Soccer-World Cup-Pele praises Zagallo for announcing team
By Brian Homewood
RIO DE JANEIRO, May 6 (Reuters) - Pele praised Brazilian
coach Mario Zagallo on Wednesday for his surprising decision to
unveil the starting line-up for the team's first World Cup game.
The absence of Juninho and the last-minute inclusions of
midfielder Giovanni and defender Marcio Santos, who played in
the triumphant 1994 team, were the only real surprises when
Zagallo named the squad on Tuesday, nearly a month before the
deadline.
The real shock was his decision to announce the team to face
Scotland in the tournament's opening game on June 10 --
Taffarel, Cafu, Aldair, Junior Baiano, Roberto Carlos, Dunga,
Cesar Sampaio, Giovanni, Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Romario.
Zagallo, who said the team would be changed only in case of
injury, has never fielded this line-up in his four years and 63
games in charge.
"For the first time, the coach has had the courage to say
who will be in the team," said Pele. "This is what we needed
to stop the speculation and have a team that can start
training."
Most former players, coaches and newspaper columnists said
on Wednesday that Zagallo had been right to include in-form
Giovanni at the expense of Juninho, who broke his ankle in a
Spanish championship match three months ago.
They also welcomed the inclusion of Marcio Santos, whose
last international appearance was a disastrous performance in a
4-2 defeat by Norway one year ago but who has since returned to
his best at Sao Paulo.
However, Zagallo was criticised for the way in which Juninho
had been treated.
The Atletico Madrid player had moved mountains to recover
quickly enough to play his comeback game for his club at the
weekend.
Brazil team doctor Lidio Toledo saw the match and afterwards
told reporters that Juninho was fit enough to be selected. Yet
48 hours later he was excluded.
"I think that what they did to Juninho was disrespectful,"
said former international Carlos Alberto Torres. "They sent
Lidio Toledo to Spain, created an illusion for the player and
the next day left him out of the team."
Another sticking point was Zagallo's decision to omit
36-year-old defender Mauro Galvao, who has been in excellent
form for his club side Vasco da Gama.
"The World Cup is now and not in the year 2000. If I was
younger, they'd be saying that I wasn't old enough," said
Galvao, who pointed out that he had played an average of one
game every five days for his club this year.
The main worry for Brazilians has become the right-back
position.
Cafu, who has hit a bad patch of form, was the only
recognised right-back in the 22-man squad.
"He's the least bad in that position," said Tostao, who
played alongside Pele in the 1970 team.
REUTERS
| 
