By Myles Palmer
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England 4 Paraguay 0
France 0 Russia 0
Portugal 1 Brazil 1
Germany 0 Argentina 1
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If you’re a World Cup manager, April is about looking at wannabes, not results.
It’s about looking for young match-winners to add to your squad.
I blew it last night, big time. After Owen scored in 4 minutes I mostly watched France v Russia, flicking back to Anfield now and then.
I didn’t know Germany-Argentina was live on C5.Nobody told me about that.
Joe Cole and Kieron Dyer will both be in the 23 and so will Owen Hargreaves.
Trevor Sinclair was clueless, as I said here recently. He played himself out of Sven’s plans by being unable to perform even in a walkover.
Nicky Butt did OK and might be a better player than I’ve given him credit for. I shall suspend judgement on Butt till June.
Ronaldinho Gaucho can do for Brazil what Saviola is doing for Barcelona.
But, sadly, Saviola is not in Argentina’s plans so he will not be there.
A World Cup without Shevchenko and Bergkamp needs Saviola, I think, but the kid does not fit Bielsa’s very successful system.
A shame because Saviola is fresh, razor-sharp, delicate, deadly, fun to watch, a hummingbird who hovers in dangerous spaces.
Saviola could be to 2002 what Roberto Baggio was to Italia 90.
Ronaldo looks 80% of himself and that’s good enough for April.
In May, maybe 85%. In June, possibly 90% – if he stays fit.
Ronaldo is the most two-footed centre forward of modern times as well as the most turbo-charged.
You know he is back because he played 90 for Inter last Sunday and scored twice in the last ten.
And he was ready for the fouls that came his way from the Portuguese defenders.
Ronaldo had steeled himself for the fouls. He knows a lot about fouls because he has been kicked and tugged and obstructed on every ground in Brazil, Spain and Italy – and in many other countries as well.
He is bodily fit, and I saw signs that he is getting there, headwise.
When Ronaldo is ready and willing to be fouled, to feel more pain, to run through tackles that would knock most players over, you remember that he is a strong boy, still only 25, and a boy with a mission.
He really wants it.He wants this World Cup and if his knees hold up and his calves and thighs hold up, he might go close, might even win it.
Poor, tired,over-played, burned-out Rivaldo performed like a zombie. And there is still no end product from the over-rated Roberto Carlos.
A pity that Big Phil Scolari uses the obsolete 3-5-2 system.
The three centrebacks – Lucio, Anderson Polga and Roque Junior – are good players but, as a trio,seem to be a disaster waiting to happen. We shall know more 42 days from now.
Roque Junior looked like a novice when Sergio Conceicao ambled onto Figo’s through pass to score. He lost concentration and hesitated and Portugal scored.
Lucio and Polga are 23 – far too young for centrebacks in the World Cup.
Paris?
The intelligent teams have learned from Italy v France in Euro 2000 and now know how to nullify France’s pace : sit deep, mark tight, let them play in front of you.
Russia could be the dark horses.
Experience at the back with Onopko and Nikifirov, flair from Titov and Mostovoi,entertaining tantrums from the fiery Karpin, who threw his rattle out of the pram after tangling with Lizarazu, a competitive Basque.
Desailly expects Vieira to replace him as French captain.
He said, “He’s a natural leader.He’s going to pulverize all the records.”
Vieira, who has 51 caps, equalled the record of 35 consecutive appearances for France set 10 years ago by full-back Manuel Amoros.
PV4 said, “I don’t pay much attention to records.I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, but the best is yet to come.”
He also said he felt tired in the second half and that the strain is now showing on the top players.
Bottom line?
Only two of the 20-odd games on Wednesday were real.
France-Russia game was real because the Russians were never gonna let the champs walk all over them.The Portugal game was real because it always is against Brazil, for obvious reasons.
Also, no team is perfect.
Brazil need Onopko and Nikiforov.
France need Michael Owen.
England need Thuram, Desailly and Lizarazu.
If Argentina can beat Germany 1-0 without Veron and Crespo, maybe they don’t need Saviola.
18th April 2002.
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