The dream is still alive

BRAZIL midfielder Ze Roberto has not forgotten the last time his nation faced France in the World Cup.

It was eight years ago, in the final, and France, inspired by Zinedine Zidane, won 3-0. Ze Roberto, a substitute, played no part in the game. He didn’t complain, and nor did he moan when he was unluckily omitted from Brazil’s 2002 World Cup squad.

Ze Roberto then moved to Bayern Munich and became a mainstay of their double double-winning side. He has also cemented his place in the Brazil starting 11 and has outshone Emerson in their three games together in Germany. In two of Brazil’s four games, Ze Roberto was named Man of the Match: first in the 2-0 win over Australia, when Fifa adjudicator Francisco Maturana said: “He hustled for 90 minutes to help the stars in his team”; and then in Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Ghana. “He was outstanding in attack and defence,” said adjudicator Gyorgy Mezey. “He was always positioned well, he moved around a lot and contributed all over the pitch.”