Friday, June 21, 2002
Donovan, O'Brien make Pele's all-star squad
Ronaldinho also catches legend's eye
By DAVID MORDKOFF
AP Sports Writer
After carefully watching each of the 56 games played in the World Cup, Pele pinpointed two standouts from each team. The man who led Brazil to three of its four world titles had kind words for Landon Donovan and John O'Brien of the United States.
“Donovan has played very well and O'Brien has showed me he is an excellent player,” Pele said.
From his own country, he listed Ronaldo, who is tied for the tournament lead with five goals, and Ronaldinho. Pele was particularly impressed by Ronaldinho, who has been moved to attacking midfielder during this tournament.
“He is going to be a great star,” Pele said.
From Germany, he mentioned striker Miroslav Klose, who also has five goals, and midfielder Michael Ballack. From Turkey, he chose forward Hakan Sas and midfielder Emre Belozoglu.
From Spain, his favorites so far were striker Raul and midfielder Juan Carlos Valeron. For England, he said defenders Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand were standouts. South Korea forward Seol Ki-Hyeon and midfielder Yoo Sang-chul caught his eye. So did Senegal forward El Hadji Diouf and midfielder Khalilou Fadiga.
The only goalkeeper he mentioned was Brazil's Marcos, but only because of several critical saves Marcos made against Belgium in the second round.
The best he's seen so far? England midfielder Nicky Butt.
“Butt has been unbelievable the way he has worked and supported,” Pele said.
POLAND COACH IN LIMBO: The coach of Poland's national team said Thursday he is prepared to step down following his squad's quick exit from the World Cup.
Poland's soccer federation is expected to consider the future of coach Jerzy Engel today.
Although his contract runs until next year, “it does not matter much whether Engel leads the team, or some other coach” as Poland tries to qualify for the 2004 European Championship, Engel added.
Poland sailed through its World Cup qualifying campaign, but lost 2-0 to co-host South Korea and 4-0 to Portugal in its first two matches at the finals, making it one of the first teams eliminated.
The team was already out of the tournament by the time it managed a face-saving 3-1 win over the United States, which came only after Engel made substantial changes to the lineup.
FATHERLY PRIDE: Coach Bruno Metsu's dad had no idea what was happening.
After his son led Senegal into the quarterfinals of the World Cup, about 100 Senegalese fans gathered around the elder Metsu's home in Dunkirk.
The sound of African drums enveloped the neighborhood where he lives when the Dakar Lions upset Sweden 2-1.
When he came out, the delirious fans lifted him on their shoulders.
“They took him up and carried him around,” Senegal's coach said, laughing. “He was very happy.”
GOAL A GAME: Ronaldo and Rivaldo scored in each of Brazil's first four games at the World Cup. This marks the first time since the 1970 tournament that more than one player scored in his first four games, and the first time ever that two players from the same nation have done so.
In 1970, Brazil's Jairzinho, West Germany's Gerd Muller and Peru's Teofilo Cubillas scored in their country's first four matches.
Jairzinho kept it up through the competition, becoming only the second player to score in all of his country's games. Just Fontaine was the first, but France did not play in the 1958 final. So Jairzinho became the only player to score in all of his country's games, including the final.
Now, such a feat is even more difficult, because a finalist must play seven games instead of six.
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Donovan, O'Brien make Pele's all-star squad
