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Brazil could use a Messi, says Ronaldo

FIFA to use German goalline technology at 2014 World Cup.

Reuters October 11, 2013

Retired legend Ronaldo stated that Lionel Messi would be the first player chosen by him if he could include a foreign player in Brazil’s national team. PHOTO: AFP

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil’s national squad could use a Lionel Messi, said the country’s former World Cup winner Ronaldo.

Asked at a Rio press conference whether he would like a foreigner to play in the Selecao, he replied: “I would love to have a Messi or [Portugal star] Cristiano Ronaldo rejected in their country and then able to play with the national squad.

“If Messi did not play for Argentina, I would love to have him [with us]. I would prefer Messi to Diego [Maradona], even though Diego is also my friend.”

The Brazilian football great meanwhile said he saw no problem with Diego Costa, Atletico Madrid’s Brazilian-born striker, playing for Spain in next year’s World Cup.

“Players who are not used in their own country and have a second citizenship are used by other countries,” he noted.

Costa recently indicated he would be keen to play for world champions Spain.

And Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said he was prepared to call on him if football’s world governing body Fifa declares him eligible.

“If a player cannot play for his own country, why would he not be able to play for another country,” said FIFA Secretary-General Jerome Valcke.

Ronaldo played for Brazil in 98 international matches, scoring 62 goals and was part of the national squad that won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups.

The question of eligibility follows England midfielder Jack Wilshere’s comments that only English players should represent the national side.

Goal-line technology gets thumbs up for WC

Referees at next year’s World Cup will use goal-line technology for the first time to settle some of the disputes that have marred past tournaments.

German company GoalControl will supply the camera-based technology, said Fifa, following a successful trial during the Confederations Cup in Brazil earlier this year.

GoalControl uses 14 cameras around the pitch to monitor whether the ball has crossed the line, sending a signal to the referee’s watch within a second to confirm that a goal has been scored.

Fifa noted there were no close calls on goal-line incidents during the Confederations Cup but added that the technology had functioned well.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2013.

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