Ronaldo "fine" again after illness scare

KOENIGSTEIN, Germany, June 15 (Reuters) Troubled Brazil striker Ronaldo trained with the team today, insisted he ''felt fine'' and was looking forward to Brazil's next World Cup match after an illness scare.

He also admitted he had a poor game against Croatia on Tuesday, when he was hauled off amid a deafening chorus of cheers during the 1-0 win in Berlin.

The 29-year-old, who scored both goals in Brazil's 2-0 World Cup final win four years ago over Germany, was taken to hospital after complaining of dizziness and headaches on Wednesday.

It recalled memories of 1998 when he fell victim to a mystery illness hours before Brazil's 3-0 World Cup final defeat by France.

''I felt quite sick during the day off (Wednesday) and at about three o'clock in the afternoon the doctor decided to take me to hospital just to make sure there was no serious illness or anything,'' he told reporters before training.

''I went to hospital and did a series of tests. They didn't find anything abnormal.

''Today I feel fine. I feel fairly relaxed. It's nothing serious.

I've been treated. Today I had a session in the gymnasium and I'm just thinking about the game against Australia.'' ''To be sincere I wasn't happy in my performance against Croatia but the most important thing was that we won,'' Ronaldo said.

''In the next game I hope to do things a bit better.'' He then took part in a light practice section in which the first team played the reserves on a half-sized pitch.

Ronaldo lumbered around the pitch against Croatia looking off the pace and struggling to control the simplest of passes.

Despite widespread criticism, coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said Ronaldo would keep his place in the starting line-up for Sunday's match Group F against Australia in Munich.

PARIS REVISITED Ronaldo produced a similar dazed performance in the World Cup final against France which Brazil lost 3-0 in Paris.

Afterwards, it was revealed that Ronaldo had been taken ill in the hotel hours before the match, some reports claiming that he had suffered a fit.

Ronaldo bounced back to finish as top scorer with eight goals at the 2002 World Cup finals including both in the 2-0 final win over Germany.

Before the 2002 finals, he had been sidelined for the best part of two years after undergoing two knee operations.

This season has so far been an unhappy one for Ronaldo.

He was hindered by a series of nagging injuries and his relationship with the fans at his club Real Madrid deteriorated.

His last game for them was on April 8, when he limped off after one hour with an injury to his right thigh, while his preparations for the World Cup were interrupted by from blisters on his feet and a brief a sinus infection.

He has become increasingly exasperated at suggestions he is overweight and became upset when Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva joined the speculation, asking if he was fat during a video conference with the team last Thursday.

The President later sent a letter of apology.

Captain Cafu said Ronaldo had the full backing of the team.

''He knows how important he is for Brazilian football and for football in general,'' said Cafu. ''From now on, I think we'll see the real Ronaldo.

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