Favourite Brazil unworried by lack of injuries

WEGGIS, Switzerland, May 29: As the cows graze peacefully on a grassy hillock overlooking their practice ground in the idyllic village of Weggis, all appears to be bliss and harmony in Brazil's World Cup training camp.

With just over two weeks to go until their World Cup opener against Croatia, the world champions are enjoying an unprecedented run of good fortune.

There are have been no injury scares, none of the traditional controversies over who should be in the squad and Real Madrid striker Ronaldo, plagued by minor injuries and speculation over his weight, appears to be getting thinner.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has even been bold enough to name his staring line-up for June 13, with the Magic Quartet of Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Adriano and Kaka spearheading the attack.

Training sessions have been held in a carnival atmosphere before packed crowds of 5,000 fans. Not even Friday's minor pitch invasion, when a woman managed to dodge security and hug Ronaldinhio has dampened spirits.

Some commentators, however, worry that it may all be too good to be true and what Brazil really need is a nice, big row to shatter their confidence and disturb the peace.

The worriers point out that when Brazil have started the World Cup as favourites, such as in 1982 and 1990, they have crashed out before the semi-finals.

Their last three of their record five World Cup wins, however, have all followed turbulence.

Though it may seem incredible nowadays, Brazil arrived in Mexico at the 1970 World Cup amid widespread apprehension back home following the last minute decision to sack coach Joao Saldanha and bring in Mario Zagallo.

Their 1994 win, also under Parreira, followed a rocky campaign along the road to the United States which included a 2-0 defeat away to Bolivia, their first-ever defeat in World Cup qualifier.

TOSTAO FRETS Last time around, they were tipped for an early exit after using four coaches as they staggered through the qualifiers and got themselves knocked out of the previous year's Copa America by Honduras.

Yet, under the flamboyant leadership of Luiz Felipe Scolari, they went on to win a fifth world title when it was least expected while pre-tournament favourites Argentina fell at the first hurdle.

Tostao, who played in the 1970 World Cup team and is now a respected newspaper columnist, is among those wishing for something to fret about.

''The Brazilian team continues to be almost perfect,'' he wrote.

''Even Ronaldo seems to be thinner. But without doubts, problems and controversies, the Hexa (sixth world title) is more difficult.'' Parreira, however, sees it as a new challenge to be faced.

''You often hear that World Cup is won a team which has been discredited at the start,'' he said.

''But as far as I'm concerned, taboos are made to be broken.'' ''It's not an accident that things are going well. This is a result of work and planning by the players and by the technical staff.'' He said: ''We want to prove that its possible to win after starting as favourites and when everything is going to well.'' Reuters