Brazil face Ronaldo let down

Inter are set to pull Ronaldo out of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup qualifying squad.

Ronaldo was injured last night as the UEFA Cup first round was completed.

Inter won 3-0 at Brasov and the Brazilian striker - returning from a 17 month injury break after bouts of knee surgery last year - came on as a substitute in the 50th minute. Inter won 3-0 but the 25 year old stopped running late in the game to hold a right thigh muscle.

Players are often injured when they return from long absences trying to recover from other injuries and Inter have brought Ronaldo along very slowly to avoid such problems over the past four months.

"We're not worried, it's just a slight pull," said Inter doctor Franco Combi.

But Inter coach Hector Cuper was more concerned: "Obviously we're worried, because when a player is injured it is always worrying. We're going to do some more checks to pinpoint the exact cause of the problem.” Cuper had already argued against Ronaldo’s call up by Brazil to face Chile in the World Cup on October 7th

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has not called up veteran forward Romario due to ankle injury problems but new Sao Poalo star Franca is included.

The squad in full -

Goalkeepers - Dida (Corinthians) and Marcos (Palmeiras).

Defenders - Cris (Cruzeiro), Edmilson (Lyon), Emerson (Sao Paulo), Juan (Flamengo), Lucio (Bayer Leverkusen), Belleti (Sao Paulo), Cafu (Roma), Junior (Parma) and Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid).

Midfielders - Eduardo Costa (Bordeaux), Emerson (AS Roma), Juninho Paulista (Vasco da Gama), Marcelinho Paraiba (Hertha Berlin) Rivaldo (Barcelona) and Vampeta (Flamengo).

Strikers - Ronaldinho (Paris St Germain), Denilson (Real Betis), Elber (Bayern Munich), Franca (Sao Paulo) and Ronaldo (Inter).