Parreira puts his trust in out-of-sorts Ronaldo

SAO PAULO, Mar 23 (Reuters) Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said he was counting on Ronaldo to serve as an example to his team at the World Cup despite his unhappy recent form.

Parreira was also confident that Ronaldo would put his Real Madrid troubles behind him as Brazil challenge for an unpredecented sixth World Cup win in Germany.

''He has to lead the national team,'' Parreira said during an event in Sao Paulo yesterday. ''He has to be a model and an example.'' Parreira remembered that Ronaldo arrived at the 2002 World Cup amid doubts about his fitness and finished as the tournament's top goalscorer with eight goals as Brazil won the title.

''When people start questioning him, it serves as an incentive for Ronaldo,'' Parreira said. ''It will be a surprise and a disappointment for me if Ronaldo doesn't have a great World Cup.'' Ronaldo has been left on the bench by Real recently but Parreira said this would not affect his chances of being selected by his country.

''In the national team, a player is not just picked for what he's doing at the moment but also by what he's done in the past.'' Reuters DH VP0430