FAO Figaro

[Leo No.8]

Too many intense weight loss programmes and diets.

 

Has a serious renal problem that is being kept quiet.

 

He does not train in the normal sense - neither at Madrid nor with Brazil.

 

Psychologically he has never recovered from the injury in Italy.

 

He would rather be at home playing ping-pong or on the PS.

 

He has serious problems with his entourage and agent atm.

 

Plus he has never been as happy as he was when he was at Barca

 

But apart from that he's fine...

 

Never thought he should have left Barca even at the time - possibly the best player I've ever seen in his fairly brief time at Camp Nou, but despite still scoring regularly he's always been a shadow of that genius since his injuries at Inter.

[Mikael Akerfeldt]

Excuse my ignorance but what's a renal problem?

 

It'll have something to do with his kidneys, if Im not mistaken.

[Stevie H]

he's a really sad sight these days.

[Guest Cacodemon]

he's a really sad sight these days.

 

Unbelievable ability, but has had more than enough problems to deal with - wouldn't be surprised if we called it a day after the WC.

 

I heard a rumour that his staple diet in Madrid is Burgers? Wonder if that is true....

[Falconhoof]

He's the Brazillian Elvis

[Figaro]

I heard a rumour that his staple diet in Madrid is Burgers? Wonder if that is true....

 

Not quite. He gets through a hell of a lot of pizzas though. Has them made by the same pizza chef who became one of his best friends when he was at Barca. You could say that he is a pizza fanatic.

 

It's also a case of not what he eats but when he eats - very erratic eating times.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

he was remarkably crap yesterday.

 

And I had him in my fantasy team

[Figaro]

he was remarkably crap yesterday.

 

And I had him in my fantasy team

 

Don't worry he'll score against Harry the Mago of Oz and his company of convicts Cahill included.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Oh, I know he will. I transferred him out of the team yesterday

 

Croatia centre-back Robert Kovac says he was bewildered at the lack of threat posed by Brazil striker Ronaldo.

 

The holders won 1-0, but 29-year-old Ronaldo was anonymous and was substituted after 69 minutes.

 

"I don't know what happened to him," Kovac told BBC Sport. "He didn't run and stayed in front of us. He must be tired. He hardly touched the ball.

 

"It was very easy. I've played against him before and it was very difficult. I don't know what's happened with him."

 

 

Ronaldo entered the competition on the back of a troubled season at Real Madrid with criticism being levelled at him for being overweight.

 

He seemed to run faster when he was taken off against Croatia than for most of an outing which saw him have just one noteworthy shot.

 

The performance even surprised the Croatia bench, with second-choice keeper Joe Didulica saying: "I would love to see the statistics of how far he ran.

 

"I think he made three or four sprints of 10 metres or so. I was amazed looking on from the bench."

 

But Croatia defender Josip Simunic offered some support for the man who scored 12 goals in three previous World Cups.

 

"Ronaldo is the most dangerous player in the world," said Simunic.

 

"I don't know what everyone is talking about and I am 100% sure he will score four or five goals in the tournament. Just wait and see."

 

Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira and Tuesday's match-winner, Kaka, were both quick to jump to Ronaldo's defence.

 

Parreira admitted the player was "lacking a little bit of sharpness" but that he would still start their second game against Australia on Sunday.

 

"Ronaldo has not been playing for the last two months and has had only two friendlies so it was natural he felt a bit heavy as it was very hot, but I'm sure he will improve as the tournament goes on," he said.

 

And Kaka added: "Ronaldo has said he has not reached his ideal level of fitness so let's wait until he improves his performance and is the Ronaldo that we know and like, but yes a little more movement from him would be ideal."

 

The Brazilian newspapers were less supportive of Ronaldo, who to date has 12 World Cup goals under his belt.

 

Former World Cup winner Tostao, writing for the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper, described him as "slow and weird."

 

Ronaldo for top scorer again

[Leo No.8]

Fortunately I opted to leave Ronaldo out of my fantasy side and choose Kaka in my midfield.

 

Brazil weren't good at all - people forget it's a long, long time since a South American team won the World Cup in Europe, so Brazil aren't guaranteed to win it, no way.

 

I was quite impressed by Italy myself. They weren't what you'd call brilliant against Ghana, but I felt they had pretty decent control over the game after the first half hour against tricky opponents.

Edited June 14, 2006 by Leo No.8

[Jonesy]

He's the Brazillian Elvis

 

uh huh!

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Fortunately I opted to leave Ronaldo out of my fantasy side and choose Kaka in my midfield.

 

Brazil weren't good at all - people forget it's a long, long time since a South American team won the World Cup in Europe, so Brazil aren't guaranteed to win it, no way.

 

I was quite impressed by Italy myself. They weren't what you'd call brilliant against Ghana, but I felt they had pretty decent control over the game after the first half hour against tricky opponents.

True enough, but there's been little give in the first round of games. No-one wants to lose ground. Hopefully the 2nd round of group games will open up a lot as teams need to make up ground.

 

So far there have been a few completely forgettable games, a few ok ones & the odd good game

[Bailo]

Didn't Jonah Lomu have a Renial problem, which led to him having to have a pretty serious operation type thing?!?

 

I always thought I could picture Ronaldo tucking into a Baby Grill at the Argentinian Steak House in Majadahonda - if the Argies would let him in.

Love the name, love shooting you!