Soccer: Missing Rs spell trouble for Brazil

SAITAMA - The absence of one, and maybe two, of Brazil's three Rs could spell trouble for the four-time champions in their World Cup semifinal against Turkey tonight.

Ronaldinho must sit out the game after being sent off in the 2-1 quarter-final defeat of England and Ronaldo could also be sidelined if he fails to shake off a thigh injury.

That still leaves Rivaldo, who has scored goals in all five Brazil games at the World Cup and would join a select club if he notched another against the Turks.

Only Brazil's Jairzinho and France's Just Fontaine have scored in six finals games in succession.

Even with 10 men, Brazil were far too accomplished for England and, on paper, Turkey's chances of success appear slim.

But they are certainly not without hope, especially if Ronaldo is absent and their defence can concentrate on nullifying Rivaldo.

After all, Turkey scored first against Brazil in their opening round match on June 3 in Ulsan and would have probably held out for a draw if Alpay Ozalan had not been sent off and Rivaldo not scored Brazil's late winner from the spot.

Since that game Turkey have grown in confidence - if not flamboyance - and their victory over Senegal in Sunday's quarter-final was as much about self-discipline and superb use of the ball as it was about taking the sting out of the Senegalese attack.

They will have to do much the same against Brazil and defend like never before, although the speed of Hasan Sas and second-half substitute Ilhan Mansiz on the break will trouble the favourites.

The Turks are undaunted by the prospect of facing Brazil in the semifinal and regard their second meeting as a fixture they have earned, and can win.

"There is no intimidation," Sas said. "We know Brazil are a good team.

"We've already played them and we know that they have talented players. We are talented too and whoever plays best on the day will win."

Turkey's players, most of them accustomed to European success with Galatasaray, say they see their semifinal as a step to a cup win, not as an achievement in itself.

"It's great to be here in the semifinal after the problems we've had but everyone should understand that this was not a coincidence," Sas said.

"We have proved by reaching the semifinals how talented the Turkish player is and what a good team we are.

"We can do it, we all believe that with all our hearts. It will be a great match."

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted before playing Turkey in the opening round that he had had sleepless nights working out the best way to beat them - and there can be little doubt he has spent long hours in the past few days going over the same ground.

With Ronaldinho suspended, he must re-jig his midfield. He brought Kleberson in to toughen up the midfield against England and is likely to keep him there.

He is almost certain to bring back Juninho, left out against England, to create the chances for the forwards.

The match is something of a rarity in cup terms. Since 1954 - not counting replays and playoffs which were discontinued in 1958 - there have been only four instances of teams meeting each other twice in the same competition.

None of those meetings produced the same result twice, an omen perhaps for the Turks.

In 1954, Hungary beat West Germany 8-3 in the first round, and lost 3-2 to the Germans in the final.

In 1962, Brazil and Czechoslovakia drew 0-0 in the first round and Brazil won the final 3-1.

In 1982, Italy and Poland drew 0-0 in the first round before Italy won the semifinal 2-0.

In 1994, Brazil drew 1-1 with Sweden in the opening round and won their semifinal 1-0.

An omen for both teams to consider is this: the winners of the second match have always ended up winning the cup.

Probable teams:

Brazil: Marcos; Lucio, Edmilson, Roque Junior; Cafu, Gilberto Silva, Kleberson, Juninho, Roberto Carlos; Ronaldo (or Luizao), Rivaldo.

Turkey: Rustu Recber; Fatih Akyel, Bulent Korkmaz, Alpay Ozalan; Umit Davala, Tugay Kerimoglu, Yildiray Basturk, Ergun Penbe, Hasan Sas, Emre Belozoglu; Ilhan Mansiz.

Referee: Kim Milton Neilsen (Denmark).

- REUTERS

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