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Oh! No Romario

Scolari's roster final

AFP, Rio de Janeiro
Veteran Brazil striker Romario's dream of a World Cup swansong was dashed on Monday when he was not included in coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's 23-man squad for the finals.
The 36-year-old Vasco da Gama player - the hero of Brazil's 1994 World Cup campaign - had harboured hopes of playing in Japan and South Korea after a superb season at club level.
But coach Scolari, who has not picked Romario since a World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay in July last year, has refused to bow to public pressure and excluded the forward here Monday.
Scolari said he understood why fans had demanded Romario's
inclusion - but delivered a typically blunt response.
"The supporters have to realize that the Brazilian team has a coach," said Scolari, known here as 'Big Phil. "On the other hand, we seem to have 170 million Brazilians as coach of the side. And that cannot be."
He has cited technical and tactical reasons for not picking Romario, although many believe a possible act of indiscipline in Montevideo might have been the cause.
"I just want to say that I picked these players because I think they're right for this job -- nobody will make me change my mind.
'I'm sorry for those athletes who have been left out but I can only pick 23. Win or lose it's my choice -- I prefer to be the scapegoat and do it my way than do it someone else's way", said Scolari.
Scolari dismissed Friday's incident, in which he was insulted, pushed and shoved by an angry
mob of around 50 fans as he walked a short distance from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) headquarters to a waiting car.
"There wasn't any physical violence," Scolari added. "I understand the supporters but I make the decisions which I think are in the best interests of the team."
He also brushed aside suggestions of hiring bodyguards.
"I don't have protection when I go to the bank, when I take my family out and everybody knows where I live and which places I go to," he said.
Scolari, who took over eleven months ago with Brazil in danger of failing to qualify, said he was aware that anything less than a fifth world title would be dubbed a failure -- with or without Romario.
"If I don't win, I'm dead meat in any case," he said.
"My duty is to win. We don't have
a second-place culture in this country.
"My own son said to me recently: second place is just the first of the last places. We had an excellent Cup in 1998 but the lasting impression was negative because we lost the final to France."
The episode is the latest twist in Romario's love-hate relationship with the World Cup.
Although he won the title and scored five goals in 1994, he has bitter memories of the 1990 and 1998 tournaments.
He played only one match in the latter, which took place shortly after he had broken his leg, and was axed on the eve of France '98 in tears with a niggling calf muscle injury.
Romario, who has averaged a goal a game in club football this year, had made no secret of his hopes for a third World Cup, but not even a tearful outpouring last month could persuade Scolari to change his mind.
The other notable absentee from Brazil's squad was Deportivo La Coruna's Djalminha, who hit the headlines last week after headbutting the Spanish club's coach Javier Irureta in training.
Scolari's list produced no other major omissions although Bayern Munich striker Elber, Sporting Lisbon's Mario Jardel and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Ze Roberto -who were all left out -- would probably figure in the squad of almost any other national team.
Elsewhere there were few surprises, with Scolari sticking largely to the squad which played against Portugal in a friendly last month.
Barcelona star Rivaldo was named in attack despite a persistent knee injury and erratic form at international level, while Inter Milan's Ronaldo was also called up after a return to form and fitness.
Scolari added that there was as usual a great deal of pressure on the team to do well. "I have an obligation to win the World Cup," he said. He added confidently that the players
had a real belief in themselves which would last throughout the May 31 to June 30 event after being asked what Brazilian supporters could hope for.
Scolari said he had no worries on the injury front, although Rivaldo has had nagging knee problems this season and Ronaldo is only recently back after a long-term lay-off.
"If the team doctor Jose Luis Runco tells me everything's fine, I am not at all worried about our situation. Rivaldo will play the World Cup without any problems."
Understandings between the players was at a high, added Scolari, saying he now had to finetune the way the team played.
"We don't lack as far as understanding between the players. I also think we have a good team which plays from the back to the wings, and allows the wingbacks to get into attacking positions."
He said he would use the same system as in the qualifiers when they had three defenders and two defensive midfielders, plus the wing backs who would continually try to move up field.
"But in any case, it's not a formation which wins matches," he said. "What brings victories are the concentration of the players, the enthusiasm within the group, and the seriousness with which they undertake their task."
Knowledge of their opponents would not be a problem, the coach added, saying all possible information on them would be made available to the team.
"We have nine full videos on how our opponents play, on all their players and tactics. When the teams gets on to the pitch, the players will know facts known by very few people."
He continued that the first match against Turkey was the most important one and that they had every fact imaginable available on the team. Brazil's other Group C opponents are China and Costa Rica.