Soccer: Brazil gambling on Ronaldo after scare

Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said he was prepared to gamble on Ronaldo for Monday's (NZ time) World Cup soccer match against Australia after the striker suffered an illness scare.

Parreira said Ronaldo, out of sorts in the 1-0 group F win over Croatia on Wednesday, would start against Australia in Munich.

Ronaldo, who underwent a battery of medical tests yesterday after complaining of dizzyness, said he felt fine.

The episode recalled memories of 1998 when he fell victim to a mystery illness hours before the 0-3 World Cup final loss to France.

"He's confirmed (for Monday)," Parreira said.

"We're betting on him. I think he deserves to continue playing because of what he's done in the past and because of what he represents for us."

Asked how long he would persist with the 1996, 1997 and 2002 world player of the year if he continued to play badly, Parreira said: "How can I start from the assumption a player will not play well?

"I have to believe he will play well, I have to be optimistic.

"A good player deserves confidence. It's important for us to invest in this player."

Team doctor Jose Luis Runco said nothing had shown up in yesterday's tests.

"We don't have a problem because the athlete is training," he said, adding he could not rule out the episode was stress-related.

Ronaldo said: "Today I feel fine. I feel fairly relaxed. It's nothing serious.

"I'm just thinking about the game against Australia. To be sincere I wasn't happy with my performance against Croatia but the most important thing was that we won.

"In the next game I hope to do things a bit better."

Ronaldo lumbered around the pitch against Croatia, looking off the pace and struggling to control the simplest of passes, a performance similar to the dazed one he produced in the 1998 final in Paris.

This season has been an unhappy one for Ronaldo.

He was hindered by a series of nagging injuries and his relationship with the fans at his club Real Madrid deteriorated.

Ronaldo's World Cup preparations were also interrupted by blisters on his feet and a brief sinus infection.

He has become increasingly exasperated at suggestions he is overweight and became upset when Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva joined the speculation, asking whether he was fat during a video conference with the team last week.

The President later sent a letter of apology.

- REUTERS