Records beckon age-defying Cafu

Berlin, May 22: Marshalling the defence with elan, Cafu missed out on the glory that only the midfielders and forwards are privy to. But come June and Brazil's most capped player would walk into the record books in front of jealous eyes.

The age-defying AC Milan full-back is back to where he belongs after a successful knee operation and the 36-year-old veteran hopes to be completely fit and expects an encore of the 2003 World Cup in Germany.

''I had some injury problems about three months ago, but I had a successful operation and now I'm back to my best. I'd say that I'm about 98 per cent fit, so by the time the World Cup comes around I should be 100 per cent,'' he said.

Cafu is just two games shy of breaking the record number of World Cup appearances in the famous yellow shirt, currently held by his former colleagues Dunga and Taffarel (18).

Cafu (13) has already won more World Cup games in Brazil colours than any other player (13) and he will be eyeing to equal Pele's record tally of three World Cup wins -- along with Ronaldo, a non-playing substitute in 1994.

Cafu can also become the only player to have played in four consecutive World Cup finals and the first captain to lift the trophy twice.

''It would be a great honour to break any of these records, especially if I was the first captain to lift the Trophy twice.

Being in this position merely goes to show how much work I've put in throughout my career, any records I break will be the fruit of that hard graft.

''However, it's vital we remember to take things one step at a time. Before I can start thinking about breaking any records, we have to make sure we qualify from our group and then take each game as it comes,'' he added.

Cafu also refused to compare the current Brazil side - containing names like Dida, Roberto Carlos, Emerson, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Adriano and Ronaldo -- with the team that won in 2003.

''You can't compare the two teams, especially as we don't yet know if that will be the starting XI in Germany. I also prefer not to talk about any individual players. All I can say is that Brazil won in 2002, and we will be hoping to do the same this year.'' The defender also felt that while the immensely talented Ronaldinho will be the cynosure of all eyes in Germany, Kaka and his other team mates can't be ignored.

''I think Kaka is just as important as Ronaldinho, just as all the rest of us are too. Basically, I don't think that there's any one player who is more important than anyone else. We will only win in Germany if we play together as a team. Great team spirit and a winning mentality are even more important than technical ability,'' he added.

UNI