ACTUALITE |
20.06.2002
Ronaldo will make the difference against England: Pele
TOKYO
Top-scorer Ronaldo is the key man for Brazil in the World Cup quarter-final against England on Friday, according to Brazilian legend Pele.
"In the quarterfinal match between Brazil and England, I believe Ronaldo is the man to make the difference," Pele wrote in a column for the Daily Yomiuri, the English-language edition of Japan`s biggest circulation broadsheet.
The 26-year old, two-time FIFA footballer of the year, known as "The Phenomenon" in his homeland, would succeed where Pele himself failed the last time the two countries met in the World Cup in 1970, by scoring, Pele predicted.
"Thankfully, much as I admire David Seaman in England`s goal, he is no Gordon Banks," the 61 year-old `King of Football` said.
Many commentators, including Pele, have billed Friday`s meeting between the two great rivals and contrasting football cultures as the World Cup final that should have been.
The man voted the joint greatest player of all time with Diego Maradona also believes that the current sides are heirs to a tradition that earlier generations of both teams since 1970 have failed to live up to.
"I think both Brazil and England are suggesting already at this World Cup that they can become worthy successors to their old heroes," he said.
Although disappointed by England`s 1-1 draw with Sweden in their opening match in the first round `Group of Death`, Pele put it down to the inexperience of England`s younger players wanting "to do too much too quickly."
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Hits: 1 | Source:Dailysoccer | |
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