World Cup Watch
ROMARIO, nursing a hamstring injury, was back on track yesterday to lead Brazil's attack in the World Cup opening match against Scotland at the Stade de France on June 10.
The Flamengo striker took part in the fitness part of Mario Zagallo's squad session at Ozoir, near Brazil's World Cup retreat east of Paris.
However, Romario, expected to partner Ronaldo up front against Scotland when Brazil begin the defence of their world title, did not take part in tactical and ball practice. He did little more than have some physiotherapy in a heated swimming pool on Monday.
Coach Zagallo said he would take no risks and Bebeto, Romario's striker partner in the 1994 World Cup-winning side, would play in the friendly against Athletic Bilbao in northern Spain on Sunday.
However, Zagallo said he was surprised at the fuss caused by the injury, sustained playing for Flamengo in a Rio de Janeiro league game three weeks ago. ''I can't understand how Romario's presence in the World Cup is already being put in doubt,'' he said. Team doctor Lidio Toledo said: ''(Romario) is advancing slowly, but without getting concerned, given that the sole objective is the opening match against Scotland.''
Brazil, who arrived in France on Friday, were the first team to take up residency at their World Cup hotel, the Chateau de la Grande Romaine, in Lesigny, 40 km east of Paris.
Saudi Arabia, under Brazil's 1994 coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, have been in France longer, but they were on the Cote d'Azur before leaving for England and Norway at the end of last week for warm-up games. They return to France tomorrow to install themselves at a hotel in Melun-Senart, southeast of Paris.
Their next opponents, Norway, unbeaten at home since 1991, have a goalkeeping controversy on their hands as they prepare for their final World Cup warm-up, on Wednesday.
Coach Egil Olsen has picked Frode Grodas, who captained the side through the qualifying rounds without losing a game, for the game against the Saudis, who held England to a goalless draw at Wembley at the weekend.
Grodas is widely considered Olsen's first choice for the World Cup even though he has sat through the season on the bench at English clubs Chelsea and Tottenham. However, a poll in the daily Aftenposten yesterday showed that 51 out of 100 Norway's top division players ranked Thomas Myhre of Everton ahead of Grodas as Norway's best goalkeeper. Just 26 voted for Grodas with Frode Olsen of Stabaek third with 10.
Olsen, who has said he will retire as Norway's coach after the World Cup, has said he is not too worried about winning the warm-up friendlies, since he believes a good recent run has exaggerated Norway's ability. Norway are unbeaten at home since September 1991 and have not lost an away game since January 1997. They beat Mexico 5-2 in Oslo last week.
Olsen included Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the team for the match which will be played in Molde in west Norway. Solskjaer's place in the World Cup squad has looked increasingly doubtful after a disappointing season in England and he has been overshadowed by the lanky Tore Andre Flo.
Saudi Arabia, buoyed by coach Carlos Alberto Parreira who won the World Cup with Brazil, will face France, Denmark and South Africa in the World Cup preliminary group matches. Norway face reigning champions Brazil, Scotland and Morocco in the first-round matches.
Meanwhile, Scotland's group opponents Morocco will be without injured striker Khalid Raghib.
Raghib, who also misses his country's game against England in Casablanca today, has been forced to withdraw from the squad with a serious groin injury. He will be replaced in the squad by Rachid Roki of Raja Casablanca, the leading scorer in this year's Moroccan league championship.
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