ANR correspondent Alex Abreu Gontijo is waiting impatiently for Ronaldo to come good.
_________________________________________________
MY DAY started in the office in Rio where I work. Most of us wore something which made a reference to Brazilian national team.
The ultimate moment of Brazilian nationalism is when our team plays in the World Cup. You must be here to see and believe it.
Two hours before the kick-off our office closed, like all Brazilian offices, even those of the government, so I went to see the game with same group of friends who have enjoyed all the tournaments since USA 1994. Our record is amazing : two titles and one second place.
The flat is huge with few furnitures, like a location from A Clockwork Orange, and as soon as the game started it was easy to see who would be the Aunt Sally, the black sheep of the team.
Ronaldo’s lack of fitness made him an obvious target for the fury of press and fans.
After the first win against Croatia the hero of 2002 came on TV complaining about the pressure.
Some people here like to think that the seven games are just a formality.
In many Brazilian eyes, Australia are what Brian Clough used to call a Mickey Mouse team, so the fans demand a big victory and a great performance on Sunday.