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Romario to try again for 1,000th goal
RIO DE JANEIRO: Former Brazil striker Romario will make another attempt to score what he says will be his 1,000th goal in Vasco da Gama's Brazilian championship match against Sport Recife on Sunday.
However, the match is being played at Vasco's Sao Januario stadium rather than the Maracana, where Romario had always wanted to reach the milestone, club president Eurico Miranda said in a radio interview.
"The party's ready," Miranda told Radio Tupi. "He will play against Sport and he will score the 1,000th goal."
"The surprise is the statue that he will have at Sao Januario. It should be ready in 20 days. It's a bronze statue which is being produced by a well-known artist."
Romario, 41, is currently on 999 goals according to his own tally, which he admits includes goals scored in friendlies, youth and testimonial games.
Tired Ronaldinho asks to skip Copa America
RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil forward Ronaldinho has asked to be left out of the squad for the Copa America because he is tired, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on Tuesday.
"Ronaldinho, of Barcelona, asked the technical staff of the Brazilian national team to be excused the Copa America, on the grounds of tiredness and the need for a holiday," said the CBF in a statement.
Ronaldinho's request came three days after midfielder Kaka also asked to be left out of the competition and in spite of comments from coach Dunga that he wanted to take a full-strength squad.
Brazilian media had been speculating for some time that Ronaldinho wanted a rest and his request will heighten speculation that his relationship with Dunga is under strain.
Dunga has left Ronaldinho out of the starting line-up on several occasions and said that the former World Player of the Year will not be given special treatment.
Massa says Hamilton could be the bigger danger
LONDON: Ferrari's Felipe Massa suspects British rookie Lewis Hamilton could prove to be a bigger danger to his Formula One title hopes than double world champion Fernando Alonso.
Hamilton, 22, became the youngest championship leader in the sport's history after finishing second to Brazilian Massa in Spain last weekend.
The McLaren driver has now beaten team mate Alonso in the last two races as well as finishing his first four races on the podium - something no other Formula One driver has ever achieved.
After Sunday's race at the Circuit de Catalunya, Hamilton assured Massa that he would beat him soon to claim his first grand prix victory - possibly in the season's glamour race in Monaco next week.
"He is definitely strong and is not bothered by pressure," Massa said on his website (www.felipemassa.com). "At the moment, you cannot say that Fernando or him are the better driver.
"But if the situation continues like this, then maybe Lewis can even be more dangerous than Fernando, given his championship position and how he goes in the car."
(China Daily 05/17/2007 page23)
