he played in a bigger team.
Luis Fabiano also wants to secure a spot in Brazil coach Dunga’s team for next year’s World Cup.
”I’m working for that to happen,” he said. ‘There is still some time until the World Cup, but to get there I have to keep doing what I’m doing. It’s a big dream for me to be there. I know that now is my only opportunity.”
Luis Fabiano helped Brazil win the 2004 Copa America, but he became a regular in the national team only after Dunga took over after the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
He has already scored 20 goals in his 30 matches with the national team since his debut in 2003, when he still played for Sao Paulo. He played with FC Porto before going to Sevilla. — Sapa, AP