Luis Fabiano set to follow in Ronaldo's footsteps
Marcelo Lluberas
He has something to live up, replacing Ronaldo, the "Phenomenon" who
fired Brazil to glory in 2002 and broke Gerd Mueller's all-time World
Cup scoring haul of 14 goals in Germany last time out. But Luis Fabiano
isn't letting the burden of shooting the Selecao to their sixth title
weigh too heavily on his shoulders as he seeks his own place in the
pantheon of all-time greats to have worn the canary yellow shirt.
The Seville striker is playing in his first World Cup but notched
five goals in as many games in the Confederations Cup last year and so
is already well-attuned to the South African environment, even if he
comes here having had to shrug off a leg injury and the fact that he has
not scored in his last five Brazilian outings.
That drought stretches back to last autumn but he is confident he
will have his shooting boots with him when Brazil step out to face North
Korea on Tuesday in their opening Group G match.
The Brazilians will later go up against Portugal and Ivory Coast,
both of whom could give Dunga's side a hard time of it.But with Fabiano,
who scored on his international debut against Nigeria in 2003, in their
ranks they will not be short of firepower as he has netted 25 times in
37 appearances for his country - or 19 in 26 starts under Dunga. Dunga
called up the 29-year-old who started out with Ponte Preta following a
period on the fringes of the squad after Afonso Alves (then of Dutch
side Heerenveen and now with Qatar's Al Rayyan) was injured in 2008 for
the start of the qualifiers.
He did not shine initially but then cemented his place with a double
in the 2-1 home win over Uruguay in Sao Paulo.
A member of the 2004 Copa America-winning squad Fabiano would go on
to score a creditable nine goals in qualifying - buoyed by his
Confederations Cup exploits, which included a brace in the final win
over the United States.
Now the Seville striker says he has two goals to fulfil in the
national colours, having already achieved one ambition.
"I have got two remaining ambitions here - I want to win the Cup and
the other is to be top scorer." Comparisons will of course be made with
Ronaldo and Fabiano says he cannot lose too much sleep over that. "It's
a big responsibility, and not just because some great names have worn
the (number nine) shirt but because there is inherent pressure in
donning Brazil's colours," he explained. The confidence is certainly
there, despite his drawing a blank both in the warm-up against Zimbabwe
- won 3-0 - and the 5-1 drubbing of Tanzania.
"I have what it takes to score goals at the World Cup - the important
thing is winning the title. Once one comes along then there will be
more," he stressed - an eye on making the shirt his own for the next
tournament on home soil as well as for the current event.
Coach Dunga has come in for criticism from fans and some former
players - including former skipper Socrates - for his pragmatic style of
play - but Fabiano has no problem with his coach distancing himself from
Brazil's traditional flair.
JOHANNESBURG, Monday, AFP
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