The Hindu : Sport / Football : Ronaldinho not worried

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 27, 2006

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Sport - Football

Ronaldinho not worried

BERGISCH GLADBACH : Ronaldinho is not losing too much sleep over his lack of goals at the World Cup.

The two-time FIFA player of the year is the only member of Brazil's ``magic quartet'' who didn't score in Brazil's first three matches.

``It will come at the right time, I'm not preoccupied with that,'' Ronaldinho said. ``I've been doing my job, which is to help the other players score goals.''

Ronaldinho set up two of Brazil's goals in the 4-1 win over Japan on Thursday, but has yet to get on the board himself.

Kaka had the winner in Brazil's 1-0 over Croatia, Adriano scored in the team's 2-0 victory over Australia, and Ronaldo netted a pair against Japan.

Ronaldinho was held scoreless in the three warm-up matches in which Brazil outscored its opponents — Swiss club FC Lucerne, Fluminense's under-20 squad and New Zealand — by 25-1.

His last goal was scored on May 6 with FC Barcelona in the Spanish league. With Brazil, he last netted in June 2005 in the Confederations Cup final against Argentina. Ronaldinho has 29 goals in 69 matches with the national team.

The midfielder hasn't played poorly, but seems far from the star who led Barcelona to the Spanish league and Champions League titles this season.

``It's different in the national team because we have to face tough defence,'' Ronaldinho said. ``All teams come marking very hard against Brazil, it's not easy to find spaces.''

Ronaldinho said he knows fans and the media are expecting more from him.

``My goal is to improve,'' he said. ``The fact that people want more from me only makes me try harder.'' — AP

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