Scolari overlooks Romario yet again

Wednesday, 21 August 02, 01:18 PM · Comments(0)

Brazilian national team coach Luiz Felipe "Big Phil" Scolari left Romário out of the national team squad that will face Yugoslavia on March 27 in Fortaleza in their warm-up to the World Cup 2002.

Scolari announced the names of 11 domestic-based players last Thursday. These players will join 11 foreign-based players called this week to the friendly match against Yugoslavia.

Only ten names were expected to be announced last Thursday, but the coach included one more due to Rivaldo's injury.

When asked why he did not call up Romário despite the public outcry for his inclusion on the team, "Big Phil" came up with an evasive answer:

"I respect the opinion of the public, but from now on, I don't talk about players who were not called," declared Scolari.

"Big Phil" also denied the rumors that Brazilian Football Confederation president Ricardo Teixeira tried to force him to call up Romário.

"Nothing has been asked of me," said the coach.

On the other hand, Romário is already talking as if he had no more chances of joining the World Cup squad even though the final list will be not be announced until May 2:

"Let's forget this issue. The coach makes his choices. I wish luck to the national team. Even without me they can do great in the World Cup," said the striker at halftime of the Vasco da Gama-Botafogo match last Thursday in Rio de Janeiro in the Rio-São Paulo League.

Besides Yugoslavia, Brazil have two more matches scheduled before the World Cup: Portugal (April 17) and Catalonia (May 18). Brazil are in group C alongside Turkey, China, and Costa Rica. They will open the tournament against Turkey on June 3 in Ulsan, Korea.

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