Football World Cup 2002: Rivaldo too gifted to be remembered as a World Cup cheat; SEMI-FINAL: BRAZIL 1 TURKEY 0 FROM SAITAMA.Byline: Oliver Holt CHIEF SPORTS WRITER Noun 1. sports writer - a journalist who writes about sports sportswriter journalist - a writer for newspapers and magazines THE story of this World Cup seems destined to be the miracle of Ronaldo's restoration to the position of the world's greatest striker. Down and out in Paris and Rio four years ago, he was reduced to a gibbering wreck of a man before and after the 1998 World Cup final. He has hardly played since, either for Brazil or for Inter Milan, and yet here in Saitama yesterday he moved into the outright lead as the tournament's leading scorer. His semi-final winner against a clever, skilful Turkey side put him within touching distance of the redemption that will come only when he holds a World Cup winner's medal in his hands. That would exorcise the ghost of his failure in the Stade de France, as completely as David Beckham's winner against Argentina banished the haunting memories of that cursed night in St Etienne. But as Ronaldo accelerated his way towards his goal with the toe-poke that beat Rustu Recber, Brazil's second most famous player was reaching out towards his own rehabilitation. Because even though Rivaldo has scored five goals in this World Cup, he has been making the headlines for the wrong reasons. Mainly because of his pathetic writhings in the Group C match against Turkey when he got Hakan Unsal sent off with his play-acting. That earned him a Fifa reprimand REPRIMAND, punishment. The censure which in some cases a public office pronounces against an offender. 2. This species of punishment is used by legislative bodies to punish their members or others who have been guilty of some impropriety of conduct towards them. and a nominal fine of $7,400, but more importantly it added another stain to his reputation. Condemned in Brazil because of the feeling he saved all his best performances for Barcelona, his car was vandalised and his family was threatened last year. He reached a low point when he was jeered by Brazil fans during a qualifying game in Sao Paulo. "Go home Rivaldo, you're useless," they chanted at him. But yesterday, even though he missed the chance to become only the third player in World Cup history to score in six successive matches, Rivaldo re-established himself as Brazil's dominant creative influence. His performance was still pockmarked pock·mark n. 1. A pitlike scar left on the skin by smallpox or another eruptive disease. 2. A small pit on a surface: The gophers left the lawn covered with pockmarks. tr.v. by instances of the egotistical wastefulness that is his greatest weakness. Like the time he tried to chip Rustu from 40 yards when a simple pass would have freed Edilson down the centre. And the attempt to take on the entire Turkey defence when Kleberson was lurking unmarked on the edge of the box. When he plays like he did yesterday, though, you can forgive Rivaldo all his foibles and his idiosyncrasies. Time and again, he found space between the Turkey midfield and defence. Time and again, he wriggled away from challenges to set up another Brazil attack. With Ronaldinho suspended and Ronaldo still labouring under the effects of the thigh strain he suffered against England last Friday, Rivaldo knew his side would be heavily reliant on him. His response was magnificent. He went desperately close to scoring himself three times in the first half. One vicious left-foot drive thudded in front of Rustu and bounced off his chest into Ronaldo's path, but he could not quite turn the ball in. Rustu had to fling himself to his left to save another shot from the Barca star bound for the corner. And Rivaldo shaved the keeper's left-hand post with an instinctive shot from 20 yards. And there was real joy in the hug he gave Ronaldo when he got the winner. No hint of envy in the grin that creased his gaunt, pinched face. Perhaps in the second half, he was guilty of over-elaboration, of trying too hard to get the goal that would have kept him in the race for the Golden Boot with Ronaldo. If Brazil stopped indulging Roberto Carlos Roberto Carlos may refer to:
Instead, he had to settle once again for the satisfaction of being the power behind the throne The phrase power behind the throne refers to a person or group that informally exercises the real power of an office. In politics, it most commonly refers to a spouse, aide, or advisor of a political leader (often called a "figurehead") who serves as de facto . But most importantly Adv. 1. most importantly - above and beyond all other consideration; "above all, you must be independent" above all, most especially of all, the magic of his play went a long way to erasing the images of the shenanigans shenanigans Noun, pl Informal 1. mischief or nonsense 2. trickery or deception [origin unknown] in Ulsan. He is too gifted a player to be remembered as a cheat. CAPTION(S): HUNTING PACK: Four Turkish players move in on Brazil sub Denilson |
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